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Best Public Schools in Zip Code 95301

New rankings! SchoolDigger recently updated its California rankings with newly released test scores for the 2025-26 school year.

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At a glance

Schools

8,658

Students

Districts

Top rankedThomas Olaeta Elementary2288^th of 5,817 California elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Shaffer Elementary up 523 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

Bellevue Senior Elementary 15.2 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

3★

2★

1 school without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)

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Summary:

Zip code 95301 has 12 schools: eight elementary, two middle and two high schools, with the high schools in Merced Union High School District and the other schools in Atwater Elementary School District. In 2025–2026, the listed schools’ all-grades averages were below state results in every subject, with the largest average gap in science: 27% locally compared with 36% statewide.

Among high schools, Buhach Colony High outperformed Atwater High in 11th-grade ELA and math: 53% versus 40% in ELA and 25% versus 16% in math, advantages of 13 and 9 percentage points. Both were below state results. Elementary strengths vary by grade: Mitchell Elementary led 3rd-grade math at 62%, 15 points above state, while Thomas Olaeta Elementary was 5 points above state in 3rd-grade ELA. Juniper Elementary scored 55% in 6th-grade math, compared with 15% at Aileen Colburn Elementary—a 40-point spread; the state result was 37%.

Local all-grades averages rose from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026 in math (by 1 point) and science (by 2), but fell by 1 point in ELA; state results improved faster overall, widening the local gaps by about 1 point in ELA and 2 in science. SchoolDigger’s 2025–2026 statewide percentile rankings were 61 for Thomas Olaeta among elementary and middle schools and 55 for Buhach Colony among high schools; Buhach rose from 39 three years earlier. Context can also help families compare schools: reported student-teacher ratios ranged from 15.2 at Bellevue Senior Elementary to 24.7 at Juniper. All 12 schools reported free/reduced lunch eligible figures for 2024–2025, ranging from 64% at Peggy Heller Elementary to 94% at Bellevue Senior, with an average of 81%; these figures describe school context, not a cause of test results.

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)								Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)								Vaccination (2024-25)		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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science 8th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th 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 11th 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 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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%)	35	3583^rd of 5817 public elementary schools	38.4%		40.1	3216^th of 5857 public elementary schools	45.1%	367	16.7				16.7	40.4	51.0	42.6	26.4				40.0	50.0	31.4	24.1	14.8				29.9	≥ 98%		$21,751	$2,393	$19,358
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%)	32.1	3812^th of 5817 public elementary schools	34.5%		33.1	3716^th of 5857 public elementary schools	36.6%	96	21.7				21.7	33.7	33.8	44.6	38.2				37.8	33.3	29.5	28.0	23.3				28.4	≥ 98%		$21,880	$2,446	$19,434
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%)	47.1	2778^th of 5817 public elementary schools	52.2%		47.7	2725^th of 5857 public elementary schools	53.5%	53	39.3				39.3	28.6	41.6	50.6	40.4				40.5	33.8	49.4	32.9	42.1				39.2	97%	0%	$20,083	$2,314	$17,769
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%)	51.8	2507^th of 5817 public elementary schools	56.9%		54.7	2324^th of 5857 public elementary schools	60.3%	183	22.9				22.9	40.7	40.3	39.6	56.7				45.4	61.5	45.5	33.3	30.9				43.8	≥ 98%		$20,798	$2,078	$18,720
Mitchell Intermediate	Public	7-8	1753 Fifth St.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6124	744	31	23.8	75.9%	97 (13.0%)	15 (2.0%)	577 (77.6%)	37 (5.0%)	3 (0.4%)	3 (0.4%)	12 (1.6%)	33	1714^th of 2740 public middle schools	37.4%		38.9	1520^th of 2761 public middle schools	44.9%	194		19.4			19.4					45.1	41.8		43.5					23.5	22.7		23.1			$18,588	$2,004	$16,584
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%)	39.5	3261^st of 5817 public elementary schools	43.9%		32.2	3784^th of 5857 public elementary schools	35.4%	523	27.5				27.5	28.3	35.7	45.1	46.3				38.8	39.6	35.7	29.4	35.2				35.1	≥ 98%		$21,433	$2,140	$19,293
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%)	55.7	2288^th of 5817 public elementary schools	60.7%		60.3	2051^st of 5857 public elementary schools	65.0%	237	32.7				32.7	49.1	45.1	54.9	35.4				46.3	50.9	41.2	47.1	43.8				45.9	93%	0%	$22,120	$2,118	$20,002
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%)	42.4	3084^th of 5817 public elementary schools	47.0%		36.6	3434^th of 5857 public elementary schools	41.4%	350	21.0	27.6			24.8	35.4	50.0	43.6	39.7	46.2	49.4		44.1	48.2	37.8	29.0	30.8	33.3	40.2		36.9	93%	1%	$19,422	$2,339	$17,083
Atwater Senior Academy	Public	6-8	1800 Juniper Ave.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6515	5	1	4.9	—	0 (0.0%)	2 (40.0%)	3 (60.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)													23.1								0.0			$68,335	$10,577	$57,758
Bellevue Senior Elementary	Public	7-8	1020 East Bellevue Rd.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Atwater Elementary	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 357-6140	178	12	15.2	93.8%	8 (4.5%)	5 (2.8%)	161 (90.4%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.7%)	33	1713^th of 2740 public middle schools	37.5%		33.1	1712^th of 2761 public middle schools	38.0%	1		21.2			21.2					39.8	48.8		44.4					20.5	21.2		20.8			$16,182	$1,677	$14,505
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%)	49.3	2648^th of 5817 public elementary schools	54.5%		54.4	2345^th of 5857 public elementary schools	60.0%	303	41.4				41.4	36.4	28.3	58.6	59.7				46.0	32.7	20.0	32.8	54.8				35.3	98%	0%	$19,330	$2,148	$17,182
Atwater High	Public	9-12	2201 Fruitland Ave.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Merced Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 325-1200	2,029	98	20.6	82.1%	251 (12.4%)	30 (1.5%)	1,654 (81.5%)	54 (2.7%)	8 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (1.6%)	37.2	1339^th of 2135 public high schools	37.3%		35.9	1362^nd of 2162 public high schools	37.0%	23			27.8		28.0							40.4	40.4							16.2	16.2			$19,824	$1,613	$18,211
Buhach Colony High	Public	9-12	1800 Buhach Rd.	Atwater	95301	Merced County	Merced Union High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(209) 325-1400	1,704	76	22.5	78.5%	261 (15.3%)	36 (2.1%)	1,187 (69.7%)	169 (9.9%)	14 (0.8%)	2 (0.1%)	34 (2.0%)	53.2	969^th of 2135 public high schools	54.6%		50.3	1032^nd of 2162 public high schools	52.3%	63			32.7		32.4							53.3	53.3							25.1	25.1			$19,947	$1,706	$18,241

Cities Near Zip Code 95301

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Atwater	0.3 mi	14	559^th
Winton	2.12 mi	5	417^th
Merced	4.34 mi	38	709^th
Livingston	4.55 mi	7	682^nd
Cressey	5.66 mi	1

See the top CA California cities

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.