Schools
6
listed public schools. We score three elementary, one middle and one high.
School district · Kern County
McFarland Unified schools
McFarland Unified’s 3 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 71 to 73. Its middle school has a Scope Score of 73. Its high school has a Scope Score of 80.
75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state.
Students
3,282
in the October 2024–25 enrollment count.
Spending
$20,151
per student in 2024–25. The typical California district spent $20,491.
The path
What is the path through the district?
McFarland Unified has three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school that we score.
Elementary · 3 schools
- HorizonScope Score 73
- Browning Road STEAM AcademyScope Score 71
- Kern AvenueScope Score 71
Middle · grades 7–8
McFarland Junior High
Scope Score 73
Developing · 38th percentile
High · grades 9–12
McFarland High School Early College
Scope Score 80
Solid · 70th percentile
Each score compares a school with California schools at its own level. The levels are not one ranking. Confirm the school for your address, grade and program with the district.
Elementary schools
Which elementary schools in McFarland Unified score highest?
Horizon Elementary is highest, with a Scope Score of 73. That is higher than 39 in 100 California elementary schools we score.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
Horizon Elementary
Grades K–6 · 542 students
142660% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 39th percentile
Rank 2
Browning Road STEAM Academy
Grades K–6 · 453 students
1480% below the standard
Scope Score 71Needs Support · 23rd percentile
Rank 3
Kern Avenue Elementary
Grades K–6 · 700 students
1580% below the standard
Scope Score 71Needs Support · 23rd percentile
The average elementary school in McFarland Unified had 7 in 100 students chronically absent in 2025–26. The average California elementary school we score had 17 in 100.
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
Where does the middle school we score in McFarland Unified stand?
McFarland Junior High has a Scope Score of 73. That is higher than 38 in 100 California middle schools we score. It is the only public middle school we score in McFarland Unified.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
McFarland Junior High
Grades 7–8 · 494 students
2466% below the standard
Scope Score 73Developing · 38th percentile
Each score compares a school with the 2,529 California middle schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2026.
High schools
Where does the high school we score in McFarland Unified stand?
McFarland High School Early College has a Scope Score of 80. That is higher than 70 in 100 California high schools we score. It is the only public high school we score in McFarland Unified.
AdvancedProficientBelow the standardEnglish and math tests combined
Rank 1
McFarland High School Early College
Grades 9–12 · 1,027 students · Check how it admits students.
202753% below the standard
Scope Score 80Solid · 70th percentile
1 high school not ranked statewide
It is compared only with other continuation schools, so it is listed apart.
- San Joaquin High (Continuation)Continuation high school
Each score compares a school with the 1,498 California high schools we score. Source: California Department of Education, state tests (CAASPP), spring 2025. The state called the top two levels Exceeded and Met in spring 2025.
Against California
How does the district compare with California?
7 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
McFarland Unified7 in 100
California17 in 100
Students from low-income families
Qualify for free or reduced-price meals
McFarland Unified85%
California63%
Spending per student
Day-to-day spending, 2024–25
McFarland Unified$20,151
Typical district$20,491
English learners who moved up a level
On the state’s English test (ELPAC)
McFarland Unified49%
California47%
Absence: averages of school rates, each elementary school counted once, 2025–26. Meals: 2,799 of 3,282 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, 49% of the district’s English learners moved up at least one level on the state’s English test (ELPAC), or stayed at the top (351 of 721 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 McFarland Unified’s money go?
About 58 cents of every McFarland Unified dollar went to classroom instruction.
$20,151
spent per student in the 2024–25 school year. The typical California district spent $20,491.
Every dollar, by what it paid for
58¢15¢10¢8¢7¢
- Instruction58%
- Student services15%
- Buildings & maintenance10%
- Instruction support8%
- Administration7%
- Other2%
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $24.4 million into 41 funded actions in 5 goals. That is 29% of its $83.6 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?
3,282 students were enrolled in the October 2024–25 count. McFarland Unified isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.
Who goes to the district’s schools
- Hispanic or Latino 98%
- Other or not reported 2%
Is the state giving the district extra help?
McFarland Unified isn’t getting extra state help in 2026, only the standard support every district gets.
State results from the 2026 California School Dashboard. Source: District help (CDE).1 school getting state support, 2025–26
- San Joaquin High (Continuation)Targeted support: low-income students
Common questions
What do parents ask about this district?
Are the public schools in McFarland Unified good?
McFarland Unified’s 3 public elementary schools have Scope Scores from 71 to 73. Of those, 1 is Developing and 2 are Needs Support. McFarland Unified has one public middle school we score. McFarland Junior High has a Scope Score of 73. It is Developing, at the 38th percentile. McFarland Unified has one public high school we score. McFarland High School Early College has a Scope Score of 80. It is Solid, at the 70th percentile. 75 is the typical California school. 100 is the best result in the state. How we score schools.
Which public schools in McFarland Unified rank highest?
Horizon Elementary is the highest elementary school, with a Scope Score of 73. It is Developing, at the 39th percentile. McFarland Junior High is the only middle school we score here. It has a Scope Score of 73. It is Developing, at the 38th percentile. McFarland High School Early College is the only high school we score here. It has a Scope Score of 80. It is Solid, at the 70th 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 McFarland Unified compare with California?
The average elementary school in McFarland Unified had 7 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.
How much does McFarland Unified spend per student?
McFarland Unified spent $20,151 per student in the 2024–25 school year. That’s close to the typical California district, which spent $20,491. About 58 cents of every McFarland Unified 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 McFarland Unified’s 2026–27 spending plan?
The district’s 2026–27 spending plan puts $24.4 million into 41 funded actions in 5 goals. That is 29% of its $83.6 million general fund budget. Its largest goal holds $11.0 million, 45% of the action budgets. The 2026–27 plan, goal by goal.
Does living in the McFarland Unified 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). They are from spring 2026 for elementary and middle schools. The results are from spring 2025 for high schools. 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.
Next
Which places nearby can you look at next?
Sources and methodology
This page lists the public schools governed and funded by McFarland Unified, with the district’s spending and state records.
Data source: California Department of Education · CAASPP 2025–26 elementary and middle school; 2024–25 high school
Percentiles, bands and Scope Scores are SchoolScope’s own calculations from these state files.
State tests are the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), springs 2025 and 2026.
Download these schools (CSV) Free to use under CC BY 4.0 with attribution.