Los Banos Unified, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Los Banos Unified

Los Banos Unified serves kindergarten through grade 12 across a mid-sized enrollment in Merced County's agricultural region. The district spans several small towns and unincorporated communities, including Los Banos proper, Dos Palos, Firebaugh, and Gustine. The area is experiencing rapid growth driven by Bay Area migration and new housing construction, a development that is reshaping the district's infrastructure and attendance patterns.

Academic performance across the district is substantially below state proficiency benchmarks. In English language arts, the district's proficiency rate across all tested grades sits in the lower-middle range. Math proficiency is notably weaker, roughly half the ELA rate. Science results are similarly low. These patterns hold across elementary, middle, and upper-middle grades. The district is in the bottom quartile among Merced County's districts for overall proficiency. A parent may want to look into this further with individual schools and the district to understand what interventions or support systems are in place and what progress trajectories look like over time.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic, reflecting the region's demographics and agricultural economy. Asian, white, and Black students each represent small shares of enrollment. Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available, but given the area's economic profile and agricultural base, a substantial share of students likely qualify. English learner enrollment and special education service counts were not reported.

Chronic absenteeism in the district is elevated, placing it in the bottom quartile countywide. This metric often correlates with economic hardship, transportation barriers, or family instability and may be a factor in academic outcomes. Per-pupil spending sits in the middle range among county districts, neither notably high nor low.

The district is in active growth mode. Voters approved a general obligation bond that funded new construction and facility modernization, including a new elementary school and science wing expansion at Pacheco High. A Transitional Kindergarten center was completed and opened recently. Most immediately, elementary school attendance boundaries are being redrawn to relieve overcrowding at Grasslands Elementary, rebalance enrollment, and streamline bus routes. These changes affect roughly a third of the elementary-grade families in the district, making this an active time for enrollment logistics.

Los Banos Elementary is transitioning into a full dual language immersion school using Spanish and English. Families interested in bilingual and biliterate pathways now have a formal option, though the boundary changes are reshaping which families can access it.

The housing market in the district area is moderately priced relative to state benchmarks but less affordable than the national norm. Home values show a recent slight decline, while rental costs have edged up. Monthly housing costs take up a substantial share of income for renters and would-be buyers in the area. The region appeals to families relocating from higher-cost urban centers but remains economically working-class.

Los Banos Unified is a district managing growth while contending with baseline academic challenges. It serves a population with real economic constraints and offers a straightforward K-12 pathway. The addition of formal bilingual programming and ongoing facility investment signal district responsiveness to demographic change. However, proficiency gaps and chronic absenteeism are real and warrant close attention from families considering enrollment or those already in schools here.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

11,057

Grades

KG–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 87%

Black 1%

White 9%

Asian 2%

Two+ 1%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

32%

—

Gr 3

29%

43%

Gr 4

31%

46%

Gr 5

31%

56%

Gr 6

35%

42%

Gr 7

32%

47%

Gr 8

21%

32%

Gr 11

44%

—

Math

Gr ALL

20%

—

Gr 3

32%

43%

Gr 4

26%

43%

Gr 5

14%

31%

Gr 6

20%

29%

Gr 7

17%

28%

Gr 8

16%

25%

Gr 11

14%

—

Science

Gr ALL

13%

—

Gr 5

14%

33%

Gr 8

12%

22%

Gr 11

19%

—

Gr 12

—

Gr HS

15%

—

Gr UG_SEC

18%

—

Schools in this District

17 schools are officially reported under this district.

Charleston Elementary

Henry Miller Elementary

Los Banos Elementary

Los Banos High

Los Banos Junior High

R. M. Miano Elementary

San Luis High (Continuation)

Volta Elementary

Westside Union Elementary

Lorena Falasco Elementary

Crossroads Alternative Education Center

Pacheco High

Mercey Springs Elementary

Los Banos Special Education Preschool

Creekside Junior High

Transitional Kindergarten Center

Grasslands Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

34%

Grade 3

29%

Grade 4

16%

Grade 5

21%

Grade 6

19%

Grade 7

17%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

31%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

34%

Grade 5

36%

Grade 6

34%

Grade 7

23%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

17%

Grade 5

13%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

37%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$441,629

Year-over-year change-2.4%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$338K to $463K

vs. state typical0.57x

vs. national typical1.20x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
93635	Los Banos	$463K	-3.1%	75.2%
93620	Dos Palos	$366K	-0.5%	10.1%
95322	Gustine	$421K	-2.7%	7.5%
93622	Firebaugh	$338K	+3.5%	6.2%
95341	Merced	$364K	-1.3%	1.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,301/mo

Year-over-year change+2.3%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$1,848 to $2,307/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
93635	Los Banos	$2,307	+2.3%	75.2%
95341	Merced	$1,848	+7.5%	1.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,228/mo

Home price / national median income5.3x

Annual rent / national median income33.0%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$72/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.