What are the best public schools in Merced County? See the latest rankings

From curriculum to clubs and activities, a lot of factors go into picking the best school for your child to attend.

Niche, a ratings and review website, recently released its rankings of the best public elementary, middle and high schools in Merced County for 2025.

Niche focused on factors such as academics, diversity, teachers and college preparation, grading schools on a scale of A+ through D-.

The website reviewed both public schools and private schools for its 2025 rankings.

Cressey Elementary School was the No. 1 public elementary school in Merced County, Niche said.

McSwain Elementary School in Merced was the No. 2 public elementary school in Merced County, Niche said. It also topped this list of the best public middle schools in the Merced area.

The best public high school in Merced County was El Capitan High School in Merced, Niche said.

According to Niche, the best private school in Merced County was Stone Ridge Christian School in Merced.

What makes these Merced-area public schools the best?

The school has 883 students in kindergarten through eighth grade with a student-teacher ratio of 22 to 1.

McSwain Elementary scored A grades in the categories of teachers and diversity.

“The teachers were amazing,” one student wrote in a Niche review. ”They really cared about how much we would excel and they prepared us as best as possible for high school.”

Part of the Merced Union High School District, El Capitan High School had an overall Niche grade of A-.

The school has 1,839 students in ninth through 12th grades with a student-teacher ratio of 22 to 1.

The school scored As for its teachers and diversity.

One student called attending El Capitan High “an amazing experience.”

“The teachers do an amazing job at their job and they’re always welcome to connect you in case you need help,” the student wrote in a Niche review.

What are the best elementary schools in Merced County?

These were the top 10 best public elementary schools in Merced County, according to Niche:

1. Cressey Elementary School
2. McSwain Elementary School
3. Peggy Heller Elementary School in Atwater
4. Snelling Merced Falls Elementary School
5. Elmer Wood Elementary School in Atwater
6. Westside Union Elementary School in Los Banos
7. Yamato Colony Elementary School in Livingston
8. Frank Sparkes Elementary School in Winton
9. Luther Burbank Elementary School in Merced
10. Thomas Oleata Elementary School in Atwater

Where are the top 10 middle schools in Merced area?

Niche ranked these four public middle schools as the best in the Merced area:

The list didn’t go past four

1. McSwain Elementary School

2. Peggy Heller Elementary School (7th and 8th grade)

3. Snelling Merced Falls Elementary School (7th and 8th grade)

4. Merced Scholars Charter School

What are the best local high schools?

These were the top 10 public high schools in Merced County, according to Niche:

1. El Capitan High School

2. Hilmar High School in Merced

3. Buhach Colony High School in Merced

4. Independence High School in Merced

5. Golden Valley High School in Merced

6. Merced High School

7. Atwater High School

8. Pacheco High School in Los Banos

9. Le Grand High School

10. Merced Scholars Charter School

How did Niche come up with its rankings?

Niche said it based its rankings “on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education.

The review site also looked at millions of reviews from students and parents.

Niche awarded grades ranging from A+ to D- to local schools based on state test scores, student-teacher ratios, diversity, teacher quality, the overall quality of the school district and other factors.

This story was originally published October 2, 2024 at 5:00 AM.