Allan Peterson Elementary School (Merced City School District)

The Merced City School District lies in the middle of the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, the most productive agricultural area in the world.  Located near the heart of the state, Merced is within a two-hour drive of Yosemite National Park with its spectacular waterfalls and miles of hiking trails.  It is also just two hours by car to the Pacific beaches and the lovely seaside communities of Monterey and Carmel.
 
The Merced City School District is energetic and progressive.  Twelve hundred dedicated certificated and classified staff serve nearly twelve thousand students on a traditional schedule in fourteen K-6 elementary schools, all with state preschool classes, and four 7-8 middle schools. The district is also committed to the highest quality instructional program for all children.  Parents, teachers, and administrators are involved in regular assessment of program quality and ongoing program development in order to address the needs of students and to ensure alignment with the rigorous California State Standards and Frameworks.  Quality staff development is a high priority for the district.
 
Merced, which has more than 80,000 residents, is known for its wide tree-lined streets, open spaces, 29 tree-shaded parks, and 12 miles of class-one bike paths.  The Courthouse Museum and nearby Castle Air Museum are some of the many attractions enjoyed by local residents.
 
Several major colleges and universities are located in close proximity to the district, including UC Merced, Merced College, California State University, Fresno and California State University, Stanislaus.