Washington Elementary

As a close-knit K-5 school in Winton, California, Washington Elementary teaches 295 students from grades K through 8, part of Merced River Union Elementary. Compared to the state average of about 465 students per school, that is 37% leaner than typical.

Operationally, Washington Elementary answers to Merced River Union Elementary, which sets policy, hires staff, and reports enrollment to the state.

On the student-mix side, Washington Elementary shows that the largest single group is Hispanic at 54%, but no single group is in the majority. The remainder consists of 41% White, 3% multiracial. That is considerably less Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 63%.

On the resource side, The school currently runs with 12 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 24.7:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 22.3:1, putting Washington Elementary higher than the state norm the norm. About 80% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Washington Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 32.0%; this one delivers 39.9%.

In the area at large, the surrounding county (Merced County) reports that median household income runs about $65,510, 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 16%. Washington Elementary is one of 117 public schools in Merced County (combined enrollment of about 59,456 students).

The closest other public school is Winfield Elementary, roughly 4.1 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 4 other public schools cluster around Washington Elementary. On composite proficiency, Washington Elementary comes 3rd of 8 in the immediate cluster, higher than the nearby-schools average of 38.5%.

The school occupies a low-density site.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Washington Elementary has climbed 68%, going from 176 students in 2018 to 295 in 2025. The White share of enrollment ticked up from 32% to 41% over that span. Class-load math has loosened: from 19.6:1 in 2018 to 24.7:1 in 2025.

On this page, the feed for Washington Elementary typically covers enrollment questions, classroom assignments, and PTA news. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.