Summary:
The Merced Union High school district serves grades 9-12 across nine high schools in a predominantly low-income area, with total enrollment over 11,000 students.
Among the six comprehensive high schools, Buhach Colony High and El Capitan High are the top performers, with Buhach Colony having the strongest science scores and El Capitan achieving the highest graduation rate and English proficiency in the district. In contrast, Livingston High shows the lowest math and science scores among the comprehensive schools, while the smaller alternative and continuation schools, like Yosemite High (Continuation), face significant academic and attendance challenges despite receiving more funding per student.
The district excels at graduating students, with most schools exceeding the state average, but struggles with chronic absenteeism and severe gaps in math proficiency across all schools. Parents should note that while the district successfully supports students to graduation, academic performance, especially in mathematics, lags significantly behind state averages, and attendance is a major area for improvement.
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