Summary:
Zip code 95341 has 12 schools—four elementary, one middle, four high, and three alternative schools—serving families through traditional, community, and specialized settings. In 2025–26, the listed schools’ average all-grades proficiency was 27% in English language arts (ELA), 20% in math, and 15% in science, compared with state rates of 49%, 38%, and 36%. The clearest overall finding is that results vary widely by school, and the school averages fall below state rates in all three subjects.
Plainsburg Union Elementary led the listed schools in every subject, with 56% in ELA, 40% in math, and 40% in science—7, 2, and 4 percentage points above state rates, respectively. McSwain Elementary also stood out in ELA at 50%, just above the state’s 49%. At the low end, Valley Los Banos Community and Valley Atwater Community each had 0% in math; Merced County Special Education had the lowest ELA result at 4%, and Valley Merced Community the lowest science result at 4%. Grade-level results also matter: Plainsburg was above state in ELA in grades 6–8, but below state in math in grades 7 and 8.
Across schools with results in both years, science improved by about 4 points from 2024–25 to 2025–26, compared with a 3-point state increase; ELA was nearly unchanged while the state rose by about 1 point, and math also changed little while the state rose by about 1 point. SchoolDigger’s statewide percentile ranking for Plainsburg rose 14 points from 2023–24 to 2025–26, while McSwain’s fell 6. Attendance adds another distinction: chronic absenteeism was 8% at McSwain and 10% at Plainsburg, versus 18% statewide. Their reported free/reduced lunch eligible shares for school year 2024–25 were 35% and 48%, respectively; these figures are context, not an explanation of results. Schools serve different grade spans and purposes, so comparisons are not always like for like.
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