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Shaffer Elementary

Q: Is Shaffer Elementary a good school?

Shaffer Elementary ranks 3784 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

3784^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 35% of California elementary schools

Summary

Shaffer Elementary is a K-6 public school serving 405 students in the Atwater Elementary district, which ranks in the middle of all districts statewide.

Academically, Shaffer faces significant challenges, with student proficiency in English and Math consistently below both the district and state averages. For example, only 27.9% of students are proficient in Math, compared to 44.72% at nearby Thomas Olaeta Elementary. However, the school shows a relative strength in Science, where it outperforms the district average. A notable bright spot is the dramatic improvement in student attendance; chronic absenteeism has plummeted from over 36% to just 9.2% in recent years, a rate now better than the district average and significantly better than the state.

Despite having high per-student spending, Shaffer's academic performance is the lowest among its seven district peers, indicating that factors beyond funding are at play. The school has seen a decline in its statewide ranking over the past decade. Comparisons reveal that improvement is possible, as schools like Frank Sparkes Elementary in the neighboring Winton district achieve much higher scores while serving a student population with similar economic needs.

405

Students ?

22.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,876

Per pupil spending ?

81%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1434 California St.
Atwater, CA 95301-4464

(209) 357-6145

District: Atwater Elementary

Students who attend Shaffer Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Mitchell Intermediate
High:	Buhach Colony High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

80.0%

White:

11.9%

Asian:

5.2%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Shaffer Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 59th percentile in 2013 → 35th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (31% vs 41% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 24 percentile points since 2013

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school31%

District avg36%

California avg41%

3,784^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 35%▼ down 4 pts since 2015

From bottom 39% (2015) to bottom 35% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 8Elementary Schools in the Atwater Elementary

765^th of 1,543Atwater Elementary among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	32.2	3784 of 5857	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.2	3503 of 5869	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.0	2942 of 5859	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	49.3	2563 of 5883	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	37.2	3372 of 5789	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.4	3793 of 5662	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2017	40.4	3080 of 5692	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	35.3	3383 of 5614	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2015	33.6	3427 of 5611	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	57.7	2257 of 5530	59.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	49.8	2628 of 5390	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	40.7	3195 of 5377	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2010	33.7	3568 of 5314	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2009	16.6	4637 of 5193	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	24.5	4010 of 5113	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	25.8	3870 of 5113	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	21.2	3903 of 4818	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	31.8	3170 of 4822	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2004	37.2	2799 of 4809	41.8%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	56.4	681 of 2227	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	32.7	1642 of 2585	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.8	928 of 2128	56.4%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	50.1	1174 of 3162	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.5	310 of 3245	90.4%	★★★★★
2022	65.1	609 of 3311	81.6%	★★★★☆
2019	55.0	998 of 3275	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	25.7	2673 of 3246	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	35.3	3447 of 5597	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	39.4	3106 of 5612	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.3	2798 of 5609	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	45.3	2683 of 5635	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	43.0	2920 of 5492	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.1	3676 of 5413	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	36.8	3264 of 5107	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.5	2583 of 5107	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.8	2011 of 5087	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.0	1474 of 5084	71.0%	★★★★☆
2019	49.2	2338 of 4963	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	34.6	3227 of 4830	33.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	38.4	3313 of 5460	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.6	3015 of 5517	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.4	2339 of 5363	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	63.6	1491 of 5264	71.7%	★★★★☆
2019	46.6	2643 of 5173	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	37.2	3229 of 5084	36.5%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	30.9	3776 of 5628	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	31.6	3691 of 5643	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.0	2915 of 5638	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.1	2284 of 5663	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	31.9	3631 of 5510	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.1	3618 of 5431	33.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	36.6	1355 of 2420	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2023	27.7	2042 of 2661	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.2	1976 of 2726	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	45.9	1676 of 2834	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	29.9	2078 of 2737	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Disabled (2022)69th percentile+13 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)63rd percentile+23 vs school

Special Education (2023)44th percentile-6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)39th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2025)38th percentile+3 vs school

Hispanic (2025)36th percentile~ school

Male (2025)33rd percentile~ school

White (2023)23rd percentile-27 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy36%-13 vs state

