Schools in Madera Unified · Madera County

About schools in Madera County

Measured against California's roughly 10,000 public schools, Madera County's top performers punch well above their weight. Sherman Thomas STEM Academy in Madera ranks in the 97th percentile statewide — an exceptional result for a San Joaquin Valley county where most of the 54 ranked schools serve agricultural and foothill communities spread across nine districts. Only three schools reach the top quartile overall, so strong performance is concentrated rather than widespread. Families in Madera city have access to those standouts, while communities like Oakhurst and O'Neals are served by smaller, more rural elementary programs. The county's 37 elementary schools dominate the landscape, giving families the most choice at that level.