Average
#5176 of 9,539 schools in CA
Valley Atwater Community
High School · Merced County Office of Education
632 West 13th St., Merced, CA 95341
Enrollment
120
Student-Teacher
20:1
Score
6.2
Grades
6th – 12th
Enrollment
120
Student-Teacher
20:1
Score
6.2
Grades
6th – 12th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
California schools
#5,176 of 9,539
In Merced
#6 of 37
public schools
In district
#1 of 7
Merced County Office of Education
School environment
9.7 / 10
Excellent
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Valley Atwater Community
High School in Merced · grades 6th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Aileen Colburn Elementary
0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Mitchell Elementary
1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Valley Atwater Community
Valley Atwater Community is a public high school in Merced, CA, part of Merced County Office of Education. Valley Atwater Community serves approximately 120 students, and covers grades 6th-12th, and has a 20:1 student-teacher ratio. Valley Atwater Community has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #5,176 of 9,539 schools in CA.
Structured state assessment records for Valley Atwater Community show 6% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 9% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
- This school 6.2 · Average
- District avg 5.0
- CA avg 6.5
What Parents Should Know
At 120 students, Valley Atwater Community is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
Test scores at Valley Atwater Community sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Valley Atwater Community — Students at Valley Atwater Community score 5% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 21%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
94.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)
Based on 28 test records from CA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.5/10.
How Valley Atwater Community Compares
See how Valley Atwater Community performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Location
632 West 13th St., Merced, CA 95341
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Valley Atwater Community may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Buhach Colony High (rated 5.8/10, 2.4 miles away, in nearby Atwater), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Atwater High (rated 5.5/10, 1.7 miles away, in nearby Atwater), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Merced, see our Merced schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 4.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Aileen Colburn Elementary Atwater | 0.9 mi | 7.0 |
| Mitchell Elementary Atwater | 1.0 mi | 5.7 |
| Mitchell Intermediate Atwater | 1.0 mi | 6.1 |
| Atwater Senior Academy Atwater | 1.1 mi | — |
| Shaffer Elementary Atwater | 1.2 mi | 5.8 |
| Elmer Wood Elementary Atwater | 1.6 mi | 7.8 |
| Atwater High Atwater | 1.7 mi | 5.5 |
| Thomas Olaeta Elementary Atwater | 1.5 mi | 6.3 |
| Bellevue Elementary Atwater | 2.2 mi | 6.4 |
| Bellevue Senior Elementary Atwater | 2.2 mi | 7.7 |
| Peggy Heller Elementary Atwater | 2.5 mi | 6.3 |
| Winton Middle Winton | 2.7 mi | 7.1 |
| Frank Sparkes Elementary Winton | 2.9 mi | 8.3 |
| Buhach Colony High Atwater | 2.4 mi | 5.8 |
| Sybil N. Crookham Elementary Winton | 3.5 mi | 5.8 |
| Winfield Elementary Winton | 3.4 mi | 7.3 |
| GRACE MENNONITE SCHOOL Winton | 4.0 mi | 4.3 |
| McSwain Elementary Merced | 3.9 mi | 5.4 |
| Franklin Elementary Merced | 4.3 mi | 7.7 |
| Stone Ridge Christian Elementary School Merced | 4.5 mi | — |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 95341 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$55,516
Median Home Value
$295,300
Median Rent
$1,172/mo
Population
34,956
College Educated
7.8%
Homeownership
39.3%
Avg Commute
29.7 min
Poverty Rate
27.3%
Median Age
27.4
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Cache Creek High (Continuation) Yolo, CA | 6.2 |
| HEADLANDS PREPARATORY SCHOOL Sausalito, CA | 6.2 |
| Jordan Secondary Learning Center Garden Grove, CA | 6.2 |
| Laytonville High Laytonville, CA | 6.2 |
| Pacific Career and Technology High North Highlands, CA | 6.2 |
| TILDEN PREPARATORY SCHOOL Albany, CA | 6.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Valley Atwater Community
What grades does Valley Atwater Community serve?
Valley Atwater Community serves students in grades 6th through 12th.
How many students attend Valley Atwater Community?
Valley Atwater Community has an enrollment of approximately 120 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Atwater Community?
The student-teacher ratio at Valley Atwater Community 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 Valley Atwater Community rank in CA?
Valley Atwater Community ranks #5,176 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Valley Atwater Community's MySchoolScout rating?
Valley Atwater Community has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 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 Valley Atwater Community?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Valley Atwater Community has 6% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 9% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Valley Atwater Community a charter school?
No, Valley Atwater Community is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Valley Atwater Community a Title I school?
No, Valley Atwater Community is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Valley Atwater Community?
94.2% of students at Valley Atwater Community qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 6th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 120
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 6
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 94.2%
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Merced County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 15.0%
- Phone
- (209) 381-4550
- 4-Year Graduation
- 54.5%
Resources & Links
District
Merced County Office of Education- District Enrollment
- 1,810
- Schools in District
- 8
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $65,270
- District Rank
- #1 of 7
Other Schools in This District
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