- Enrollment
- 2,029
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Merced, CA
Merced High
Federal NCES profile for Merced High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 20/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 062466003702
👥 S:T ratio 8
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 3
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merced High earns 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #6 of 7
- high schools in Merced · Resource Index
- 20
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.1:1
- students per teacher
- 68.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Merced High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merced High ranks #6 of 7 high schools in Merced, CA.
School address
District: Merced Union High · California
NCES ID 062466003702 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+57 students YoY
Merced High held near 1,951 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+57 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 84.9 → 84.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+57 students YoY 062466003702 · Merced, CA High · MID · TRAD
1,943 enr · 23.1:1 · 68.4% lunch · RII 20
Nearest enrollment peer: Atwater High (2,029 students)
Merced High held near 1,951 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+57 headcount). Teacher FTE held 84.9 → 84.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Merced High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Atwater High
Atwater High
2,029 students
- This school
Merced High
1,943 students
- Golden Valley
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 Merced High reports 1,943 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merced High compares
Merced 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 | 23.1:1 | ▲ 7% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.4% | ▲ 23% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,943 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.1:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,943
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
23.1:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 63% in California - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
46.6%
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 486 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 43 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 68.4%
White 13.5%
Asian 7.3%
African American 5.5%
Two or More 4.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 68.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.4, Merced High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
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 Merced High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atwater High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Golden Valley High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| El Capitan High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Buhach Colony High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Livingston High | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merced High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,917
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- 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.
Golden Valley High
Standard public school
1,917 students 21.5:1 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 (~1,943 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merced High
How many students attend Merced High?
Merced High has 1,943 students enrolled. It is a high school in Merced, CA. CCD year-over-year: 1,894 (2022-23) → 1,951 (2023-24), nearly flat (+57).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merced High?
The student-teacher ratio at Merced High is 23.1:1, which is 7% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 47% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Merced High?
68.4% of students at Merced High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merced High?
The largest demographic group at Merced High is Hispanic or Latino at 68.4% of enrollment, in Merced, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merced High?
Merced High has a Resource Investment Index of 20/100 (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 Merced High rank among high schools in Merced?
By Resource Investment Index, Merced High ranks #6 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 Merced High, Merced Union High also operates Atwater High (2,029 students), Golden Valley High (1,917 students), and El Capitan High (1,793 students). See the Merced Union High district page for the complete list.