Needs Improvement
#9018 of 9,539 schools in CA
Don Stowell Elementary
Elementary School · Merced City Elementary · Merced, CA
A Merced City Elementary elementary school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.
251 East 11th St., Merced, CA 95340
- Math 13% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 19% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 24:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Don Stowell Elementary score 16% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 20%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2018, to 16% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 24% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 23% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
96.4%
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 Don Stowell Elementary 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 63Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 43Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,653/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Merced), 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
$65,141
Median home value
$383,200
Median rent
$1,204/mo
College educated
26.2%
Homeownership
56.2%
Poverty rate
19.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95340; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Wright ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | K–6 | 0.8 mi | 552 | Compare → |
| Merced County Special EducationEnrollment path unverified | 3.3 | K–12 | 0.8 mi | 895 | Compare → |
| Alicia Reyes ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | K–6 | 1.1 mi | 565 | Compare → |
| Farmdale ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | K–5 | 1.1 mi | 970 | 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.
Merced City Elementary
- Schools in district
- 19
- Rank in district
- #18 of 19
- District spending per student
- $15,186NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 28.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Don Stowell Elementary is listed in Merced City Elementary; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Don Stowell Elementary
Don Stowell Elementary is a public elementary school in Merced, CA, part of Merced City Elementary, serving approximately 527 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 24:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and ranks #9,018 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Don Stowell Elementary
What grades does Don Stowell Elementary serve?
Don Stowell Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Don Stowell Elementary?
Don Stowell Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 527 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Don Stowell Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Don Stowell Elementary is 24:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Don Stowell Elementary rank in CA?
Don Stowell Elementary ranks #9,018 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Don Stowell Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Don Stowell Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 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 Don Stowell Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Don Stowell Elementary has 24% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Don Stowell Elementary a charter school?
No, Don Stowell Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Don Stowell Elementary a Title I school?
No, Don Stowell Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Don Stowell Elementary?
96.4% of students at Don Stowell Elementary 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
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 527
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 24:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Merced County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 37.6%
- Phone
- (209) 381-2803
- Area population (ZIP 95340)
- 38,045
- Area average commute
- 23 min
- Area median age
- 31.8
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 95340; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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.