Merced Times

In the 2023-24 school year, kindergarten was the largest grade in Madera Unified School District, with 1,871 students making up 8.8% of the student body, according to the California Department of Education. This represents a growth of 0.3% compared to the previous year.

The grade with the second highest number of students was seventh grade, with 1,681 students, or 7.9% of the student body.

The school that had the highest number of kindergarten students in Madera Unified School District during the period was John J. Pershing Elementary School, while Duane E. Furman Independent Study had the fewest.

Overall, Madera Unified School District enrolled 21,159 students, ranking as the 59th highest enrolled district in California for the 2023-24 school year. It ranked 58th highest in the previous school year.

California's public schools face a growing financial crisis driven by declining enrollment and an increase in chronic absenteeism, both impacting the state's school funding model.

Enrollment, which peaked at 6.3 million students in the early 2000s, has steadily declined to under 6 million today, with projections indicating it could fall below 5.2 million by 2032. This trend is attributed to lower birth rates, slowed immigration, and families relocating out of state due to high housing costs. Rural and coastal districts have been particularly affected, facing tough decisions such as school closures and staffing reductions.

At the same time, chronic absenteeism has surged from 12% pre-pandemic to 25%, disproportionately impacting younger students and jeopardizing their long-term success.

School	Total Enrollment
Alpha Elementary School	703
Berenda Elementary School	761
Cesar Chavez Elementary School	682
Dixieland Elementary School	287
Duane E. Furman Independent Study	348
Eastin Arcola Elementary School	208
George Washington Elementary School	592
Howard Elementary School	503
Jack G. Desmond Middle School	813
James Madison Elementary School	670
James Monroe Elementary School	660
John Adams Elementary School	729
John J. Pershing Elementary School	781
La Vina Elementary School	209
Lincoln Elementary School	842
Madera High School	1,865
Madera South High School	1,855
Madera Unified Adult Transition Program	13
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School	917
Matilda Torres High School	2,057
Millview Elementary School	600
Mountain Vista High School	164
Nishimoto Elementary School	712
Parkwood Elementary School	635
Ripperdan Community Day	45
Sierra Vista Elementary School	739
Thomas Jefferson Middle School	1,026
Virginia Lee Rose Elementary School	704