Gracey (Leontine) Elementary School

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Official name Gracey (Leontine) Elementary School (also known as Leontine Gracey Elementary School)
School District Merced City School District
Established 1986
Location 945 West Ave., Merced, CA
Mission Together we Grow
Website [1]
Enrollment 700

Gracey (Leontine) Elementary School is an elementary school located in Merced, California which educates grades kindergarten to fifth. Current enrollment is approximately 700 students 368 of which are socioeconomically disadvangated. 74.1% of the students qualify for the free lunch program; an additional 13.5% qualify for the reduced lunch. 86% of the students who attend are minority and 39% with English as a second language. The school is on the list of California Low Performing Schools with a 677 base API rating. A majority of all the students attend Tenaya Middle School upon graduating from Gracey Elementary School.

The school was established in 1986 with 650 students, and include the library, kitchen, multipurpose room, 14 permanent classrooms, and 14 portable classrooms. During the first three weeks, classes were held in the Merced County Fairgrounds while the school building was completed [2]. Leontine Gracey, whom the school was named for, was a teacher in the district from 1963-1981 and engaged in numerous community activities, had an active role in the NAACP, and played an important part in the desegregation of the district.

In 1996, 5th grade teacher Marc Medefind's class participated in the National Mock Election. The students engaged in speeches and debates based on school issues, nominated candidates, selected running mates, and conducted campaigns with an election finalizing everything. Targeted advertising, mud slinging and negative advertising were employed, along with other campaign tactics. The League of Women Voters supported the class to seek their own opinions on whom to vote for, and what (mock) political campaigns they support. Local businesses were very supportive providing election materials and even displaying "Get out the Vote" posters in their windows. The success of the event was felt in the community, even urging once apathetic parents to get involved and vote in the national Presidential elections.

On 23 September 2005, the Principal, Milton Kato, was struck and killed by a semi-truck after his Pontiac Grand Am crashed into an embankment. According to Madera Online, the CHP initially reported his death as a suicide, and the county coroner agreed, but the ruling quickly changed after an investigation by the Madera County Sheriff's Department. He was survived by a wife and two sons.

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