Farmdale Elementary, Merced CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Farmdale Elementary

Farmdale Elementary is a school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Merced, located in the Weaver Union School District. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is small to moderate in size for an elementary school.

On state testing, Farmdale's results show a clear pattern of challenge across both math and English language arts. In third grade, students show the strongest proficiency in math; in the upper grades, proficiency declines notably. By fifth grade, proficiency in math and reading falls to low levels, and science proficiency at that grade is also quite low. Across all tested grades and subjects, the school's overall proficiency sits above the midpoint when compared to other districts in Merced County, but this positioning reflects the county context rather than strong absolute performance. Proficiency rates tend to decline as students progress from grade three to five, a pattern a parent may want to look into further with the school to understand what factors may contribute and what supports are in place.

The school sits in Merced, a small city in California's northern Central Valley with a tree-lined downtown core of locally owned shops, restaurants and a restored theater, anchored by the Merced County Courthouse. The broader area economy blends higher education anchored by UC Merced and Merced College, healthcare centered on Mercy Medical Center, government employment, agriculture, and food processing. The city is on a growth trajectory tied to UC Merced's expansion and the planned California High-Speed Rail station, which is expected to reshape and revitalize the downtown. Development is concentrating in North Merced and near the campus.

Housing in the area is moderately priced relative to the state, though rents have risen. The region's economic fundamentals show stable employment. Families considering the area should be aware that in November 2024, district voters approved a general obligation school bond that will fund new school construction to relieve overcrowding and modernization of facilities, raising local property taxes for as long as the bonds are outstanding. This carries a lasting homeowner tax obligation.

The school's testing results suggest families should understand clearly where their child stands academically and what interventions and supports are available, particularly as students enter fourth and fifth grades where proficiency rates show steeper declines.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 368%

School 68% · District 51% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 29 pts above county median

Grade 433%

School 33% · District 41% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

Grade 517%

School 17% · District 20% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 358%

School 58% · District 45% · ▲ 13 pts above district

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▲ 24 pts above county median

Grade 438%

School 38% · District 44% · ▼ 6 pts below district

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

Grade 528%

School 28% · District 36% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Science

Grade 512%

School 12% · District 15% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

This schoolWeaver Union, 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.