2025 Merced County Schools Annual Report

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SUPERINTENDENT MESSAGE

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about education in Merced County and the many opportunities students have in our school communities.

In my tenth and final year as County Superintendent of Schools I have seen progress on many key indicators of success for our students; graduation rates have risen, math and reading scores are recovering from the pandemic; support for visual and performing arts has grown, professional learning communities like our principals’ networks have been strengthened, and school communities are thriving.

Though we have challenges ahead, school employees at all levels across the county continue to put our students and families first.

In 2025, there was uncertainty for many programs from federal budgetary whiplash, where dollars were withheld last-minute and school districts had to quickly regroup to ensure those programs could support students and that staff would be paid on-time.

The role of the County Superintendent as an advocate has taken on new importance in this environment of uncertainty in federal funding. Programs like Early Education childcare subsidies are threatened, programs for Migrant Education students as of this writing are not in the federal budget for the coming year, and the reorganization of the Federal Department of Education has many funding implications that are not completely clear.

However, here at home, Merced County Office of Education staff have made a very conscious effort to lean into the work to improve a child’s experience in schools locally and across the state. Merced County is seen as a leader among COEs in the areas of mathematics and language development instruction, the use of data for improvement, providing excellent support for special education students, and ensuring internet security for our networks that serve most schools in the county.

It has been my pleasure to serve as your county superintendent here in Merced County and the honor of my career to work with the dedicated staff. The future for Merced County is bright and I look forward to what the staff at Merced COE will accomplish in the future.

Steve M. Tietjen, Ed.D. County Superintendent of Schools

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A HISTORY OF MERCED SCHOOLS

Merced County schools were incorporated 170 years ago in 1856 when the first County Superintendent of Schools William Nelson petitioned the Board of Supervisors to divide the county into three school districts. The 1860 census reported a population of 1,141 in Merced County, and in 1863, the County Superintendent reported an enrollment of 267 children and a county school budget of $1,000. The first high school was established in 1895 with 27 students and two teachers under the administration

of the County Board of Education. In 1897, a new high school was completed on the corner of 22nd and M Streets in Courthouse Square. The building caught on fire in 2024 and was demolished soon after. Today, there are 20 school districts with their own Board of Trustees and Superintendents who serve nearly 60,000 TK-12 grade students with Steve M. Tietjen, Ed.D., serving as the 29th County Superintendent of Schools.

ROLE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD TRUSTEES

Each of the 20 school districts in Merced County are governed by a board of locally elected trustees who ensure that they are responsive to the values, beliefs, and priorities of their communities. School board members are responsible for hiring and evaluating the superintendent, setting district policies, approving Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs), adopting and monitoring budgets, assessing district performance, evaluating student achievement, and actively listening to public feedback.

Delhi, Dos Palos, Gustine, Hilmar, and Los Banos are unified school districts that include their own high school and serve TK-12 students

Le Grand Union High School District encompasses three elementary school districts

• Planada ESD

• Le Grand ESD

• Plainsburg ESD

Merced Union High School District encompasses 10 elementary school districts

• Atwater ESD

• Ballico-Cressey ESD

• El Nido ESD

• Livingston Union ESD

• McSwain Union ESD

• Merced City SD

• Merced River Union ESD

• Snelling-Merced Falls UESD

• Weaver Union SD

• Winton SD

THE ROLE OF THE COUNTY OFFICE

County Offices of Education (COEs) are part of California’s public education system, which is made up of three levels: state, county, and local education agencies.

At the state level, the California Department of Education and the State Board of Education establish educational regulations, funding structures, and policies; at the county level, COEs operate programs and offer services to help school districts deliver high-quality education; and at the local level, individual school districts manage the day-to-day education of students.

Some services of a COE include assistance with academic performance initiatives, professional development for staff, and ensuring that school districts are fiscally solvent.

COEs also actively support student events, art programs, and outdoor education, as well as operate programs that directly serve non-traditional students, including students who were expelled, incarcerated or on probation, students with significant special needs,

FEDERAL

The US Department of Education funds Title 1 programs for children in poverty, which also includes preschool-aged children, children with special needs, migrant children, and Head Start.

