Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary, Merced CA

Original Research by School Decision on Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary

Donn B. Chenoweth Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Merced, a small city in California's northern Central Valley. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with significant Asian and White populations. About two-thirds of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the neighborhood the school serves.

The school's academic performance on state assessments shows a mixed picture across grade levels and subjects. In English language arts, proficiency rates range from low in fifth grade to roughly half of students in third grade and sixth grade meeting proficiency standards. Math proficiency is lower overall, with third graders showing the highest results at under half proficient, while fifth graders post the lowest proficiency rate. Science, measured only in fifth grade, shows proficiency near one-third of students. Across tested subjects and grades combined, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile of districts in Merced County, which suggests the school is performing better than most schools in its regional peer group, even as the absolute proficiency rates reflect learning challenges common to schools serving students experiencing economic stress and housing instability.

The downward trend in math proficiency as students move from third to fifth grade warrants attention. This pattern, where younger students perform better than older students in the same school, often points to accumulated gaps in foundational skills rather than a sudden drop in teaching quality. A parent might want to ask the school about how it addresses the transition from elementary to upper elementary instruction, and whether there is additional math support available for students in grades four through six.

Merced itself is experiencing significant growth and investment. The city is home to UC Merced and is a hub of agricultural and food-processing employment, with the added draw of an upcoming California High-Speed Rail station that is expected to accelerate residential and commercial development. Downtown has a walkable core with local shops, restaurants, and cultural spaces. Housing costs in the Merced area are moderate relative to California statewide, though property values have declined slightly in recent years. The broader school district recently passed a major facilities bond in November 2024, and is implementing substantial boundary and grade-configuration changes that will affect many students starting in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. Families currently attending Chenoweth should be aware that reassignments are possible under these new boundaries.

The school itself had full enrollment across its grade bands as of the most recent data, with particularly strong kindergarten enrollment. Detailed information on staffing, specialized instruction, or enrichment programs was not available, so prospective families may want to visit the school or contact the Merced City Elementary district office directly to learn about reading intervention, English learner support, special education services, or other academic resources available to students.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 347%

School 47% · District 32% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 433%

School 33% · District 24% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 518%

School 18% · District 19% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 628%

School 28% · District 18% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 353%

School 53% · District 30% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Grade 446%

School 46% · District 32% · ▲ 14 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 539%

School 39% · District 37% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 648%

School 48% · District 36% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Science

Grade 531%

School 31% · District 22% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

This schoolMerced City Elementary, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income39%Higher-income77%37 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income38%Higher-income64%26 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income33%Higher-income58%26 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income40%Higher-income61%21 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income36%Higher-income68%32 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income22%Higher-income55%33 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income12%Higher-income38%26 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income18%Higher-income46%28 pp gap