Are the public schools in Bakersfield City good?

Bakersfield City’s 33 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 64 to 82. Of those, 1 is Strong, 3 are Solid, 5 are Developing and 24 are Needs Support. Bakersfield City’s 11 public middle schools have Scope Scores from 66 to 81. Of those, 1 is Strong, 1 is Solid, 1 is Developing and 8 are Needs Support. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How we score schools.

Which public schools in Bakersfield City rank highest?

Downtown Elementary is the highest elementary school, with a Scope Score of 82. It is Strong, at the 80th percentile. Downtown Elementary is the highest middle school, with a Scope Score of 81. It is Strong, at the 77th percentile. Each score compares a school with the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.

How much does Bakersfield City spend per student?

Bakersfield City spent $22,638 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 65 cents of every Bakersfield City dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.

Does living in the Bakersfield City district decide which school my child attends?

Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.

Where do these results come from?

The test results are from California’s state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026. Chronic-absence rates are for 2025–26. The California Department of Education publishes both. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.

School district · Kern County

Bakersfield City schools

Bakersfield City’s 33 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 64 to 82. Its 11 middle schools have Scope Scores from 66 to 81.

75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state.

Downtown Elementary · campus drawing © OpenStreetMap contributors

Schools

listed public schools. We score 33 elementary and 11 middle.

Students

28,365

in the October 2024–25 enrollment count.

Spending

$22,638

per student in 2024–25. The typical California district spent $20,491.

The path

What is the path through the district?

Bakersfield City has 33 elementary schools and 11 middle schools that we score.

Elementary

33schools

Scope Scores from 64 to 82.

See the elementary schools ↓

Middle

11schools

Scope Scores from 66 to 81.

See the middle schools ↓

High school

Kern High

The record sends some Bakersfield City addresses to these nine high schools. Some addresses fall in more than one zone. Boundaries come from the district’s published 2026 attendance boundaries; districts redraw them, and they are approximate at the edges.

Each score compares a school with California schools at its own level. The levels are not one ranking.

Elementary schools

Which elementary schools in Bakersfield City score highest?

Downtown Elementary is highest, with a Scope Score of 82. That is higher than 80 in 100 California elementary schools we score.

AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined

Rank 1
Downtown Elementary
Grades K–8 · 317 students
3525
40% below the standard
Scope Score 82Strong · 80th percentile
Rank 2
Harding Elementary
Grades K–6 · 542 students
1520
65% below the standard
Scope Score 77Solid · 58th percentile
Rank 3
Bessie E. Owens Elementary
Grades K–6 · 867 students
1716
67% below the standard
Scope Score 76Solid · 56th percentile
Rank 4
Pioneer Drive Elementary
Grades K–6 · 562 students
19
72% below the standard
Scope Score 76Solid · 53rd percentile
Rank 5
Horace Mann Elementary
Grades K–6 · 870 students
15
75% below the standard
Scope Score 75Developing · 47th percentile
Rank 6
Dr. Douglas K. Fletcher Elementary
Grades K–5 · 705 students
1723
60% below the standard
Scope Score 74Developing · 46th percentile
Rank 7
Williams Elementary
Grades K–6 · 452 students
11
84% below the standard
Scope Score 72Developing · 30th percentile
Rank 8
Cesar E. Chavez Elementary
Grades K–6 · 621 students
1828
54% below the standard
Scope Score 72Developing · 30th percentile
Rank 9
Hort Elementary
Grades K–5 · 590 students
17
75% below the standard
Scope Score 71Developing · 26th percentile
Rank 10
Leo G. Pauly Elementary
Grades K–6 · 694 students
15
75% below the standard
Scope Score 71Needs Support · 22nd percentile

