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Email BoardGolden Valley High
2121 East Childs Avenue, Merced, CA 95344-0188
Summary
Golden Valley High is underperforming.
Reading and math results average to the 35th percentile among comparable California schools.
Only 41.5% of students met California's reading standard, and it is trending down.
Math is weaker: 13.4% of students met California's math standard, but it is trending up slightly.
Proficiency stats
| Current Reading Proficiency | 41.5% |
| Current Math Proficiency | 13.4% |
| Reading State Rank | 1,029/1,596 (36th percentile) |
| Math State Rank | 1,055/1,596 (34th percentile) |
School information
| Student / Teacher Ratio | 21:1 |
| Student enrollment (2024–25) | 1,917 |
| Low-Income Students | 1,633 (85.2%) |
| English Learners | 252 (13.1%) |
School Website
Great Schools
Niche
Ed-Data
CAASPP| Admissions | Open enrollment |
|---|---|
| Charter school | No |
| Magnet school | No |
Test score trends
Reading rose 0.7 points from last year and fell 5.9 points over the full period. Math fell 3.8 points from last year and rose 1.7 points over the full period.
•Math +1.7 percentage points (2024–2026)Reading Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Asian and White students have the strongest results.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
41.5% of tested students meet the reading standard in the grade shown. Overall, the school’s reading results rank No. 1,029 of 1,596 among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 12.5-point reading income gap is narrower than the 14.7-point gap at a typical California 9–12 school. It narrowed over the period shown.
•English Learners vs English Native
8.1% of English learners meet the reading standard, compared with 39.9% of English-only students. The gap narrowed as English-learner results rose and English-only results fell.
•Math Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
Asian students have the strongest math results at about 25% proficiency. The other reported groups range from about 0% to 22%.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
13.4% of tested students meet the math standard in the grade shown. Overall, the school’s math results rank No. 1,055 of 1,596 among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 3.1-point math income gap is narrower than the 14.2-point gap at a typical California 9–12 school. It narrowed over the period shown.
•English Learners vs English Native
6.6% of English learners meet the math standard, compared with 15.6% of English-only students. The gap narrowed as English-learner results rose and English-only results rose.
•How we compare income gaps
“Typical” means the median gap across 876 schools for reading and 882 for math. The comparison uses 2026 California 9–12 schools with at least 20 tested students in each income group and a reported low-income student population. Each school counts once. Its gap is non-low-income proficiency minus low-income proficiency, including negative gaps. California state test data
Understanding this school
How does Golden Valley High compare within the district?
Golden Valley High is No. 4 in reading and No. 5 in math proficiency among the 7 9–12 schools in Merced Union High with 2026 results.
Explore the district’s schoolsHow does Golden Valley High rank in California?
Golden Valley High ranks No. 1,029 of 1,596 in reading and No. 1,055 of 1,596 in math for 2026. These proficiency rankings compare California schools in the same grade-level category.
How do low-income students at Golden Valley High compare within the district?
Low-income students here rank No. 3 in reading and No. 4 in math among 7 9–12 district schools with reportable 2026 results for this group. 39.5% meet the reading standard and 12.9% meet the math standard.
See results by student groupHow does Golden Valley High compare with other schools in Merced?
Golden Valley High is No. 2 in reading and No. 3 in math proficiency among the 4 9–12 schools in Merced with 2026 results.
Explore schools in MercedHow does Golden Valley High compare with other schools in Merced County?
Golden Valley High is No. 11 in reading and No. 10 in math proficiency among the 15 9–12 schools in Merced County with 2026 results.
Explore schools in Merced CountyWhich schools should I compare?
Schools serving 9–12 in the same district.
| School | Math | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Valley HighThis school | 13.4% | 41.5% |
| El Capitan High | 18.5% | 48.3% |
| Independence High (Alternative) | 1.8% | 32.1% |
