Average
#6445 of 9,539 schools in CA
Atwater High
High School · Merced Union High · Atwater, CA
A Merced Union High high school serving grades 9th – 12th.
PO Box 835, Atwater, CA 95301
- Math 14% vs CA 32% (2024)
- Reading 43% vs CA 52% (2024)
- 96.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Atwater High score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 17 points across the 16-year record (2009–2024) and has held near 28% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 29% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
80.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Atwater High sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 33Car-Dependent
- Bike 41Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,969/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Atwater), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$66,669
Median home value
$367,800
Median rent
$1,215/mo
College educated
16%
Homeownership
56.7%
Poverty rate
17.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95301; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Atwater CommunityEnrollment path unverified | 6.2 | 6–12 | 1.7 mi | 120 | Compare → |
| Buhach Colony HighEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | 9–12 | 2.6 mi | 1,658 | Compare → |
| Grace Mennonite SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.3private | K–10 | 2.6 mi | 114 | Compare → |
| Floyd A. SchelbyEnrollment path unverified | 4.0 | K–12 | 4.0 mi | 84 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Merced Union High
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #6 of 9
- District spending per student
- $16,578NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 23.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Atwater High is listed in Merced Union High; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Atwater High
Atwater High is a public high school in Atwater, CA, part of Merced Union High, serving approximately 2,051 students in grades 9th-12th with a 20.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #6,445 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Atwater High
What grades does Atwater High serve?
Atwater High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Atwater High?
Atwater High has an enrollment of approximately 2,051 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Atwater High?
The student-teacher ratio at Atwater High is 20.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Atwater High rank in CA?
Atwater High ranks #6,445 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Atwater High's MySchoolScout rating?
Atwater High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Atwater High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Atwater High has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Atwater High a charter school?
No, Atwater High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Atwater High a Title I school?
No, Atwater High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Atwater High?
80.4% of students at Atwater High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 2,051
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 99
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Merced County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.6%
- Phone
- (209) 325-1200
- 4-Year Graduation
- 96.0%
- Area population (ZIP 95301)
- 42,374
- Area average commute
- 27.5 min
- Area median age
- 34.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 95301; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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