Show the other 23 elementary schools

Rank 11
Frank West Elementary
Grades K–5 · 650 students
15
77% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 21st percentile
Rank 12
William Penn Elementary
Grades K–5 · 235 students
10
83% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 20th percentile
Rank 13
Franklin Elementary
Grades K–6 · 475 students
20
70% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 19th percentile
Rank 14
Evergreen Elementary
Grades K–5 · 660 students
16
77% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 19th percentile
Rank 15
Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary
Grades K–6 · 960 students
1320
67% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 19th percentile
Rank 16
Henry Eissler Elementary
Grades K–6 · 529 students
23
69% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 15th percentile
Rank 17
Caroline Harris Elementary
Grades K–6 · 587 students
19
72% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 14th percentile
Rank 18
Mt. Vernon Elementary
Grades K–6 · 614 students
12
84% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 12th percentile
Rank 19
Casa Loma Elementary
Grades K–6 · 424 students
13
84% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 12th percentile
Rank 20
McKinley Elementary
Grades K–6 · 628 students
14
80% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 12th percentile
Rank 21
College Heights Elementary
Grades K–6 · 761 students
9
87% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 12th percentile
Rank 22
Jefferson Elementary
Grades K–6 · 510 students
13
80% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 10th percentile
Rank 23
Voorhies Elementary
Grades K–6 · 915 students
17
75% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 10th percentile
Rank 24
Munsey Elementary
Grades K–6 · 663 students
17
77% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 10th percentile
Rank 25
Wayside Elementary
Grades K–6 · 652 students
11
85% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 8th percentile
Rank 26
Myra A. Noble Elementary
Grades K–5 · 813 students
12
85% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 7th percentile
Rank 27
Dr. Juliet Thorner Elementary
Grades K–6 · 813 students
15
80% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 7th percentile
Rank 28
Longfellow Elementary
Grades K–6 · 780 students
10
86% below the standard
Scope Score 68Needs Support · 7th percentile
Rank 29
Fremont Elementary
Grades K–6 · 707 students
15
78% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 7th percentile
Rank 30
Roosevelt Elementary
Grades K–5 · 392 students
17
76% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 5th percentile
Rank 31
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary
Grades Pre–K–6 · 709 students
10
88% below the standard
Scope Score 66Needs Support · 3rd percentile
Rank 32
Ramon Garza Elementary
Grades K–5 · 658 students
14
78% below the standard
Scope Score 66Needs Support · 2nd percentile
Rank 33
Stella I. Hills Elementary
Grades K–6 · 670 students
91% below the standard
Scope Score 64Needs Support · bottom 1%

The average elementary school in Bakersfield City had 17 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100.

1 elementary school not ranked statewide

Students are placed here by probation, district or voluntary referral, including after an expulsion, so we don’t rank it.

Rafer JohnsonCommunity day school

Each score compares a school with the 5,726 California elementary schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once.

Middle schools

Which middle schools in Bakersfield City score highest?

Downtown Elementary is highest, with a Scope Score of 81. That is higher than 77 in 100 California middle schools we score.

AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined

Rank 1
Downtown Elementary
Grades K–8 · 317 students
2928
43% below the standard
Scope Score 81Strong · 77th percentile
Rank 2
Paul L. Cato Middle
Grades 6–8 · 694 students
1828
54% below the standard
Scope Score 79Solid · 69th percentile
Rank 3
Chipman Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 708 students
1321
66% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 37th percentile
Rank 4
Sequoia Jr. High
Grades 7–8 · 746 students
15
80% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 18th percentile
Rank 5
Compton Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 586 students
17
77% below the standard
Scope Score 70Needs Support · 17th percentile
Rank 6
Walter Stiern Middle
Grades 6–8 · 891 students
17
78% below the standard
Scope Score 69Needs Support · 13th percentile
Rank 7
Emerson Middle
Grades 6–8 · 813 students
11
85% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 5th percentile
Rank 8
Washington Middle
Grades 6–8 · 639 students
13
84% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 5th percentile
Rank 9
Sierra Middle
Grades 6–8 · 731 students
13
85% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 5th percentile
Rank 10
Abraham Lincoln Jr. High
Grades 7–8 · 527 students
10
88% below the standard
Scope Score 67Needs Support · 4th percentile

Show the other 1 middle school

Rank 11
Curran Middle
Grades 6–8 · 973 students
12
83% below the standard
Scope Score 66Needs Support · 2nd percentile

The average middle school in Bakersfield City had 20 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.

Each score compares a school with the 2,529 California middle schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026.

Against California

How does the district compare with California?

17 in 100 students at the average elementary school here were chronically absent. The California figure is 17 in 100.

