Gustine Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Gustine Unified

Gustine Unified serves students from kindergarten through twelfth grade in a rural setting in Merced County. The district is small, with enrollment spread across six schools: two elementary buildings, a middle school, a high school, a continuation high school, and a pre-K program.

The academic picture here is weak. State assessments in English language arts show that about a quarter of students meet proficiency standards across grades three through eight, with performance varying slightly by grade. In mathematics, proficiency rates are much lower, ranging from roughly one in ten students in the upper elementary and middle grades to about one in three in third grade. Science proficiency sits around one in five students at the two tested grades. Among Merced County's districts, Gustine's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile, meaning academic performance lags most of its regional peers. Trend data for the current year alone does not show whether performance has been stable, improving, or declining over time.

The student body is predominantly Latino, making up roughly six in seven students. The student population also includes a smaller share of white students and small numbers from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. The district does not report rates for free-and-reduced-price lunch or English learner enrollment, so the socioeconomic and language makeup of the population is not fully visible in the data available.

One notable ongoing challenge is chronic absenteeism. The district's rate sits well above the county median, placing it in the bottom quartile regionally. A parent considering this district may want to look into the school's approach to attendance, as absenteeism at this level often correlates with academic difficulty and can compound learning gaps.

On the support services front, the district recently secured federal funding for a Student Wellness Center, a centralized facility consolidating mental health and counseling services at the high school and middle school. This is a concrete addition to student support infrastructure designed to improve engagement and attendance by bringing behavioral health services into one accessible location rather than scattering them across buildings.

Housing in the area is relatively affordable. The median home value is well below the state average, and rental costs are modest by state standards. For a family with a moderate income, housing affordability is reasonable compared to much of California, though mortgage and rent costs remain a meaningful part of household budgets.

The district comprises three communities within Merced County: Gustine, Los Banos, and Newman. It is a rural, agricultural region with limited urban services. This setting shapes both the economic context and the student population the district serves.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,679

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 86%

Black 0%

White 10%

Asian 1%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

24%

—

Gr 3

23%

32%

Gr 4

22%

47%

Gr 5

33%

26%

Gr 6

15%

23%

Gr 7

19%

22%

Gr 8

16%

53%

Gr 11

44%

—

Math

Gr ALL

13%

—

Gr 3

31%

32%

Gr 4

16%

42%

Gr 5

25%

Gr 6

Gr 7

13%

22%

Gr 8

18%

Gr 11

—

Science

Gr ALL

18%

—

Gr 5

22%

15%

Gr 8

15%

53%

Gr 10

—

Gr 11

25%

—

Gr HS

19%

—

Gr UG_SEC

20%

—

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

Gustine Elementary

Gustine High

Pioneer High (Continuation)

Romero Elementary

Gustine Middle

Pioneer Headstart

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

31%

Grade 3

20%

Grade 4

11%

Grade 5

Grade 6

15%

Grade 7

10%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

25%

Grade 3

25%

Grade 4

32%

Grade 5

16%

Grade 6

19%

Grade 7

21%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

20%

Grade 5

20%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

36%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$428,952

Year-over-year change-2.8%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$421K to $463K

vs. state typical0.55x

vs. national typical1.17x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95322	Gustine	$421K	-2.7%	76.4%
93635	Los Banos	$463K	-3.1%	15.1%
95360	Newman	$439K	-2.9%	8.6%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,307/mo

Year-over-year change+2.3%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
93635	Los Banos	$2,307	+2.3%	15.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,165/mo

Home price / national median income5.1x

Annual rent / national median income33.1%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$142/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.