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Plainsburg Union Elementary

Q: Is Plainsburg Union Elementary a good school?

Plainsburg Union Elementary ranks 3024 th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-8

3024^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,857 California Elementary Schools

Better than 48% of California elementary schools

Summary

Plainsburg Union Elementary is a small, rural K-8 school in Merced County, serving 113 students with a notable strength in English Language Arts and a lower rate of economic disadvantage compared to many nearby schools.

Academically, the school shows a clear pattern: students excel in reading and writing, with English scores above the state average and outperforming most neighboring schools like Farmdale Elementary and Pioneer Elementary. This strength grows by grade, with 8th graders performing particularly well. However, math and science scores are below state averages, indicating an important area for growth. The school operates very efficiently, spending the least per student among local schools while achieving these competitive ELA results.

Compared to other schools, Plainsburg stands out for its lower chronic absenteeism and its K-8 structure, which provides continuity through middle school. It is part of the Plainsburg Union Elementary district, which is ranked higher than the Merced City Elementary district that governs several nearby schools. While its statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, the school currently holds a solid middle position, offering a focused environment where students show strong progress in core literacy skills.

113

Students ?

19.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,280

Per pupil spending ?

47.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3708 South Plainsburg Rd.
Merced, CA 95341-9557

(209) 389-4707

District: Plainsburg Union Elementary

Students who attend Plainsburg Union Elementary usually attend:

High:

Le Grand High

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

53.1%

White:

44.2%

Asian:

2.7%

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Compare Plainsburg Union Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 60th percentile in 2015 → 48th in 2025

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 12 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school39%

District avg39%

California avg41%

Elementary school

3,024^th of 5,857

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 48%▼ down 11 pts since 2015

From top 40% (2015) to bottom 48% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

1,216^th of 2,761

California public middle schools ?

Top 44%▲ up 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of California Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

712^th of 1,543Plainsburg Union 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	42.7	3024 of 5857	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	41.3	3103 of 5869	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	62.2	1937 of 5859	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	40.0	3085 of 5883	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	61.0	495 of 1417	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	46.0	2822 of 5789	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	18.8	4788 of 5662	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	26.4	4127 of 5692	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	24.6	4218 of 5614	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	53.7	2254 of 5611	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	53.0	2500 of 5530	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	59.0	2099 of 5390	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	59.0	2092 of 5377	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	58.0	2101 of 5314	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2009	44.3	2808 of 5193	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	40.8	2900 of 5113	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	43.8	2502 of 4818	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2004	28.7	3320 of 4809	31.0%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	48.7	1216 of 2761	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.2	697 of 2783	75.0%	★★★★☆
2023	57.3	973 of 2781	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	30.1	1657 of 2480	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	47.7	1172 of 2508	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	51.5	1075 of 2497	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	48.6	1135 of 2477	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	54.8	1024 of 2379	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	61.8	777 of 2259	65.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	63.9	688 of 2179	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2008	14.8	1802 of 2005	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	84.8	211 of 1804	88.3%	★★★★☆
2004	37.9	1016 of 1769	42.6%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs California (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy51%+3 vs state

