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Juniper Elementary

Q: Is Juniper Elementary a good school?

Juniper Elementary ranks 2345 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

2345^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 60% of California elementary schools

Summary

Juniper Elementary is a public elementary school in Atwater, California, serving 420 students in grades K-6. As part of the Atwater Elementary District, which is ranked 773 out of 1,565 districts in the state, Juniper Elementary stands out as a strong-performing school with impressive academic achievements.

Juniper Elementary outperforms the Atwater Elementary district and the state of California in several key areas. The school's English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics proficiency rates are higher than the district and state at multiple grade levels, and its 5th-grade science proficiency rates are significantly higher. Juniper Elementary's White, Hispanic, and Special Education students also perform better than their counterparts in the district and state. Additionally, the school has seen a decrease in chronic absenteeism rates over the past two school years.

When compared to nearby schools, Juniper Elementary outperforms Aileen Colburn Elementary and Shaffer Elementary in both ELA and Mathematics proficiency. However, Thomas Olaeta Elementary and Elmer Wood Elementary have higher proficiency rates in certain grade levels and subject areas. Despite having a relatively high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, Juniper Elementary's strong academic performance and decreasing chronic absenteeism rates suggest that the school is effectively utilizing its resources to support the learning and growth of its diverse student population.

495

Students ?

24.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,392

Per pupil spending ?

73.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

661 East Juniper Ave.
Atwater, CA 95301

(209) 357-9930

District: Atwater Elementary

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

77.0%

White:

12.3%

Asian:

7.3%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Juniper Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 55th percentile in 2024 → 60th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2024

✓Above the California median (60th percentile)

Worth a look

!Large classes — about 25 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg36%

California avg41%

2,345^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Top 40%▲ up 5 pts since 2024

From top 45% (2024) to top 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd 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	54.4	2345 of 5857	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.1	2657 of 5869	54.7%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	62.0	652 of 3162	79.4%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	57.1	2091 of 5597	62.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.9	2326 of 5612	58.6%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	60.7	1676 of 5107	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.9	2141 of 5107	58.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	62.8	1693 of 5460	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	56.6	1990 of 5517	63.9%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	47.9	2620 of 5628	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	43.3	2861 of 5643	49.3%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	52.7	980 of 2847	65.6%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	71.2	732 of 2598	71.8%	★★★★☆
2024	48.9	1447 of 2651	45.4%	★★☆☆☆

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)

English Language Learner (2024)79th percentile+25 vs school

White (2025)72nd percentile+12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)69th percentile+9 vs school

Hispanic (2025)67th percentile+7 vs school

Special Education (2025)66th percentile+6 vs school

Female (2025)63rd percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)53rd percentile-7 vs school

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy46%-3 vs state

Science45%+13 vs state

Mathematics40%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Juniper Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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 (2025)
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
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							$20,392	$18,244	$2,148
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	$26,002	$23,884	$2,118
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	$24,606	$22,466	$2,140
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	$25,194	$22,748	$2,446
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	$21,732	$19,418	$2,314
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		$23,398	$21,320	$2,078
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			$20,385	$18,046	$2,339
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	$24,989	$22,596	$2,393
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			$20,087	$19,110	$977
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							$26,202	$25,010	$1,192

Frequently Asked Questions about Juniper Elementary

Is Juniper Elementary a good school?

Juniper Elementary ranks 2345^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Juniper Elementary in?

Atwater Elementary

How many students attend Juniper Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 495 students attended Juniper Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Juniper Elementary?

Students at Juniper Elementary are 77% Hispanic, 12% White, 7% Asian, 2% Two or more races.

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Latest California data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataMar 13, 2026

2024–25 CSA Spanish test scoresDec 22, 2025

2024–25 dropout rates & graduation ratesNov 14, 2025

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.