STATE

The California Department of Education (CDE), State Board of Education (SBE) and state legislature make up the state level and are responsible for regulations, funding, and policies.

COUNTY

The 58 County Offices of Education make up the county level and serve as support systems for school districts as well as liaisons for the state.

LOCAL

There are more than 1,000 individual school districts throughout the state that make up the local level and are responsible for the day-to-

DID YOU KNOW

Merced COE does not...

Directly oversee or govern local school districts

Merced COE does...

Support school district budgets and Local Control and Accountability Plans, manage teacher credentialing and the county-wide substitute teacher lists, and handle student expulsion appeals from school districts.

Provide support to students with special needs in all 20 school districts

Manage Head Start and Child Care Subsidy Programs

Provide professional development for educators across the region

Assist districts with before and after school programs

Serve migrant students and families in Merced, Madera, and Stanislaus Counties

Organize student events and academic competitions

Oversee high-quality outdoor education programs for sixth graders

MERCED COUNTY FAST FACTS

Located in California’s Central Valley, Merced County neighbors the Sierra Nevada foothills to the east with both rural and urban counties to the west. With nearly 2,000 square miles of rural land, agriculture contributed nearly $4.05 billion to the local economy in 2024. The county serves nearly 60,000 students in 20 school districts and is home to California’s tenth research university, UC Merced.

59,478 STUDENTS

107 SCHOOLS

SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM

California’s accountability system is based on a multiplemeasure system that assesses how Merced COE, other local educational agencies, and schools meet the needs of students. Performance on these measures are reported through the California School Dashboard. The dashboard now includes insights on Long Term English Learners as a student group.

California Department of Education student data for 2024-25 school year. *United States Census Bureau (population estimates, July 1, 2024).

**This number represents the number of employees across 12 months.

296,774 POPULATION GRAD RATE 93.9%

BY THE NUMBERS

ENGLISH LEARNER STUDENTS

11,646 *

2,855 CREDENTIALED TEACHERS (2023-24)

3.9% HOMELESS STUDENTS AND FOSTER YOUTH 13.6% STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

SCHOOL EMPLOYEES 39.9% 4-YEAR AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE-GOING RATE (2022-23) $64,980 COUNTY MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

SOCIOECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGE STUDENTS

Merced COE, along with Merced County’s 20 school districts, serve a diverse population of students from Transitional Kindergarten to adult learners at 107 different school sites across the county.

GUSTINE

ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY

HISPANIC/LATINO WHITE ASIAN

AFRICAN AMERICAN TWO OR MORE RACES FILIPINO

AMERICAN INDIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER NOT REPORTED

SCHOOL FUNDING

The Local Control Funding Formula is the main source of funding for Merced County school districts. Established in 2013, the LCFF allocates a base grant for each Average Daily Attendance and adds a grade span adjustment to the base grant for grades TK-3 and 9-12. Districts may receive an additional 20% supplemental grant and 65% concentration grant per student for those with higher needs, including children in poverty, English learners, and foster youth. Other add-ons to the formula include Home-to-School Transportation and Transitional Kindergarten. Incorporated in the LCFF formula is a mix of local property taxes, Education Protection Act funds, and state aid. There are no school districts in Merced County that are funded exclusively by community funding. Community funded districts receive funding directly from local property taxes and does not include state aid.

28%

Funding from federal sources makes up approximately 28% of Merced COE’s budget.

62%

Approximately 62% of Merced COE’s spending goes toward salaries and benefits for employees.

20 School Districts

ABOVE STATE AVERAGE

Merced County’s public high school graduation rates rose by 0.2% in the 2024-25 school year, with about 4,900 high school seniors earning their diplomas.

The Merced County five-year high school graduation rate average was 93.9%. This data includes special education students who received a certificate of completion, students who opted for a fifth year, and students who dropped out of school.