Mathematics28%-9 vs state

Science25%-8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Shaffer Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				CAST Science (2025)			Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2025)							Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)							% Completely Immunized (2022)	% Polio (2022)	% Hepatitis B (2022)	% Varicella (2022)	% DTP (2022)	% MMR (2022)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% DTP KG	% MMR KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Shaffer Elementary	Public	K-6	1434 California St.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6145	405	18	22.2	81.0%	48 (11.9%)	5 (1.2%)	324 (80.0%)	21 (5.2%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	4 (1.0%)	32.2	3784^th of 5857 public elementary schools	35.4%		35.2	3503^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	40.3%	281	24.6		24.6	35.6	36.8	41.1	31.2			36.1	42.4	26.3	16.1	26.2			27.9	94.4			97.2	97.2	97.2	$18,876	$3,128	$15,748
Thomas Olaeta Elementary	Public	K-6	2266 High St.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6148	374	17	22.0	73.8%	51 (13.6%)	6 (1.6%)	282 (75.4%)	17 (4.5%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (3.5%)	60.3	2051^st of 5857 public elementary schools	65.0%		64.1	1870^th of 5869 public elementary schools	68.1%	181	33.3		33.3	54.4	64.0	43.8	46.3			52.0	55.3	50.0	35.4	38.9			44.7	92.2	95.3	96.9	93.8	93.8	93.8	$19,391	$3,012	$16,379
Juniper Elementary	Public	K-6	661 East Juniper Ave.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-9930	495	20	24.7	73.3%	61 (12.3%)	4 (0.8%)	381 (77.0%)	36 (7.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.4%)	54.4	2345^th of 5857 public elementary schools	60.0%		48.1	2657^th of 5869 public elementary schools	54.7%	312	45.3		45.3	29.1	53.3	57.8	42.1			46.2	37.5	41.7	42.2	36.8			39.7							$17,706	$2,620	$15,086
Mitchell Elementary	Public	K-6	1761 Grove Ave.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6112	528	22	24.0	86.0%	40 (7.6%)	8 (1.5%)	444 (84.1%)	21 (4.0%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.7%)	54.7	2324^th of 5857 public elementary schools	60.3%		51.3	2491^st of 5869 public elementary schools	57.6%	167	28.6		28.6	46.0	24.4	47.4	56.1			45.4	63.5	30.4	40.8	44.8			46.0	96.9				96.9		$18,222	$2,695	$15,527
Elmer Wood Elementary	Public	K-6	1271 West Bellevue Rd.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6143	514	22	23.3	76.3%	95 (18.5%)	7 (1.4%)	387 (75.3%)	9 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.1%)	47.7	2725^th of 5857 public elementary schools	53.5%		57.9	2156^th of 5869 public elementary schools	63.3%	569	25.4		25.4	32.5	50.0	44.1	53.7			45.2	32.5	48.1	28.8	38.6			37.5	94.3			96.6	96.6	96.6	$18,072	$2,947	$15,125
Bellevue Elementary	Public	K-6	1020 East Bellevue Rd.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6140	599	25	23.9	91.8%	30 (5.0%)	9 (1.5%)	535 (89.3%)	10 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (2.2%)	33.1	3716^th of 5857 public elementary schools	36.6%		35	3514^th of 5869 public elementary schools	40.1%	202	16.3		16.3	33.8	33.3	32.2	47.7			36.8	39.0	30.0	29.4	24.4			30.5	95.3		98.1	97.2	96.3	97.2	$19,470	$3,723	$15,747
Aileen Colburn Elementary	Public	K-6	2201 Heller St.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6136	371	17	21.8	91.6%	33 (8.9%)	12 (3.2%)	322 (86.8%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	40.1	3216^th of 5857 public elementary schools	45.1%		34.3	3577^th of 5869 public elementary schools	39.1%	361	18.5		18.5	41.5	50.0	40.4	37.8			42.7	61.1	29.6	14.8	24.4			32.9	94.7	97.4		96.1	96.1	97.4	$19,576	$3,487	$16,089
Peggy Heller Elementary	Public	K-8	201 Lake View Dr.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6517	712	30	23.7	63.8%	138 (19.4%)	12 (1.7%)	499 (70.1%)	35 (4.9%)	5 (0.7%)	2 (0.3%)	21 (2.9%)	36.6	3434^th of 5857 public elementary schools	41.4%		50.9	2513^th of 5869 public elementary schools	57.2%	921	21.7	24.1	22.9	30.8	45.2	37.0	41.4	62.8	58.6	46.6	35.4	38.7	24.1	32.2	38.3	46.0	35.8	96.6			96.6			$17,666	$3,064	$14,602
Frank Sparkes Elementary	Public	K-5	7265 West Almond Ave.	Winton	95388	Merced County	Winton	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6180	422	18	23.4	92.7%	21 (5.0%)	2 (0.5%)	377 (89.3%)	20 (4.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	78.9	1200^th of 5857 public elementary schools	79.5%		73.7	1423^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	75.8%	223	38.7		38.7	71.7	70.8	71.2				71.2	67.9	52.3	46.7				54.4	96.9			96.9			$15,868	$790	$15,078
Winfield Elementary	Public	K-5	6981 Chestnut Ln.	Winton	95388	Merced County	Winton	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6891	444	20	22.2	92.6%	22 (5.0%)	5 (1.1%)	403 (90.8%)	11 (2.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	34.8	3603^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	38.5%		34.3	3582^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	39.0%	21	16.7		16.7	39.0	41.7	37.2				39.2	40.3	36.1	20.5				32.2							$17,076	$1,056	$16,020

Frequently Asked Questions about Shaffer Elementary

What schools do graduates of Shaffer Elementary attend?

Students who attend Shaffer Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Mitchell Intermediate
High : Buhach Colony High

Is Shaffer Elementary a good school?

Shaffer Elementary ranks 3784^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Shaffer Elementary in?

Atwater Elementary

How many students attend Shaffer Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 405 students attended Shaffer Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Shaffer Elementary?

Students at Shaffer Elementary are 80% Hispanic, 12% White, 5% Asian, 1% African American.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.