Skip to main content

Average

#5873 of 9,539 schools in CA

Buhach Colony High

High School · Merced Union High · Atwater, CA

A Merced Union High high school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.

PO Box 753, Atwater, CA 95301

  • Math 9% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 46% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 99%+ 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress3.0Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-2.4 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics5.1Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency8.5% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency46.2% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-19.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-9.6 pts
Overall Proficiency27% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-5.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile33th
College Readiness7.4Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate99%+
AP Participation17.1%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20:1
District spending per student$16,578
Chronic Absenteeism27.6%

Students at Buhach Colony High score 27% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency9%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency46%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 8 points since 2019, to 27% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
50%
ELA
54%
2010
Math
53%
ELA
58%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
58%
2012
Math
61%
ELA
59%
2013
Math
65%
ELA
57%
2014
Math
24%
ELA
59%
2015
Math
26%
ELA
61%
2016
Math
19%
ELA
55%
2017
Math
18%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
20%
ELA
50%
2019
Math
20%
ELA
50%
2020*
Math
22%
ELA
45%
2021*
Math
22%
ELA
45%
2024
Math
9%
ELA
46%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 32% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 53% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

73.8%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Buhach Colony 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 17Car-Dependent
  • Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,969/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
17.1% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics23sports offered
12 boys'·11 girls'·37 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses4of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Valley Atwater CommunityEnrollment path unverified6.26–122.4 mi120Compare →
Atwater HighEnrollment path unverified5.59–122.6 mi2,051Compare →
Gospel Defenders Christian AcademyPrivate · tuitionNot rated1–122.8 mi28Compare →
EL Capitan HighEnrollment path unverified6.19–12Not available1,811Compare →

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.

Merced Union High

Schools in district
9
Rank in district
#5 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

Buhach Colony High is listed in Merced Union High; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Buhach Colony High

Buhach Colony High is a public high school in Atwater, CA, part of Merced Union High, serving approximately 1,658 students in grades 9th-12th with a 20:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #5,873 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Buhach Colony High

What grades does Buhach Colony High serve?

Buhach Colony High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Buhach Colony High?

Buhach Colony High has an enrollment of approximately 1,658 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Buhach Colony High?

The student-teacher ratio at Buhach Colony High is 20:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Buhach Colony High rank in CA?

Buhach Colony High ranks #5,873 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Buhach Colony High's MySchoolScout rating?

Buhach Colony High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 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 Buhach Colony High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Buhach Colony High has 32% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Buhach Colony High a charter school?

No, Buhach Colony High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Buhach Colony High a Title I school?

No, Buhach Colony High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Buhach Colony High?

73.8% of students at Buhach Colony 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
1,658
Student-Teacher Ratio
20:1
Teachers (FTE)
83
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Merced County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.6%
4-Year Graduation
99%+
Area population (ZIP 95301)
42,374
Area average commute
27.5 min
Area median age
34.5
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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

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.