6.5avg / 10

Merced Union High School District

School District · Merced, California

Last updated: October 2026

Students: 11,120

Teachers (FTE): 552

Avg Rating

6.5

out of 10

Schools

9 high

Enrollment

11,120

Student-Teacher Ratio

20.1:1

Avg Rating

6.5

out of 10

Schools

9 high

Enrollment

11,120

Student-Teacher Ratio

20.1:1

How this district compares

California rank

#299 of 713

districts by avg. composite

Vs. state average

+0.1

above California avg

Per-pupil spending

$16,578

$1,069 vs California median

District size

11,120 students

Much larger than California median

The short answer

Merced Union High ranks #299 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Merced Union High's schools with real test data average 6.5/10 across 9 schools. Its top-rated schools are Buhach Colony High (7.8/10), EL Capitan High (7.0/10), and Sequoia High (7.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Best value · beats the odds

Buhach Colony High

Rates 7.8/10 despite 74% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Merced Union High schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Merced Union High

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (9 of 9). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	Enrollment
1	Buhach Colony High	7.8 / 10	High	+1.0	1,658
2	EL Capitan High	7.0 / 10	High	+0.2	1,811
3	Sequoia High	7.0 / 10	High	+1.0	106
4	Livingston High	6.6 / 10	High	+0.2	1,141
5	Golden Valley High	6.5 / 10	High	+0.1	1,955
6	Independence High (alternative)	6.4 / 10	High	+0.2	92
7	Atwater High	6.0 / 10	High	-0.6	2,051
8	Merced High	5.9 / 10	High	-0.8	1,951
9	Yosemite High (continuation)	4.9 / 10	High	-1.3	355

See all 9 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

About Merced Union High

Merced Union High is a Merced, California school district serving 9 schools.The district educates 11,120 students with a student-teacher ratio of 20.1:1. District-level spending was $16,578 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).

With an average rating of 6.5/10, Merced Union High demonstrates solid academic performance.

The highest-rated school in the district is Buhach Colony High, which has a composite score of 7.8/10.

In standardized testing, Merced Union High students show an average math proficiency of 24.6% and ELA proficiency of 42.9%.

The district includes 9 high schools.

District Map

Schools in Merced Union High, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.

District Average Test Scores

Math Proficiency24.6%

School

State

Not reported

ELA Proficiency42.9%

School

State

Not reported

Average proficiency across all schools in Merced Union High with test data.

Schools in Merced Union High

9 schools

High Schools9

Independence High (alternative)

Yosemite High (continuation)

3554.9

District Details

State: California
City: Merced
Total Enrollment: 11,120
Teachers (FTE): 552
District spending per student: $16,578NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
Child poverty rate: 23.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
District directory year: 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Merced Union High?

Merced Union High has 9 schools in total — 9 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.

What is the average rating for Merced Union High?

The average composite rating for Merced Union High is 6.5/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.

What is the district spending per student in Merced Union High?

Merced Union High's district-level spending was $16,578 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Merced Union High?

The average student-teacher ratio in Merced Union High is 20.1:1.

What is the top-rated school in Merced Union High?

Buhach Colony High is the highest-rated school in Merced Union High with a composite score of 7.8/10.

What are the test scores in Merced Union High?

Across schools in Merced Union High with test data, the average math proficiency is 24.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 42.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.

How does Merced Union High compare to other districts in California?

Merced Union High has an average school rating of 6.5/10 across 9 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools?

MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.

District Averages

Overall Rating: 6.5/10
Math Proficiency: 24.6%
ELA Proficiency: 42.9%

Resources

🔍Search for District Website 📄Official NCES Data 🏫GreatSchools Profile 📍View on Google Maps

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Other School Districts in CA

Compare Merced Union High with neighboring districts in the state.

See all districts in CA →

Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.