Buhach Colony High

Summary:

Buhach Colony High is a public high school located in Atwater, California, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,746 students. The school is part of the Merced Union High School District, which is ranked 1079 out of 1568 districts in California and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Buhach Colony High has consistently maintained high four-year graduation rates, ranging from 95.3% to 99.1% over the past five years, significantly higher than the state average and the Merced Union High School District average. However, the school has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, from 13.6% in 2017-2018 to 31.1% in 2021-2022, which is higher than the district and state averages. Academically, Buhach Colony High's performance, as measured by Smarter Balanced Assessments and CAST, is generally below the state average but on par with or slightly better than the Merced Union High School District average.

Buhach Colony High's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with the school ranking particularly low for Asian and White students, but performing better for African American and Hispanic students compared to the state averages. This suggests the need for targeted interventions and support to address the unique needs of underperforming groups. While Buhach Colony High's performance is generally on par with or slightly better than the Merced Union High School District average, it lags behind some of the nearby schools, such as Golden Valley High and Merced High, in terms of academic achievement and graduation rates.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1800 Buhach Rd.
       Atwater, CA  95301-4592


(209) 325-1400

District: Merced Union High

SchoolDigger Rank:
1301st of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,222 Help


Feeder schools for Buhach Colony High:

Elementary:    Bellevue Elementary
    McSwain Elementary
    Peggy Heller Elementary
    Shaffer Elementary
    More...
Middle:    Bellevue Senior Elementary
    Rudolph Rivera Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  19.8 Help
Number of students:  1,658

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
68.5%
White:
16.0%
Asian:
9.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  73.8% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Buhach Colony High ranks worse than 56% of high schools in California. It also ranks 4th among 8 ranked high schools in the Merced Union High School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 34.2. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Buhach Colony High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (68.5%), White (16%), Asian (9.7%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 73.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Merced Union High School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Buhach Colony High is 19.8. 4 high schools in the Merced Union High School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Buhach Colony High employs 83.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Buhach Colony High is $9,222, which is the 4th highest among 8 high schools in the Merced Union High School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Buhach Colony High:

SchoolDigger ranks Buhach Colony High 1301st of 2323 California public high schools. (See Buhach Colony High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Merced Union High:

SchoolDigger ranks Merced Union High 1079th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Buhach Colony High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 29.92 934th 1653 43.5%
2005 35.22 916th 1901 51.8%
2006 31.85 1044th 1968 47.0%
2007 41.49 837th 2063 59.4%
2008 39.76 918th 2117 56.6%
2009 39.29 1045th 2238 53.3%
2010 46.27 855th 2281 62.5%
2011 48.36 838th 2367 64.6%
2012 64.83 419th 2354 82.2%
2013 60.88 518th 2426 78.6%
2015 61.81 711th 1994 64.3%
2016 64.10 689th 2039 66.2%
2017 51.05 1001st 2021 50.5%
2018 50.74 999th 2017 50.5%
2019 49.00 1009th 2133 52.7%
2021 39.99 766th 1290 40.6%
2022 39.61 1188th 2123 44.0%
2023 33.04 1331st 2348 43.3%
2024 34.20 1301st 2323 44.0%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.44 438th 938 53.3%
2019 32.69 669th 941 28.9%
2021 33.61 304th 467 34.9%
2022 45.12 400th 1044 61.7%
2023 23.63 1130th 1323 14.6%
2024 30.28 824th 1350 39.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 32.90 890th 1547 42.5%
2024 22.70 1259th 1534 17.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.87 913th 1862 51.0%
2019 50.02 929th 1937 52.0%
2021 40.39 699th 1126 37.9%
2022 38.12 1171st 1943 39.7%
2023 35.36 1262nd 2247 43.8%
2024 34.45 1306th 2235 41.6%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 44.40 152nd 290 47.6%
2024 12.27 420th 451 6.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 51.00 874th 1760 50.3%
2019 41.17 1053rd 1833 42.6%
2021 37.24 666th 1054 36.8%
2022 39.71 1061st 1858 42.9%
2023 28.04 1380th 2118 34.8%
2024 37.08 1153rd 2098 45.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.45 894th 1052 15.0%
2019 27.46 827th 1117 26.0%
2021 30.74 392nd 555 29.4%
2022 26.29 944th 1161 18.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.73 1010th 1834 44.9%
2019 50.84 842nd 1880 55.2%
2021 35.27 723rd 1122 35.6%
2022 35.63 1152nd 1916 39.9%
2023 35.25 1186th 2207 46.3%
2024 29.30 1337th 2172 38.4%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.67 489th 581 15.8%
2019 13.75 508th 582 12.7%
2022 10.88 519th 581 10.7%
2023 13.46 649th 731 11.2%
2024 10.15 636th 712 10.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 42.32 320th 592 45.9%
2022 37.98 301st 522 42.3%
2023 55.05 263rd 720 63.5%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 46.92 973rd 1742 44.1%
2019 46.91 954th 1814 47.4%
2022 39.29 1113th 1861 40.2%
2023 36.32 1215th 2142 43.3%
2024 39.55 1126th 2125 47.0%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Buhach Colony High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.54 607th 1173 48.3%
2019 44.29 705th 1222 42.3%
2022 31.36 841st 1204 30.1%
2023 15.07 1165th 1434 18.8%
2024 15.11 1136th 1406 19.2%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Buhach Colony High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 




Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Buhach Colony High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2002 491 48 134 448 18 n/a n/a 0 1139
2003 491 48 134 448 18 n/a n/a 0 1139
2004 574 66 182 597 12 n/a n/a 79 1510
2005 625 84 198 715 22 n/a n/a 71 1715
2006 638 77 198 768 22 n/a n/a 65 1768
2007 633 68 227 792 15 n/a n/a 36 1771
2008 647 77 224 840 16 n/a n/a 0 1804
2009 618 77 222 889 8 5 24 0 1843
2010 602 62 199 923 8 1 62 0 1857
2011 526 58 207 1025 10 2 66 0 1894
2012 488 63 202 1007 9 2 46 0 1817
2013 471 74 213 1002 8 4 24 0 1796
2014 462 65 190 1018 10 5 20 0 1770
2015 451 66 187 1001 8 3 9 0 1725
2016 434 54 185 1063 14 3 11 0 1764
2017 404 48 191 1136 12 7 20 0 1818
2018 393 59 203 1155 13 8 24 0 1855
2019 399 57 193 1216 13 8 31 0 1917
2020 398 54 189 1221 8 8 43 0 1921
2021 353 50 183 1221 4 7 44 0 1862
2022 328 52 185 1228 7 7 19 1 1827
2023 293 50 171 1174 15 8 35 0 1746
2024 266 41 161 1136 14 6 33 1 1658

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Buhach Colony High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 1139 48.2 23.6 55.3
2003 1139 48.2 23.6 55.3
2004 1510 58.7 25.7 64.3
2005 1715 67.0 25.6 52.5
2006 1768 75.4 23.4 65.8
2007 1771 73.8 24.0 77.9
2008 1804 94.9 19.0 66.9
2009 1843 77.5 19.4 66.4
2010 1857 81.9 22.6 77.4
2011 1894 n/a n/a 72.3
2012 1817 76.8 23.6 n/a
2013 1796 70.7 25.4 67.9
2014 1770 76.1 23.2 69.9
2015 1725 78.0 22.1 70
2016 1764 75.0 23.5 72.8
2017 1818 68.7 26.4 67.5
2018 1855 77.6 23.8 70.7
2019 1917 85.6 22.3 69.3
2020 1921 n/a n/a 66.4
2021 1862 87.1 21.3 70
2022 1827 84.6 21.5 72.6
2023 1746 84.6 20.6 71.6
2024 1658 83.6 19.8 73.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Buhach Colony High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2002 1139 48.2 23.6 55.3
2003 1139 48.2 23.6 55.3
2004 1510 58.7 25.7 64.3
2005 1715 67.0 25.6 52.5
2006 1768 75.4 23.4 65.8
2007 1771 73.8 24.0 77.9
2008 1804 94.9 19.0 66.9
2009 1843 77.5 19.4 66.4
2010 1857 81.9 22.6 77.4
2011 1894 n/a n/a 72.3
2012 1817 76.8 23.6 n/a
2013 1796 70.7 25.4 67.9
2014 1770 76.1 23.2 69.9
2015 1725 78.0 22.1 70
2016 1764 75.0 23.5 72.8
2017 1818 68.7 26.4 67.5
2018 1855 77.6 23.8 70.7
2019 1917 85.6 22.3 69.3
2020 1921 n/a n/a 66.4
2021 1862 87.1 21.3 70
2022 1827 84.6 21.5 72.6
2023 1746 84.6 20.6 71.6
2024 1658 83.6 19.8 73.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Buhach Colony High

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $9,222

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Buhach Colony High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1009th of 2133 High schoolsRanks 1331st of 2348 High schools
 9.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Buhach Colony High)50.142.3
 7.8%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Merced Union High)47.239.9
 7.3%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Buhach Colony High)20.58.8
 11.7%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Merced Union High)17.310.8
 6.5%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
11th Grade Science (Buhach Colony High)24.418.5
 5.8%
   11th Grade Science (Merced Union High)20.918.8
 2%
   11th Grade Science (California)30.431.7
 1.3%
12th Grade Science (Buhach Colony High)1823.5
 5.6%
   12th Grade Science (Merced Union High)16.317.4
 1.1%
   12th Grade Science (California)25.626.9
 1.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students19171746
 8.9%
African American5750
 12.3%
American Indian1315
 15.4%
Asian193171
 11.4%
Hispanic12161174
 3.5%
Pacific Islander88
White399293
 26.6%
Two or More Races3135
 12.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients69.3%71.6%
 2.3%


Schools Near Buhach Colony High









Frequently Asked Questions about Buhach Colony High

Buhach Colony High ranks 1301st of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students at Buhach Colony High are 69% Hispanic, 16% White, 10% Asian, 2% African American, 2% Two or more races.

Buhach Colony High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bellevue Elementary
Elementary : McSwain Elementary
Elementary : Peggy Heller Elementary
Elementary : Shaffer Elementary
Elementary : Thomas Olaeta Elementary
Elementary : Washington Elementary
Middle : Bellevue Senior Elementary
Middle : Rudolph Rivera Middle

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,658 students attended Buhach Colony High.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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