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#6326 of 9,539 schools in CA

Pioneer Elementary

Elementary School · Weaver Union · Merced, CA

A Weaver Union elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.

2950 Gerard Ave., Merced, CA 95341

  • Math 36% vs CA 39% (2024)
  • Reading 37% vs CA 45% (2024)
  • 20:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.3Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.97 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics7.2Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency35.9% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency37% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-9.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-5.8 pts
Overall Proficiency36% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)29% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+7.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile59th
Resources & Environment6.3Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio20:1
District spending per student$16,359
Chronic Absenteeism37.6%

Students at Pioneer Elementary score 36% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 29%).

How we calculate scores →

2024 CAASPP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.

Math Proficiency36%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
39%(2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency37%(2024 CAASPP)
School
State
45%(2024 CAASPP)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 6 points since 2018, to 37% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).

Show all 12 years
2009
Math
61%
ELA
47%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
50%
2011
Math
73%
ELA
54%
2012
Math
77%
ELA
53%
2014
Math
23%
ELA
33%
2015
Math
31%
ELA
35%
2016
Math
29%
ELA
39%
2017
Math
32%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
37%
ELA
47%
2022
Math
22%
ELA
30%
2024
Math
36%
ELA
37%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)

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

80.1%

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 Pioneer 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 7Car-Dependent
  • Bike 35Somewhat 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.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$55,516

Median home value

$295,300

Median rent

$1,172/mo

College educated

7.8%

Homeownership

39.3%

Poverty rate

27.3%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 95341; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Charles Wright ElementaryEnrollment path unverified4.1K–62.0 mi552Compare →
Our Lady of MercyPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK–82.0 mi221Compare →
Ada Givens ElementaryEnrollment path unverified5.1K–62.1 mi546Compare →
St Paul SchoolPrivate · tuition5.8privatePK–62.3 mi108Compare →

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.

Weaver Union

Schools in district
4
Rank in district
#2 of 3
District spending per student
$16,359NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
29.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

Pioneer Elementary is listed in Weaver Union; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Pioneer Elementary

Pioneer Elementary is a public elementary school in Merced, CA, part of Weaver Union, serving approximately 1,062 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 20:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.6 out of 10 and ranks #6,326 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Pioneer Elementary

What grades does Pioneer Elementary serve?

Pioneer Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Pioneer Elementary?

Pioneer Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 1,062 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Elementary 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 Pioneer Elementary rank in CA?

Pioneer Elementary ranks #6,326 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is Pioneer Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Pioneer Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.6 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 Pioneer Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Pioneer Elementary has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is Pioneer Elementary a charter school?

No, Pioneer Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Pioneer Elementary a Title I school?

No, Pioneer Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pioneer Elementary?

80.1% of students at Pioneer 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 – 5th
Enrollment
1,062
Student-Teacher Ratio
20:1
Teachers (FTE)
53
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Merced County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
37.6%
Area population (ZIP 95341)
34,956
Area average commute
29.7 min
Area median age
27.4
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 95341; 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

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