Merced County Schools: Atwater High School welcomed most students in 2022-23 school year

Atwater High School had the highest enrollment among Merced County schools, welcoming 2,095 students during the 2022-23 school year, according to the California Department of Education.

Of all the students welcomed in the 2022-23 school year, 52% of them were boys, and 48% were girls.

Among the 105 schools in Merced County, Golden Valley High School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 1,956 students, while Merced High School welcomed 1,894 students and ranked third in the 2022-23 school year.

Atwater High School is part of Merced Union High School District, which roughly covers schools within Merced County and has a main office in Merced.

In the previous school year, Atwater High School also had the highest number of students among Merced County schools.

In the last decade, enrollment in California elementary and secondary schools rose by at least 5%, while high school enrollment dropped 5%.

However, overall enrollment in California public schools is sliding, and predicted by the Public Policy Institute of California to drop another 8% by the 2031-32 school year.