Merced COE’s graduation rate is lower than the traditional school districts based on the student demographic served, which includes incarcerated students and court and community school students, which tend to have lower graduation rates. Despite this, the Merced County high school graduation rate remains above the state average of 91.8%

2024-25 GRAD RATES

MERCED COUNTY AVERAGE 93.9%

PROGRAMS MAKING AN IMPACT

Merced COE’s programs connect students with new, unique experiences and help community members gain access to ongoing education, job training, and job placement. From programs that help students develop job skills and introduces visual and performing arts into Special Education, to leading statewide professional development initiatives and expanding behavioral health services, Merced COE works across the county to support students and families in their school communities.

For Andrea Chavez, Merced COE’s programs connected the dots that led to a new skill set and employment. After attending the 2024 DiversAbility Resource and Hiring Job Fair, she learned about the Culinary Essentials class offered through Merced COE’s Educational Services department. Andrea enrolled, completed the course, and went on to intern at the new Head Start kitchen, where she gained hands-on experience working in a school district’s nutritional services program. She loves to cook, enjoys the routine and structure of the work, and is now working on a substitute basis for local school districts, where she has the opportunity to continue to grow in this field.

ARTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

Thanks to Proposition 28 funding, Merced COE’s Special Education program works with the Merced County Arts Council to bring local artists into classrooms across the county. Students learn different aspects of visual and performing arts – from dance and painting, to theater and music – which makes it more accessible to students of all abilities. This also gives students in special needs classrooms another opportunity to have the same experiences as students in traditional classrooms.

MATHEMATICS PARTNERSHIP

Merced COE Continuous Improvement team participated in a competitive grant process and earned a spot as colead for the Math Professional Learning Partnership grant with Kern County Superintendent of Schools. The statewide initiative is designed to strengthen California’s system of support for teaching mathematics. The grant will invest in professional development for administrators, coaches, and teacher leaders as well as help school districts build capacity for sustainable math instruction.

The entire statewide grant is $50 million over the course of four years beginning in 2025-26.

MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR STUDENTS

The ConnectED MINDS (Mental health, Inclusion, Nurturing, Development and System) program partners with schools to expand student access to school-based mental and behavioral health services, including education, counseling, mental health screenings, and treatment plans.

The program, which is operated through the Strategic Systems Improvement, Data, and Research department at Merced COE, was created as part of California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health and the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI).

In the 2024-25 school year, ConnectED MINDS began to build the foundation for the program and deployed four clinicians to school sites in the county.

ARTS EDUCATION EXPANDS

Support from local organizations and strong partnerships helped expand arts education opportunities for students across Merced County. The Performance Opportunity Project, or Merced POP, was approved for a threeyear expansion after its pilot year in 2024-25. Sponsored by the Central Valley Opportunity Fund, the project collaborates with multiple arts organizations to help align arts curriculum, expand programming, and provide students with opportunities to engage in music and live performances.

SUPPORT FROM CVOF

Many of the new and expanded arts education opportunities in Merced County were made possible by the Central Valley Opportunity Fund. CVOF grants supported curriculum development for the UC Merced Children’s Opera, expanded performing arts programs for middle and high school students, lowered professional development costs for local arts professionals, and improved resources that connect performing arts to literacy and social emotional learning.

CVOF’s partnership also helped add additional workshops for students to the Merced County Performing Arts Festival, a two-day event where middle and high school teachers and students have the opportunity to learn from regional professionals.

COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Ongoing collaboration with programs such as Migrant Education provides incoming freshmen with high school credit through a hybrid visual art summer class, while

OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS

The Early Education Department at Merced COE provides services and programs that support Merced County’s youngest learners, their families, and the early education professionals who support them. In 2025, the department continued to expand services and strengthen early learning systems across the Central Valley, with a focus on expanding state-funded infant and toddler care slots, increasing access to high-quality care, and helping parents remain in the workforce.

STRENGTHENING THE WORKFORCE

With support from We Will! and Workforce Development, the Early Education Department facilitated regional early education workforce pipeline. Implemented in partnership with UC Merced (PACE), Merced Adult School, and Stanislaus County Office of Education, the workforce pipeline supported the training, credentialing, and career advancement of more than 900 early educators.

