Frank Sparkes Elementary, Winton CA

Original Research by School Decision on Frank Sparkes Elementary

Frank Sparkes Elementary is a small public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in Winton, an unincorporated farming community in northern Merced County. The school enrolls a small cohort of students, with the student body predominantly Hispanic, and a substantial share qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the rural agricultural area.

On state assessments, the school shows a mixed picture. In English language arts across grades three through five, proficiency runs solidly in the low-to-mid range, with performance consistent across the upper elementary grades. Mathematics proficiency is notably lower, declining as students progress from grade three to grade five. Performance in science, measured only in grade five, falls below proficiency at a notably smaller share of students. Across all tested subjects and grades, Frank Sparkes ranks in the top quartile of proficiency among the county's districts, a meaningful strength given the school's high-poverty context and rural setting.

The school serves a community with low household incomes and limited local economic anchors. Winton itself has few jobs and residents typically commute to nearby Atwater or Merced for work. Housing in the area is affordable relative to state benchmarks, and the community is characterized by a mix of 1940s-era cottages and modern rental housing. The region's economy centers on agriculture and food processing, with farms and ranches providing seasonal and year-round work. This economic profile shapes both the student demographics and the challenges the school faces in supporting academic growth.

Enrollment data were not available on special education or English learner rates, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how many students receive services in these areas and what language support or specialized instruction is available. The school's mathematics performance warrants attention, particularly the decline in proficiency from lower to upper grades. A parent considering Frank Sparkes would benefit from understanding what math instruction looks like, whether the school has targeted interventions for students below grade level, and how students transition into middle school mathematics.

The school is located on West Almond Avenue in a rural setting with limited walkable amenities nearby. Civic institutions in the broader community, including the library branch and the main community park, are dispersed along the North Winton Way corridor rather than clustered in a downtown. Residents report the community is family-oriented with a low cost of living, though commercial and entertainment options are sparse; most daily needs require a short drive to larger towns.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 368%

School 68% · District 48% · ▲ 20 pts above district

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

Grade 452%

School 52% · District 45% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Grade 547%

School 47% · District 31% · ▲ 16 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 372%

School 72% · District 51% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above county median

Grade 471%

School 71% · District 56% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 35 pts above county median

Grade 571%

School 71% · District 54% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

Science

Grade 539%

School 39% · District 29% · ▲ 10 pts above district

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

This schoolWinton, 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.