The top reported proficiency rate is 16% in Science. The lowest is 7% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Merquin Elementary
Merquin Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Stevinson, a small agricultural community in northwestern Merced County. The school enrolls a small population of students, with roughly equal-sized cohorts across the grade levels. The overwhelming majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of this farming area. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a small share of white students and very limited racial diversity overall.
Stevinson itself is a rural, unincorporated farming hamlet about twenty miles west of Merced, organized around agricultural land rather than a town center. The economy depends on dairy, beef cattle, almonds, and forage crops. Most residents who work do so outside the community, commuting by car to nearby towns. The Stevinson Ranch Golf Club, which once operated as a local development, permanently closed during a drought. The community is stable to slowly declining in population and has no concentrated downtown. Merquin Elementary's location on West Third Avenue is essentially the only in-community school building; older students transition to Hilmar, the next town over, for middle and high school.
The housing market reflects the rural character. Median home values in the area are lower than the California state benchmark and rent remains more affordable than mortgage costs, meaning many residents rent rather than own. However, mortgage costs and affordability measures suggest sustained economic pressure on homeowning families.
State assessment results from spring 2025 show very low proficiency across tested grades and subjects. In English language arts, third-grade students reached proficiency at a single-digit rate; fourth grade was similarly low; fifth grade achieved proficiency at a quarter of the student body. In math, third and fourth grades showed no measured proficiency, while fifth grade reached a fifth of students. Science proficiency in fifth grade was in the mid-teens. Across all tested subjects and grades combined, Merquin's overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quartile among districts in Merced County. These are the lowest results the school has reported.
A parent considering Merquin should understand that this school faces substantial academic challenges. The proficiency rates are well below typical state benchmarks and below the median for the county. The student population experiences significant economic hardship, with three-quarters qualifying for meal assistance. The school serves a remote, car-dependent rural community with limited economic diversity or local job growth. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school regarding the factors behind these results, what instructional or support changes are underway, and what resources are available for students who need additional help.
The parent district, Hilmar Unified, recently opened a new elementary school for kindergarten through second grade on the Hilmar campus, relieving some overcrowding in lower grades across the district. The district passed a major bond measure in November 2024 to fund this new school, which now carries an ongoing property tax obligation for homeowners. A separate facility improvement bond, Measure M, was defeated in November 2024, leaving other modernization needs at district schools unfunded.
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