PREPARING FUTURE LEARNERS

As the demand for early learning and child care continues to grow, the Early Education Department remains focused on expanding capacity, maximizing partnerships, and maintaining programs that support families of young children, including Head Start, Home Visiting, Universal Pre Kindergarten, and child care subsidy programs.

SERVING STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, & FAMILIES

Merced COE’s Educational Services Department supports programs that help impact student success. During the 2024-25 school year, the department continued to operate programs that support student outcomes countywide, including expanded learning, college and career transitions, alternative education, and professional development for school districts.

EXPANDING STATEWIDE IMPACT

The Continuous Improvement program provides professional development services for educators across the region. The program extended its impact beyond Merced County by becoming a co-lead for the Mathematics Professional Learning Partnership with Kern County Superintendent of Schools.

EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DAY

The After School Student Education: Teamwork for Success (ASSETS) provides expanded learning opportunities beyond the usual school day and served approximately 2,700 students across 13 school districts during the 2024-25 school year.

ALTERNATIVE PATHS TO SUCCESS

Student Programs operates a wide range of alternative and charter school options for Merced County residents, including Valley Community School programs in Merced, Atwater, and Los Banos; the Court School at Juvenile Hall; Comeback Charter School; and Merced Scholars Charter School, which offers Nonclassroom-based instruction.

SUPPORT FOR MIGRANT STUDENTS

Despite funding uncertainty in summer 2025, the Migrant Education Program successfully maintained operations under a new director and continued to provide academic support, summer programs, and health services to students across Merced, Madera, and Stanislaus counties. The program served 3,665 students in the 2024-25 school year.

COLLEGE AND CAREER AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Several Merced COE student programs were recognized for excellence in financial aid completion and career education, including the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, who won the John Burton Advocate for Youth Financial Aid Application Completion Award for small counties; Merced County Cal-SOAP, which exceeded the statewide financial aid application completion rate by 2% for a total of 68%; and Rise to Higher Grounds, which was recognized by the Association for Career and Technical Education Awards in partnership with Merced County Probation, who received the 2026 ACTE

STUDENTS OF ALL ABILITIES

The Special Education Department at Merced COE operates programs and countywide services that support students with moderate to severe special needs across Merced County’s 20 school districts. There were 8,014 students enrolled in Special Education during the 2024-25 school year.

This year, the department hosted its first-ever Special Education Family Resource Fair, which connected families to community organizations that provide support to students with special needs. Nearly 100 parents and guardians attended the event and explored resources from 30 different community organizations.

The department also celebrated 20 students enrolled in the Special Education Program who passed the Alternative English Language Proficiency Assessment and were successfully reclassified as English Language Proficient.

Throughout the year, Special Education hosted multiple events to enrich student experiences and strengthen family connections with programs like Blooming Futures, where families participated in food and art-based activities. The department also collaborated with the Merced Elks Lodge to host lunch and activities at Kiddieland in Applegate Park for preschool through second grade students. The event welcomed 900 students, family members, and staff for a day of fun.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Camp Green Meadows Outdoor School has provided generations of students with hands-on science education and outdoor experiences. Located just outside of Yosemite National Park, the school serves thousands of Central Valley students each year through multiday and weeklong summer programs for sixth graders.

With funds generated by the Merced County Education Foundation, Camp Green Meadows plans to expand and modernize kitchen facilities so that it can continue to serve generations of students.

DID YOU KNOW

The outdoor school had 3,068 visiting students from 51 schools throughout Central California during the 2024-25 school year.

Camp Green Meadows was named by a Los Banos Elementary student through a countywide contest in 1959. Funds from last year’s MCE Foundation fundraiser were used to purchase a planetarium.

The outdoor school replaced mattresses in several cabins that now have the capacity to support students of all abilities.

