Best Public Schools in Zip Code 93638

This analysis covers 20 schools in zip code 93638, serving grades K-12 in Madera, California, a high-poverty area where most schools have over 90% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Academic performance varies widely across these schools. Sherman Thomas STEM Academy is a clear standout, ranking in the top 3% of middle schools statewide with exceptional test scores and virtually no chronic absenteeism. Matilda Torres High also performs well with a strong 95.4% graduation rate. In contrast, schools like Martin Luther King Junior Middle and Sierra Vista Elementary rank in the bottom 10% statewide, and Mountain Vista High faces significant challenges with a 73.5% chronic absenteeism rate.

Overall, schools in the Madera Unified district underperform state averages, particularly in math, where only three schools exceed 30% proficiency. The data shows that higher spending per student does not guarantee better results, and charter schools like those in the Sherman Thomas STEM Academy District have mixed outcomes. Parents should note the extreme differences in school climate and performance even within the same area.