Mathematics33%-4 vs state

Science23%-10 vs state

★

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Schools Near Plainsburg Union 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
Plainsburg Union Elementary	Public	K-8	3708 South Plainsburg Rd.	Merced	95341	Merced County	Plainsburg Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 389-4707	113	6	19.4	47.8%	50 (44.2%)	0 (0.0%)	60 (53.1%)	3 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42.7	3024^th of 5857 public elementary schools	48.4%		41.3	3103^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	47.1%	79	23.1	23.1	23.1	36.4	41.7	46.2	53.9		61.5	51.4	45.5	33.3	30.8	23.1		23.1	33.3							$16,280	$1,837	$14,443
Planada Elementary	Public	K-5	9525 East Broderick St.	Planada	95365	Merced County	Planada Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 382-0351	583	28	20.8	90.6%	11 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	566 (97.1%)	3 (0.5%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33.2	3715^th of 5857 public elementary schools	36.6%		31.5	3812^th of 5869 public elementary schools	35.0%	97	28.8		28.8	26.0	41.8	47.5				37.7	26.8	29.3	25.0				27.0	95.3	98.1			96.2	98.1	$18,468	$12,865	$5,603
Le Grand Elementary	Public	K-8	13071 East Le Grand Rd.	Le Grand	95333	Merced County	Le Grand Union Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 389-4515	344	19	18.0	79.4%	31 (9.0%)	0 (0.0%)	301 (87.5%)	7 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.5%)	34.4	3626^th of 5857 public elementary schools	38.1%		24.9	4375^th of 5869 public elementary schools	25.5%	749	13.9	5.0	9.2	36.1	27.5	44.4	48.7	54.8	35.0	41.1	42.9	22.5	25.0	29.7	36.6	5.4	27.0	93.3						$23,191	$1,750	$21,441
Pioneer Elementary	Public	K-5	2950 Gerard Ave.	Merced	95341	Merced County	Weaver Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 725-7111	1,055	52	20.3	91.2%	74 (7.0%)	46 (4.4%)	773 (73.3%)	98 (9.3%)	5 (0.5%)	2 (0.2%)	57 (5.4%)	40.2	3203^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	45.3%		38.3	3283^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	44.1%	80	17.6		17.6	33.7	48.8	43.6				41.8	36.4	47.9	24.2				36.2	95.6	97.8		97.8	97.8	97.8	$17,836	$2,855	$14,981
Stephens Elementary	Public	K-2	355 North 5th St.	Chowchilla	93610	Madera County	Chowchilla Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 665-8060	217	10	22.8	77.9%	46 (21.2%)	0 (0.0%)	164 (75.6%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.8%)								(n/a)																								$21,265	$1,517	$19,748
Merle L. Fuller Elementary	Public	K-2	1101 Monterey Ave.	Chowchilla	93610	Madera County	Chowchilla Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 665-8050	508	26	19.5	92.5%	86 (16.9%)	4 (0.8%)	390 (76.8%)	9 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.7%)								(n/a)																		89.3	94.1	97.6	98.2	94.1	92.9	$20,068	$1,496	$18,572
Ronald Reagan Elementary	Public	3-4	2200 South Lake Tahoe Dr.	Chowchilla	93610	Madera County	Chowchilla Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(559) 665-8080	490	21	23.9	90.2%	100 (20.4%)	8 (1.6%)	364 (74.3%)	8 (1.6%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)	19.8	4840^th of 5857 public elementary schools	17.4%		25.8	4292^nd of 5869 public elementary schools	26.9%	548				24.4	27.7					26.1	28.7	22.3					25.4							$18,233	$1,191	$17,042
Ada Givens Elementary	Public	K-6	2900 Green St.	Merced	95340	Merced County	Merced City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 385-6610	579	25	23.2	78.9%	86 (14.9%)	30 (5.2%)	402 (69.4%)	35 (6.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (4.3%)	24.1	4486^th of 5857 public elementary schools	23.4%		34.4	3565^th of 5869 public elementary schools	39.3%	921	17.8		17.8	31.7	33.8	31.5	27.5			31.0	39.0	26.3	17.8	11.0			23.3	96.5	98.2		98.2	97.4	98.2	$18,190	$2,597	$15,593
Charles Wright Elementary	Public	K-6	900 East 20th St.	Merced	95340	Merced County	Merced City Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 385-6615	527	24	22.0	80.3%	60 (11.4%)	5 (0.9%)	402 (76.3%)	23 (4.4%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (6.3%)	25.2	4373^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	25.3%		22.3	4653^rd of 5869 public elementary schools	20.7%	280	16.4		16.4	33.8	34.9	30.1	38.0			34.3	36.4	20.3	20.6	8.9			21.5							$18,304	$2,340	$15,964
Farmdale Elementary	Public	K-5	100 Winder Ave.	Merced	95341	Merced County	Weaver Union	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 725-7170	919	44	20.7	92.9%	41 (4.5%)	31 (3.4%)	682 (74.2%)	149 (16.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	14 (1.5%)	40.8	3162^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	46.0%		28.5	4070^th of 5869 public elementary schools	30.7%	908	12.3		12.3	57.6	38.1	27.8				41.1	68.4	33.1	16.6				39.2	98.2						$19,104	$3,058	$16,046

Frequently Asked Questions about Plainsburg Union Elementary

What schools do graduates of Plainsburg Union Elementary attend?

Students who attend Plainsburg Union Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Le Grand High

Is Plainsburg Union Elementary a good school?

Plainsburg Union Elementary ranks 3024^th of 5857 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Plainsburg Union Elementary?

Students at Plainsburg Union Elementary are 53% Hispanic, 44% White, 3% Asian.

What district is Plainsburg Union Elementary in?

Plainsburg Union Elementary

How many students attend Plainsburg Union Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 113 students attended Plainsburg Union Elementary.

Rate Plainsburg Union Elementary!

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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.