UPGRADES TO SUPPORT FUTURE GENERATIONS

Camp Green Meadows plans to renovate the cafeteria and expand space for more students

The cafeteria is one of the original buildings at the outdoor school

Elements at 5,000 feet elevation can wear down buildings and other structures

Camp Green Meadows plans to replace decadesold kitchen equipment

THE PROMISE CONTINUES

The Virginia Smith Trust was established from the will of Merced-native Virginia Smith, who declared that the land which sustained her family for almost a century be used to fund scholarships for students in the city of Merced.

The trust, and land associated with it, has since generated $7.2 million in scholarships for more than 4,000 Merced students and played a role in the University of California regents selecting Merced as the site of the tenth university.

In recent years, the trust has expanded to support students countywide and laid the groundwork to develop a community on the remaining VST land adjacent to the university. The new community will help strengthen the trust’s scholarship capacity and provide housing options for the surrounding community.

ENHANCING ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES

Merced COE coordinates a variety of events that provide students with opportunities to enrich their school experience at local, state, and national levels. Some events include creative contests like the Writing and Speech Festivals, as well as academic competitions such as the Spelling Bee, STEAM Fair, and the Academic Decathlon. Available to students of all grades, skill levels, and interests, events offers something for every Merced County student.

EVENTS AT A GLANCE

2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR

STUDENT EVENTS 13

7,392 2,795 2,856 CONTEST ENTREES STUDENT ATTENDEES

TOTAL AWARDS

MERCED COUNTY STUDENT EVENTS

Academic Decathlon

Father of the Year Merced County Spelling Bee

Merced Symphony Children’s Concert

Poetry Out Loud

Seal of Biliteracy

STEAM Fair

Writing Festival

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The 2024-25 school year was the first year since the 1990s that Merced COE participated in the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee, where Lawrence Ye, a student from Hoover Middle School in Merced, earned first place. Lawrence advanced to the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C., ultimately tying

SUPPORTING EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

The Merced County Education Foundation supports programs and experiences for students outside of the traditional classroom setting, including outdoor education at Camp Green Meadows, Visual and Performing Arts, STEM Education, and college and career readiness.

In the 2024-25 school year, the MCE Foundation raised more than $23,000 through the annual Arts and Outdoors Education Fundraiser. The funds helped support art grants for teachers, which allowed them to purchase media and art equipment for student projects and clubs.

The funds were also used to purchase a new planetarium to assist with lessons when visibility is low or weather limits outside time. Future funds will be allocated to help Camp Green Meadows provide much-needed renovations to the cafeteria and kitchen facilities, which has served generations of visiting students.

FOUNDATION SUPPORT

2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR

$9,000 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS

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REDEFINING LEARNING THROUGH AI

Over the past decade, artificial intelligence and its capabilities have grown exponentially. When given the right prompts, language learning models can create intricate, long-form text. Not only can artificial intelligence write emails and papers, it can create complex plans and operating procedures, along with images, videos, and other graphical content. Many artificial intelligence tools, especially AI chatbots, are designed to be responsive to social emotional learning and are more interactive than previous models. AI’s increased use among students presents challenges for educators in maintaining academic integrity. Despite this, students must learn to use artificial intelligence as a tool since those skills are crucial in the job market.

When prompted for an overview of major issues AI presents for K-12 classroom instruction, here are portions of the five responses from ChatGPT.

1

2

3

One of the most immediate issues is academic integrity. AI tools capable of generating essays, solving math problems, or completing coding assignments make it harder for teachers to distinguish between students’ authentic work and machine-generated output. This raises concerns about the development of core skills—writing, problem-solving, and critical thinking—if students rely on AI as a shortcut rather than a learning aid.

Another major concern is equity and access. Not all students have reliable devices, connectivity, or exposure to AI tools at home. As schools integrate AI-powered platforms, unequal access may widen existing achievement gaps.

Data privacy and security are also pressing issues. AI-powered learning systems frequently collect detailed student data— performance metrics, behavioral observations, and personal information. Schools must navigate complex legal and ethical considerations around consent, storage, and third-party access

4

5

There are also ethical and digital citizenship issues. Students must learn to use AI responsibly: verifying information, avoiding harmful content, recognizing limitations, and understanding the societal impact of automation. Developing these competencies requires intentional instruction and clear guidelines.

