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#5295 of 9,539 schools in CA

EL Capitan High

High School · Merced Union High · Merced, CA

A Merced Union High high school serving grades 9th – 12th.

PO Box 2247, Merced, CA 95344

  • Math 14% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 50% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 96.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.3Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data10
Annual Change-1.66 pts/yr
Data Period2013–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics6.0Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency13.6% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency49.7% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-14.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-6.2 pts
Overall Proficiency32% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-1.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile44th
College Readiness6.4Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate96%
AP Participation12.2%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment6.6Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio21.3:1
District spending per student$16,578
Chronic Absenteeism27.9%

Students at EL Capitan High score 32% 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 Proficiency14%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency50%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 11 points since 2019, to 32% in 2024, across a 12-year record (2013–2024).

Show all 10 years
2013
Math
65%
ELA
59%
2014
Math
21%
ELA
56%
2015
Math
30%
ELA
56%
2016
Math
24%
ELA
59%
2017
Math
20%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
25%
ELA
60%
2019
Math
25%
ELA
60%
2020*
Math
23%
ELA
51%
2021*
Math
23%
ELA
51%
2024
Math
14%
ELA
50%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 26% (multi-year average, 2013-2024) · reading/ELA 55% (multi-year average, 2013-2024)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 22 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

74.1%

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 EL Capitan 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 3Car-Dependent
  • Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,653/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Merced), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offered
12.2% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics24sports offered
12 boys'·12 girls'·45 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
Come Back CharterCharter · enrollment unverified3.49–122.5 mi120Compare →
Stone Ridge Christian ElementaryPrivate · tuition5.8privatePK–122.8 mi520Compare →
Stone Ridge Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition6.5privatePK–122.8 mi448Compare →
Merced HighEnrollment path unverified4.79–123.3 mi1,951Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

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
#3 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

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

About EL Capitan High

EL Capitan High is a public high school in Merced, CA, part of Merced Union High, serving approximately 1,811 students in grades 9th-12th with a 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 out of 10 and ranks #5,295 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2024) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about EL Capitan High

What grades does EL Capitan High serve?

EL Capitan High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend EL Capitan High?

EL Capitan High has an enrollment of approximately 1,811 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at EL Capitan High?

The student-teacher ratio at EL Capitan High is 21.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does EL Capitan High rank in CA?

EL Capitan High ranks #5,295 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is EL Capitan High's MySchoolScout rating?

EL Capitan High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.1 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 EL Capitan High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, EL Capitan High has 26% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2024) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2013-2024).

Is EL Capitan High a charter school?

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

Is EL Capitan High a Title I school?

No, EL Capitan High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for EL Capitan High?

74.1% of students at EL Capitan 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
1,811
Student-Teacher Ratio
21.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
85
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Merced County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.9%
4-Year Graduation
96.0%
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.
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, 2013-2024; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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