Southern Kern Unified
Southern Kern Unified has 5 ranked schools across elementary, middle and high levels with an average Scope Score of 28.4/100 — 15.4 points below the California state average of 43.8. The highest-scoring school is Rosamond High Early College Campus at 47/100, where 6.9% of students exceed the state standard. The district spends $12,312 per student (below the state average of $14,815). Chronic absenteeism averages 33.6%, above the state average. Data source: CDE CAASPP 2025 and NCES fiscal data, analyzed by SchoolScope.
| Level | Avg Score | Schools | Exceeded | Absent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | Needs Support 28.9/100 | 2 | 8.2% | 23.7% |
| Middle | Needs Support 20.6/100 | 1 | 3.9% | 26.4% |
| High | Developing 31.8/100 | 2 | 4.5% | 46.9% |
K–12 pipeline
The typical school path in Southern Kern Unified, top-scoring shown first.
District Analysis
Strongest level: Southern Kern Unified's high schools lead the district with an average Scope Score of 31.8.
Growth story: District-wide elementary growth averages -6.0pp (state avg: -3.0pp), a negative trend that warrants attention.
Consistency: Score range of 29.9 points — showing notable variation between schools.
Absenteeism: District chronic absenteeism averages 33.6%, 15.4pp below the state average of 18.1%.
Suspensions: District suspension rate averages 6.4%, below the state average of 1.7%.
Top school: Rosamond High Early College Campus leads the district at 47 with 6.9% exceeding standard.
How we score · Scope Score methodology
Student demographics
District averages · California Department of Education enrollment data
District Funding
Southern Kern Unified spends $12,312 per student in current expenditures — $2,503 below the state average of $14,815.
Data source: NCES Common Core of Data, Fiscal Survey (F-33) · 2019–2020
Teacher compensation
CDE Form J-90 salary schedule · 2024–25
Elementary Schools (2)
Southern Kern Unified has 2 ranked elementary schools averaging a Scope Score of 28.9 — 14.9 points below the state average of 43.8.
Growth averages -6.0pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring elementary school is Westpark Elementary with a Scope Score of 34 and 11.7% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westpark Elementary Southern Kern Unified Building Momentum | 11.7% | Developing 34/100 |
| 2 | Rosamond Elementary Southern Kern Unified Building Momentum | 4.7% | Needs Support 24/100 |
Middle Schools (1)
Southern Kern Unified has 1 ranked middle schools averaging a Scope Score of 20.6 — 19.9 points below the state average of 40.5.
Growth averages -2.0pp district-wide — a negative trend worth examining.
The highest-scoring middle school is Tropico Middle with a Scope Score of 21 and 3.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tropico Middle Southern Kern Unified Building Momentum | 3.9% | Needs Support 21/100 |
High Schools (2)
Southern Kern Unified has 2 ranked high schools averaging a Scope Score of 31.8 — 15.7 points below the state average of 47.5.
The highest-scoring high school is Rosamond High Early College Campus with a Scope Score of 47 and 6.9% exceeding standard.
| # | School | Exceeded | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rosamond High Early College Campus Southern Kern Unified Building Momentum | 6.9% | Developing 47/100 |
| 2 | Rare Earth High (Continuation) Southern Kern Unified Building Momentum | 2.1% | Needs Support 17/100 |
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2024-25 · Methodology
Scores are SchoolScope's analysis of public data, not official CDE ratings. They represent one way of interpreting test results and should not be the sole basis for school decisions.
What Scope Scores can't tell you about Southern Kern Unified
- Class sizes and student-teacher interaction quality
- Quality of arts, music, athletics, and enrichment programs
- Teacher experience, turnover, and professional development
- Campus safety, bullying climate, and social-emotional support
- Parent and community engagement levels
- Quality of special education and gifted programs
- How resources are distributed across schools within the district
Scope Scores measure academic performance and school climate using public data. They are one lens among many. Full methodology