Overall, while AI has the potential to enrich learning and support teachers, its integration into K–12 education must be approached thoughtfully, with clear policies, equity considerations, and robust training to ensure that technology enhances—rather than undermines—the learning experience.

CELEBRATING SCHOOL STAFF

Merced COE has nearly 1,500 dedicated employees who serve in a wide range of roles throughout the county. Whether in classrooms, offsite locations, or in office settings, each staff member plays a vital role in supporting and strengthening Merced County’s educational landscape. Merced COE acknowledges contributions made by staff and is committed to honoring their work through formal recognition programs, professional development opportunities, and ongoing employee appreciation.

2025 AWARD WINNERS

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

The Merced County Excellence in Education program was established in 2006 through a partnership with Educational Employees Credit Union. The program initially began as Teacher of the Year, designed to highlight the contributions of educators across the county. Since then, the Excellence in Education program has expanded to include additional school personnel that help keep schools running, including school employees and school administrators. The 2025 event, which celebrated its 20th year, recognized 24 outstanding district honorees from across the county in addition to the employee, administrator, and teacher of the year.

Employee of the Year

NANCY DE LOS REYES

Principal’s Secretary

Weaver Union School District

Administrator of the Year

ANA BOYENGA

Asst. Superintendent of Ed. Services

Atwater Elementary School District

Teacher of the Year

Scan

LILIA FERNANDEZ

Dual Language Immersion Teacher

Delhi Unified School District

PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITY IMPACT

Partnerships played a significant role for student success in the 2024-25 school year. Through collaborations with local and state partners, Merced COE participated in initiatives that helped address chronic absenteeism, supported accessible recreation, and promoted student wellness and safety.

COMBATING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM

Raising Attendance and Improving Student Engagement (RAISE) is an improvement network that was established to reduce the chronic absenteeism rate across the state. In the 2024-25 school year, the chronic absenteeism rate reached 19.5% in California. The goal of RAISE is to lower the rate to below 10% by increasing student engagement. There are currently six Merced County school sites participating in the initiative.

RAISING DRUG PREVENTION AWARENESS

Merced COE continues to work with the Merced County District Attorney’s Office to help educate students about the dangers of fentanyl. The ongoing One Pill Will Kill campaign produced videos, commercials, billboards, and a video competition that encouraged students to produce a public service announcement for their peers.

SUPPORTING PARKS & COMMUNITY

More than 300 runners and walkers crossed the finish line for the third Gateway to Yosemite 5K/10K at Fahrens Park in 2025. Organized in partnership between Merced COE and the City of Merced Parks and Community Services, the race and fundraiser generated nearly $6,000 for the allaccessible Aletha June playground at General Vang Pao Park in Merced.

MERCED COE DEPARTMENTS

The Merced County Office of Education has six departments that provide educational support and resources to the county’s 20 school districts. Some department responsibilities include curriculum and instruction oversight, career and alternative education, financial services, childcare and early education, technology, migrant education, and teacher credentialing.

The Superintendent’s department oversees all other Merced COE departments and ensures that they run effectively;

Business Services manages finances and budgeting for Merced COE and surrounding school districts; Human Resources oversees employee recruitment, benefits, and payroll; Special Education is responsible for providing services and other necessary support to students with special needs; Educational Services manages a range of programs to improve student achievement countywide; and Early Education supports early childhood education, services for families and childcare subsidies for providers. Each department plays a role to ensure that Merced COE provides accessible and equitable education and support for students and educators throughout Merced County.

BOARD OF EDUCATION

the State Legislature, California Education Code, and the California State Board of Education. Trustees are responsible for adopting the annual County Office of Education Local Control and Accountability Plan and budget, policies governing the operation of the board; and acting as the appeals board for student expulsions, interdistrict transfers, and charter school petitions. Members of the Merced County Board of Education also serve as trustees to the Virginia Smith Trust.

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