Skip to main content

Average

#4141 of 9,539 schools in CA

Top 43% in state

Independence High (alternative)

High School · Merced Union High · Merced, CA

A Merced Union High high school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1900 G St., Merced, CA 95340

  • Math 0% vs CA 32% (2024)
  • Reading 16% vs CA 52% (2024)
  • 77.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress8.0Excellent25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data11
Annual Change-0.8 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendStable
Academics2.4Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency0% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency16.3% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-28 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-39.6 pts
Overall Proficiency8% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)24% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected-15.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile7th
College Readiness8.6Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate77%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio7.7:1
District spending per student$16,578
Chronic Absenteeism76.1%

Students at Independence High (alternative) score 8% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 24%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency0%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
32%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency16%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
52%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 19 points since 2019, to 8% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 11 years
2009
Math
12%
ELA
22%
2010
Math
25%
ELA
35%
2011
Math
35%
ELA
45%
2015
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2016
Math
10%
ELA
10%
2017
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2018
Math
25%
ELA
30%
2019
Math
25%
ELA
30%
2020*
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
25%
2024
ELA
16%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 19% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 25% (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 24 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

90.2%

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 Independence High (alternative) 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 86Very Walkable
  • Bike 62Bikeable
  • 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.

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

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Yosemite High (continuation)Enrollment path unverified5.09–120.0 mi355Compare →
Sequoia HighEnrollment path unverified6.39–120.1 mi106Compare →
Merced County Special EducationEnrollment path unverified3.3K–120.8 mi895Compare →
Merced HighEnrollment path unverified4.79–121.4 mi1,951Compare →

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 Union High

Schools in district
9
Rank in district
#1 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

Independence High (alternative) is listed in Merced Union High; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Independence High (alternative)

Independence High (alternative) is a public high school in Merced, CA, part of Merced Union High, serving approximately 92 students in grades 9th-12th with a 7.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #4,141 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Independence High (alternative)

What grades does Independence High (alternative) serve?

Independence High (alternative) serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Independence High (alternative)?

Independence High (alternative) has an enrollment of approximately 92 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence High (alternative)?

The student-teacher ratio at Independence High (alternative) is 7.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Independence High (alternative) rank in CA?

Independence High (alternative) ranks #4,141 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Independence High (alternative)'s MySchoolScout rating?

Independence High (alternative) has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 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 Independence High (alternative)?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Independence High (alternative) has 19% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 25% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Independence High (alternative) a charter school?

No, Independence High (alternative) is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Independence High (alternative) a Title I school?

No, Independence High (alternative) is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Independence High (alternative)?

90.2% of students at Independence High (alternative) 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
92
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
12
Type
alternative
Setting
Small City
County
Merced County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
76.1%
4-Year Graduation
77.0%
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

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.