Summary:
ZIP code 95361 has 12 schools: seven elementary schools, one middle school, three high schools, and one alternative school. On average, schools scored 45% in English language arts (ELA), 32% in math, and 24% in science in 2025–26, compared with state rates of 49%, 38%, and 36%. Because schools serve different grade spans, these averages are a broad area view rather than a like-for-like comparison. The clearest takeaway is the wide range of results among schools, especially in science, where just one school scored above the state.
Knights Ferry Elementary leads in ELA and math, with 69% and 62% proficiency—about 20 and 23 points above the state, respectively. Sierra View Elementary is also a strong performer, at 64% in ELA and 55% in math. Fair Oaks Elementary leads science at 41%, about 5 points above the state. At the lower end, Valley Oak Online Learning Academy has the lowest ELA and science results, at 17% and 7%; East Stanislaus High has the lowest math result, 0%. Mesa Verde Elementary is below the state in all three subjects.
Recent changes differ by subject: from 2024–25 to 2025–26, the school average rose 3 points in math, narrowing the gap with the state by 2 points; ELA was nearly unchanged, while science fell 1 point as the state rose 3. SchoolDigger rankings also show different longer-term paths: Knights Ferry rose from the 64th to the 87th percentile, and Mesa Verde from the 6th to the 17th, while Oakdale Junior High and Oakdale Charter declined. Income figures offer context, not an explanation: 2024–25 free/reduced lunch eligible rates were 15% at Knights Ferry and 82% at Mesa Verde. Reported student-teacher ratios also vary, from 15.1 at Knights Ferry to 63.3 at Valley Oak Online.
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