Merced Union High School District
School District · Merced, California
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
9
9 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,578
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.1:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
9
9 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,578
Student-Teacher Ratio
20.1:1
Evaluating Merced Union High?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Merced Union High as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Independence High (alternative)
Merced · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Sequoia High
Merced · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
EL Capitan High
Merced · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
California rank
#488 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.6
below 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 #488 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Merced Union High's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 9 schools. Its top-rated schools are Independence High (alternative) (6.7/10), Sequoia High (6.3/10), and EL Capitan High (6.1/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 6.7/10 despite 90% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Independence High (alternative) | 6.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Sequoia High | 6.3 / 10 |
| 3 | EL Capitan High | 6.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Golden Valley High | 6.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Buhach Colony High | 5.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Atwater High | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Livingston High | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Yosemite High (continuation) | 5.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Merced High | 4.7 / 10 |
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. The district invests $16,578 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Merced Union High demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Independence High (alternative), which has a composite score of 6.7/10.
In standardized testing, Merced Union High students show an average math proficiency of 26.6% and ELA proficiency of 43.7%.
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
Average proficiency across all schools in Merced Union High with test data.
Schools in Merced Union High
9 schoolsDistrict Details
- State
- California
- City
- Merced
- Total Enrollment
- 11,120
- Teachers (FTE)
- 552
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data 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 5.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Merced Union High?
Merced Union High spends $16,578 per student per year.
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?
Independence High (alternative) is the highest-rated school in Merced Union High with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What are the test scores in Merced Union High?
Across schools in Merced Union High with test data, the average math proficiency is 26.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 43.7%. 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 5.7/10 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
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 26.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 43.7%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Merced Union High with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- Corona-norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.