Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Ceres Unified

California · Public School District
23
Schools
13,867
Students
$17,299
Per-Pupil Spend
+21% nat'l
81.4%
Free Lunch Rate
+29pp vs nat'l
92.9%
Graduation Rate
+6.4pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Ceres Unified is a public school district in California serving 13,867 students across 23 schools. It includes 14 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high schools, among them 2 charter schools. Its graduation rate of 92.9% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $17,299 is above average for a US public school district. 81% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are moderate, with a district median of 49/100.

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All Schools (23)
Middle Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Blaker-Kinser Junior High07–08644
Cesar Chavez Junior High07–08662
Mae Hensley Junior High07–08648
High Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Argus High (Continuation)09–12130
Central Valley High09–122,309
Ceres High09–121,777
Whitmore Charter HighCharter09–1298
Other Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Ceres Special EducationKG–1230
Endeavor AlternativeKG–12126
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$17,299+21% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
74%
14%
State
74.5%
Local (property tax)
14.4%
Federal
11.1%

State funding accounts for 74% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
23
Schools
13,867
Students
81%
Free Lunch
$17K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate92.9%
Opportunity Score49/100
StateCalifornia →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
92.9% graduation rate — 6.4 points above the national average of 86.5%.
High per-student investment
Spends $17,299 per pupil — 21% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 23 schools including 2 charter schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
81% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Ceres Unified?
Ceres Unified has 23 public schools, serving a total of 13,867 students.
What is the graduation rate for Ceres Unified?
The graduation rate is 92.9%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Ceres Unified spend per student?
Ceres Unified spends $17,299 per pupil — 21% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Ceres Unified?
81% of students in Ceres Unified qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Ceres Unified?
Yes — 2 of the 23 schools in Ceres Unified are charter schools.
What grade levels does Ceres Unified serve?
Ceres Unified serves grades KG through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Ceres Unified?
The median opportunity score across schools in Ceres Unified is 49/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.