Margaret Sheehy Elementary

Margaret Sheehy Elementary is a K-6 public school serving 481 students in the Merced City Elementary district, which faces significant academic challenges across its schools.

The school consistently ranks in the bottom tier statewide for academic performance, with only about a quarter of students proficient in English and fewer than one in five proficient in math. A major concern is chronic absenteeism, with over 27% of students missing significant school, a rate higher than most nearby schools like Leontine Gracey Elementary. The student population is one of the most economically disadvantaged in the area, with 94% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Interestingly, the school spends more per student than any of its neighbors, yet achieves lower academic results than schools like Luther Burbank Elementary, which spends less.

There are some notable patterns within the school: it has historically shown stronger results for English Language Learners, but struggles significantly with students in special education. Academic performance also varies wildly by grade, with 3rd-grade math scores being relatively stronger before dropping dramatically by 5th grade. While chronic absenteeism remains high, it has improved considerably since the peak of the pandemic. The school's performance has been volatile over the years, and it is geographically clustered with other lower-performing schools in the district, suggesting shared community-wide factors.