- Enrollment
- 2,029
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Merced, CA
Golden Valley High
Federal NCES profile for Golden Valley High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 062466003308
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 4
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Golden Valley High earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #5 of 7
- high schools in Merced · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.5:1
- students per teacher
- 72.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Golden Valley High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Golden Valley High ranks #5 of 7 high schools in Merced, CA.
School address
District: Merced Union High · California
NCES ID 062466003308 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-1 students YoY
Golden Valley High held near 1,955 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 89.1 → 95.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-1 students YoY 062466003308 · Merced, CA High · MID · TRAD
1,917 enr · 21.5:1 · 72.6% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Atwater High (2,029 students)
Golden Valley High held near 1,955 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 89.1 → 95.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Golden Valley High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Atwater High
Atwater High
2,029 students
- Merced High
Merced High
1,943 students
- This school
Golden Valley High
1,917 students
- El Capitan Hig
El Capitan High
1,793 students
- Buhach Colony
Buhach Colony High
1,704 students
- Livingston Hig
Livingston High
1,169 students
What this shows Golden Valley High reports 1,917 students on the CCD universe file.
How Golden Valley High compares
Golden Valley High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.5:1 | ▼ 0% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.6% | ▲ 31% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,917 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.5:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,917
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
72.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.5:1
students per teacher
- 0% above state mean
Top 48% in California - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
43.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$16,578
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 479 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 40 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 18 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 72.7%
Asian 9.5%
White 9.3%
African American 5.0%
Two or More 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 72.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.1, Golden Valley High is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Merced Union High reports $16,578 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Golden Valley High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atwater High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Merced High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| El Capitan High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Buhach Colony High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Livingston High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Golden Valley High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,943
- Students per teacher
- 23.1:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,793
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,704
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,169
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar high schools in Merced
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Merced High
Standard public school
1,943 students 23.1:1 students per teacher
El Capitan High
Standard public school
1,793 students 21.3:1 students per teacher
Yosemite High (Continuation)
Alternative education program
342 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Come Back Charter
Standard public school
128 students 42.7:1 students per teacher
Independence High (Alternative)
Alternative education program
87 students 9.7:1 students per teacher
Sequoia High
Alternative education program
77 students 8.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,917 students)
Frequently asked questions about Golden Valley High
How many students attend Golden Valley High?
Golden Valley High has 1,917 students enrolled. It is a high school in Merced, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,956 (2022-23) → 1,955 (2023-24), nearly flat (-1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Golden Valley High?
The student-teacher ratio at Golden Valley High is 21.5:1, which is 0% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 37% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Golden Valley High?
72.6% of students at Golden Valley High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Golden Valley High?
The largest demographic group at Golden Valley High is Hispanic or Latino at 72.7% of enrollment, in Merced, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Golden Valley High?
Golden Valley High has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Golden Valley High rank among high schools in Merced?
By Resource Investment Index, Golden Valley High ranks #5 of 7 high schools in Merced, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Merced on the city page.
What other schools are in Merced Union High?
Besides Golden Valley High, Merced Union High also operates Atwater High (2,029 students), Merced High (1,943 students), and El Capitan High (1,793 students). See the Merced Union High district page for the complete list.