Students who miss a lot of school

Average elementary school, students in 100

Bakersfield City17 in 100

California17 in 100

Students from low-income families

Qualify for free or reduced-price meals

Bakersfield City88%

California63%

Spending per student

Day-to-day spending, 2024–25

Bakersfield City$22,638

Typical district$20,491

English learners who moved up a level

On the state’s English test (ELPAC)

Bakersfield City51%

California47%

Absence: averages of school rates, each elementary school counted once, 2025–26. Meals: 24,916 of 28,365 students, 2024–25, summed from the state’s meal counts for every school listed under the district, charters included. Spending: day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, 2024–25. The typical district is the middle one when California districts are put in order. English learners: From spring 2025 to spring 2026, 51% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (2,621 of 5,187 students). California: 47%. It counts students moving up the test’s levels, so a student can count here before becoming fluent. Source: California Department of Education, English learner progress files.

The district

Where does Bakersfield City’s money go?

About 65 cents of every Bakersfield City dollar went to classroom instruction.

$22,638

spent per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491.

Every dollar, by what it paid for

65¢11¢10¢9¢5¢

Instruction65%
Instruction support11%
Student services10%
Buildings & maintenance9%
Administration5%

The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $213.0 million into 81 funded actions. That is 30% of its $709.7 million general fund budget. These are planned amounts. The district reports what it spent in a later plan.

Spending is day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from the district’s annual financial report (SACS) to the California Department of Education, 2024–25. It covers the whole district, including central administration. Shares are rounded so they add up to 100. Planned amounts are from the yearly spending plan (LCAP) as posted to the California School Dashboard.

State records

Who attends, and is the state giving extra help?

28,365 students were enrolled in the October 2024–25 count. The state is giving Bakersfield City extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.

Who goes to the district’s schools

Hispanic or Latino 83%
White 7%
Black or African American 7%
Other or not reported 3%

October 2024–25 enrollment count, including the district’s charter schools. Source: California Department of Education.

Is the state giving the district extra help?

The state is giving Bakersfield City extra help in 2026, the second year after it qualified on the 2025 Dashboard.

State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard. Source: District help (CDE).

5 schools getting state support, 2025–26

Caroline Harris ElementaryTargeted support: homeless students
Curran MiddleTargeted support: homeless students
Emerson MiddleTargeted support: Black or African American students
McKinley ElementaryTargeted support: Black or African American students
Stella I. Hills ElementaryTargeted support: homeless students

This list covers the district’s own schools; each charter school’s page shows its record. Federal designation under the Every Student Succeeds Act, 2025–26. Source: School support (CDE).

Common questions

What do parents ask about this district?

Are the public schools in Bakersfield City good?
Bakersfield City’s 33 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 64 to 82. Of those, 1 is Strong, 3 are Solid, 5 are Developing and 24 are Needs Support. Bakersfield City’s 11 public middle schools have Scope Scores from 66 to 81. Of those, 1 is Strong, 1 is Solid, 1 is Developing and 8 are Needs Support. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How we score schools.
Which public schools in Bakersfield City rank highest?
Downtown Elementary is the highest elementary school, with a Scope Score of 82. It is Strong, at the 80th percentile. Downtown Elementary is the highest middle school, with a Scope Score of 81. It is Strong, at the 77th percentile. Each score compares a school with the California schools at the same level we score. A rank doesn’t decide fit or whether a child can enroll.
How does chronic absence in Bakersfield City compare with California?
The average elementary school in Bakersfield City had 17 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100. Chronically absent means a student missed 10% or more of school days. Each figure is an average of school rates. Each school counts once. The average middle school in Bakersfield City had 20 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California middle school we score had 18 in 100.
How much does Bakersfield City spend per student?
Bakersfield City spent $22,638 per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491. About 65 cents of every Bakersfield City dollar went to classroom instruction. Day-to-day spending per student in average daily attendance, from its annual financial report to the California Department of Education. The district’s spending, by function.
What is in Bakersfield City’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $213.0 million into 81 funded actions. That is 30% of its $709.7 million general fund budget. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Does living in the Bakersfield City district decide which school my child attends?
Not by itself. Attendance boundaries, programs, transfers and space all matter. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
Where do these results come from?
The test results are from California’s state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026. Chronic-absence rates are for 2025–26. The California Department of Education publishes both. Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s calculations. How we score schools.

Which places nearby can you look at next?

Schools in Bakersfield

Every public school with a Bakersfield address.

Compare schools

See the same numbers for each school.

Open the map

See these schools on the map.

Districts nearby

Sources and methodology

This page lists the public schools governed and funded by Bakersfield City, with the district’s spending and state records.

Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26

Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.

View CDE data ↗How Scope Scores work →

State tests are the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), spring 2026.

Download these schools (CSV) Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.