Winton Middle, Winton CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Winton Middle

Winton Middle serves grades six through eight in a small unincorporated farming community in northern Merced County. The school's enrollment is balanced across its grade span, with roughly equal numbers of students in each year. The overwhelming majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the area's economic profile. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller numbers of Asian, White, and other students.

California state test data from the most recent school year shows proficiency rates that fall below the state midpoint. In English language arts, the school's performance ranges from about forty percent proficient in seventh grade to just over fifty percent in eighth grade, with sixth graders near forty-seven percent. Mathematics proficiency is notably lower, with sixth and seventh graders near thirty percent and eighth graders approaching thirty-five percent. Science proficiency in eighth grade stands at about twenty-seven percent. These results indicate that fewer than half of students in most grades are meeting grade-level standards in tested subjects. A parent may want to look into further with the school what supports are in place for students working below proficiency, and what the pathway looks like from here into high school.

When compared to the other districts in Merced County, Winton Middle's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile. That positioning reflects strength relative to neighbors, though it does not change the fact that proficiency rates at the school remain low in absolute terms. The comparison group includes districts across a wide range of performance; Winton Middle's placement in the top quartile suggests the county as a whole faces academic challenges, and that this school performs better than most of its peers regionally.

Winton itself is a tight-knit residential farming community with low housing costs, predominantly rented housing stock, and limited commercial activity. The central area consists of grid-style blocks of mid-century bungalows and cottages. Civic life anchors around a community park and a county library branch; residents can walk locally but must travel to nearby Atwater or Merced for larger shopping, medical services, and other major institutions. Employment is sparse within Winton; the regional economy centers on agriculture and food processing. A regional commute of reasonable length connects residents to jobs in surrounding areas, including Foster Farms operations, UC Merced, and other major employers. Population growth has been slow and steady over decades. The area carries a family-oriented, lower-cost-of-living character suited to households seeking affordability and community rootedness rather than urban amenity or rapid development.

No recent parent-relevant changes to the district's programs, curriculum, or funding were found in publicly available sources, so the current academic and operational landscape appears stable.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 630%

School 30% · District 30%

even with state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

Grade 728%

School 28% · District 28%

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

Grade 835%

School 35% · District 35%

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

English language arts

Grade 647%

School 47% · District 47%

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

Grade 739%

School 39% · District 39%

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 852%

School 52% · District 52%

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

Science

Grade 827%

School 27% · District 27%

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 861%

School 61% · District 61%

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 24 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income47%Higher-income58%12 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income38%Higher-income60%22 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income49%Higher-income81%32 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income29%Higher-income50%21 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income25%Higher-income53%28 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income32%Higher-income63%30 pp gap