| District | City | Rating | Students | Schools | Grades | Zip Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McSwain Union Elementary School District | Merced | 7/10 Good · 66th pct | 883 | 1 | K–8 | 0 |
| Plainsburg Union Elementary School District | Merced | 7/10 Good · 64th pct | 108 | 1 | K–8 | 0 |
| Merced River Union Elementary School District | Winton | 6/10 Average · 57th pct | 275 | 1 | K–8 | 0 |
| Snelling-Merced Falls Union Elementary School District | Snelling | 6/10 Average · 55th pct | 53 | 1 | K–8 | 0 |
| Atwater Elementary School District | Atwater | 6/10 Average · 54th pct | 4,930 | 10 | K–8 | 0 |
| Winton School District | Winton | 6/10 Average · 54th pct | 1,904 | 4 | K–8 | 0 |
| Ballico-Cressey Elementary School District | Cressey | 5/10 Average · 48th pct | 369 | 2 | K–8 | 1 |
| Planada Elementary School District | Planada | 5/10 Average · 41st pct | 871 | 2 | K–8 | 0 |
| Hilmar Unified School District | Hilmar | 4/10 Below Average · 36th pct | 2,313 | 6 | K–12 | 2 |
| Weaver Union Elementary School District | Merced | 4/10 Below Average · 35th pct | 3,130 | 4 | K–8 | 0 |
| El Nido Elementary School District | El Nido | 4/10 Below Average · 33rd pct | 148 | 2 | K–8 | 1 |
| Le Grand Union High School District | Le Grand | 4/10 Below Average · 30th pct | 502 | 2 | 9–12 | 2 |
| Livingston Union School District | Livingston | 3/10 Below Average · 28th pct | 2,504 | 5 | K–8 | 0 |
| Merced City Elementary School District | Merced | 3/10 Below Average · 28th pct | 10,973 | 19 | K–8 | 0 |
| Los Banos Unified School District | Los Banos | 3/10 Below Average · 26th pct | 11,020 | 17 | K–12 | 1 |
| Merced Union High School District | Atwater | 3/10 Below Average · 25th pct | 11,226 | 9 | 9–12 | 8 |
| Delhi Unified School District | Delhi | 3/10 Below Average · 24th pct | 2,392 | 5 | K–12 | 1 |
| Le Grand Union Elementary School District | Le Grand | 3/10 Below Average · 24th pct | 337 | 1 | K–8 | 0 |
| Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District | Dos Palos | 2/10 Poor · 10th pct | 2,283 | 7 | K–12 | 2 |
| Gustine Unified School District | Gustine | 1/10 Poor · 9th pct | 1,746 | 6 | K–12 | 1 |
How Merced County compares
Together they enroll 57,967 students across 105 schools. The largest is Merced Union High School District with 11,226 students. Districts here average 4.2/10, below the California average of 5.7/10. Ratings range from 1/10 to 7/10.
School Districts in Merced County, California
Merced County has 20 public school districts covering 19 zip codes. The top-rated district in Merced County is McSwain Union Elementary School District (7/10). Ratings are based on the share of students proficient in reading and math on state assessments (CAASPP 2023–24), ranked against all districts in California. Directory details come from NCES CCD 2024–25.
Enter your zip code on any page to confirm your exact district assignment — district boundaries are address-specific and may not follow county or city lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many school districts are in Merced County, CA?
20 school districts serve zip codes in Merced County, CA. This page lists each one with its rating, enrollment, grade span and the zip codes it covers.
What is the best-rated school district in Merced County, CA?
Of the districts serving Merced County, McSwain Union Elementary School District has the highest rating on this site at 7/10. That places it in the 66th percentile among California school districts.
How are these school district ratings calculated?
Each rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above on California reading and math assessments, ranked against other districts in California and converted to a 1–10 scale. Percentiles compare districts within California only, never across state lines.