Merced City Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Merced City Elementary

Merced City Elementary serves a large district spanning kindergarten through eighth grade across eighteen schools in Merced County. The enrollment is substantial and growing through parts of the district, with a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, along with sizable Asian, white, and Black populations. The racial and ethnic composition reflects the broader demographics of Merced and surrounding areas including Atwater.

Academic performance across the district sits below the median when compared with other Merced County districts. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from around one-third at the elementary grades to somewhat higher in the middle grades, where it approaches four in ten students. Mathematics proficiency is notably lower, dropping sharply from grade three through the middle grades, with only about one in five students reaching proficiency in grades four through eight. Science proficiency, where tested, is similarly low. These results suggest students are encountering significant challenges in mathematics in particular, and parents may want to ask the district directly about the specific supports and instructional approaches being used to address these gaps.

Chronic absenteeism in the district is substantially higher than the median for Merced County districts, placing it in the bottom quartile. This points to attendance as an area of concern alongside academic proficiency. Per-pupil spending falls in the lower range compared to other county districts, which may be relevant context as families consider the district's resources and capacity.

The district has undertaken major structural changes to address overcrowding. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, elementary school boundaries are being redrawn, and starting in 2026-2027, sixth graders will move from elementary schools back to middle school campuses. These changes affect a substantial portion of the student population and will require families in affected areas to transition to different schools and a new grade configuration. Parents living in or considering homes in this district should clarify whether their current or prospective address falls within the affected boundaries and plan accordingly.

In November, voters approved a school facilities bond to modernize and add safety upgrades to all district schools over roughly the next decade. This represents a significant long-term investment in the physical plant and reflects the district's capital needs. The bond carries a property tax cost that varies by assessed value and will be collected through the mid-2050s, a recurring expense homeowners in the district should factor into their housing decisions.

Housing values in the Merced area are moderate compared to state and national benchmarks, with home prices and rents both moderately affordable by California standards, though affordability ratios suggest rent and mortgage costs consume a meaningful share of household income. The economic context locally includes a modest unemployment rate and stable median household income. The district's eighteen schools include multiple elementary schools, several middle schools, and a community day program, providing families with a structured K-8 pathway before students transition to high school elsewhere in the county.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

11,013

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 69%

Black 5%

White 11%

Asian 9%

Two+ 5%

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

31%

—

Gr 3

26%

53%

Gr 4

29%

52%

Gr 5

33%

58%

Gr 6

34%

48%

Gr 7

33%

57%

Gr 8

33%

58%

Math

Gr ALL

18%

—

Gr 3

28%

56%

Gr 4

20%

44%

Gr 5

15%

42%

Gr 6

15%

32%

Gr 7

16%

37%

Gr 8

15%

37%

Science

Gr 5

18%

43%

Gr 8

13%

30%

Gr HS

15%

—

Schools in this District

19 schools are officially reported under this district.

Herbert H. Cruickshank Middle

Ada Givens Elementary

Charles Wright Elementary

Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary

Franklin Elementary

Herbert Hoover Middle

John C. Fremont Elementary

John Muir Elementary

Luther Burbank Elementary

Margaret Sheehy Elementary

Rudolph Rivera Middle

Tenaya Middle

Don Stowell Elementary

Merced City School District Community Day

Allan Peterson Elementary

Leontine Gracey Elementary

Alicia Reyes Elementary

Joe Stefani

Rudolph Rivera Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

32%

Grade 3

24%

Grade 4

19%

Grade 5

18%

Grade 6

19%

Grade 7

19%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

30%

Grade 3

32%

Grade 4

37%

Grade 5

36%

Grade 6

37%

Grade 7

38%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

22%

Grade 5

16%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

35%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$415,133

Year-over-year change-0.9%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$364K to $479K

vs. state typical0.53x

vs. national typical1.13x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
95340	Merced	$405K	-1.4%	40.6%
95348	Merced	$417K	-1.8%	37.1%
95369	Merced	$479K	+3.4%	11.0%
95341	Merced	$364K	-1.3%	7.4%
95301	Atwater	$423K	+0.5%	3.9%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,801/mo

Year-over-year change+3.2%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$1,722 to $1,886/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
95340	Merced	$1,722	+4.5%	40.6%
95348	Merced	$1,886	+1.0%	37.1%
95341	Merced	$1,848	+7.5%	7.4%
95301	Atwater	$1,724	—	3.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,095/mo

Home price / national median income5.0x

Annual rent / national median income25.8%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$294/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.