Kern County Schools & Education
Kern County, California
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
47/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
86.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
86.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 87.5%
Per-Pupil Spending
$8,004
National avg $13,239
State avg $8,762
School Score
47/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 55/100
State Score Position
#46
of 58 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Kern County
Measured School Summary
Kern County performs at an average level with a school score of 47/100 and a solid graduation rate of 86.4%.
Funding Context
Kern County spends $8,004 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 15% below the California average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Kern County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
272 public schools and 58 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
47/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #46 of 58 California counties with school score data.
Completion
86.4%
1.1 pts below the state average
Funding context
$8,004
$758 below the state average
School coverage
272
58 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Kern County has 272 public schools across 58 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Kern County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
Kern County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#46
of 58 California counties with school score data. The county score is 8 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 99% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Kern High
High school only in this slice
42,667 students
25 listed schools in this county slice.
Bakersfield City
Elementary and middle visible
28,835 students
45 listed schools in this county slice.
Panama-Buena Vista Union
Elementary and middle visible
19,103 students
25 listed schools in this county slice.
Greenfield Union
Elementary and middle visible
9,177 students
12 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Bakersfield City is the largest listed district slice, with 45 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Kern County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Kern County district systems?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Kern County, California
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Powerhouse System in Kern County
Kern County manages one of the state's largest educational networks, with 272 schools serving 195,695 students. The county is divided into 58 districts and includes 161 elementary schools and 51 high schools. This infrastructure also supports 14 charter schools and 20 alternative education centers.
Massive Districts and Large Campuses
Kern High is a major player with 42,667 students, while Bakersfield City district manages 45 schools. The county is also home to large-scale charters like Blue Ridge Academy, which serves 6,751 students across various grade levels. Traditional high schools like Bakersfield and Arvin enroll nearly 3,000 students each, offering robust extracurricular and academic programs.
Diverse Locales from City to Country
Kern County offers every type of school environment, from 97 city-based schools to 58 in rural settings. The average school size is 733 students, making it one of the more densely populated school systems in the region. This variety ensures that families can choose between bustling urban campuses and quiet rural schoolhouses.
School Overview
Total Schools
272
in Kern County
Reported Enrollment
195,695
270 schools reporting
School Districts
58
districts
Charter Schools
14
5% of total
School Level Breakdown
58 School Districts in Kern County
Kern High
GuideBakersfield City
GuidePanama-Buena Vista Union
GuideGreenfield Union
GuideBlue Ridge Academy District
GuideDelano Union Elementary
GuideRosedale Union Elementary
GuideSierra Sands Unified
GuideHeartland Charter District
GuideTehachapi Unified
Guide272 Public Schools in Kern County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 43 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 272 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Academy | Profile | Blue Ridge Academy District | San Dimas, 91773Rural: Distant | KG–12 | Charter | 6,751 |
| Heartland Charter | Profile | Heartland Charter District | Maricopa, 93252Rural: Distant | KG–12 | Charter | 4,700 |
| Bakersfield High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93301City: Large | 9–12 | High | 3,004 |
| Arvin High | Profile | Kern High | Arvin, 93203Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 2,786 |
| Ridgeview High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93313City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,688 |
| Highland High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93306City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,599 |
| Golden Valley High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93307City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,533 |
| East Bakersfield High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93306Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,421 |
| Independence High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93311Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 2,394 |
| Liberty High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93312City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,358 |
| Stockdale High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93311City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,298 |
| Mira Monte High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93307City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,293 |
| North High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93308Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,214 |
| South High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93304City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,176 |
| Centennial High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93312City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,175 |
| Frontier High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93314City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,072 |
| Foothill High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93306Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,045 |
| West High | Profile | Kern High | Bakersfield, 93309City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,025 |
| Wonderful College Prep Academy | Profile | Wonderful College Prep Academy District | Delano, 93215Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Charter | 1,900 |
| Wasco High | Profile | Wasco Union High | Wasco, 93280Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,733 |
Blue Ridge Academy
Blue Ridge Academy District
San Dimas, 91773 / Rural: Distant
Heartland Charter
Heartland Charter District
Maricopa, 93252 / Rural: Distant
Bakersfield High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93301 / City: Large
Arvin High
Kern High
Arvin, 93203 / Town: Fringe
Ridgeview High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93313 / City: Large
Highland High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93306 / City: Large
Golden Valley High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93307 / City: Large
East Bakersfield High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93306 / Suburb: Large
Independence High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93311 / Rural: Fringe
Liberty High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93312 / City: Large
Stockdale High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93311 / City: Large
Mira Monte High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93307 / City: Large
North High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93308 / Suburb: Large
South High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93304 / City: Large
Centennial High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93312 / City: Large
Frontier High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93314 / City: Large
Foothill High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93306 / Suburb: Large
West High
Kern High
Bakersfield, 93309 / City: Large
Wonderful College Prep Academy
Wonderful College Prep Academy District
Delano, 93215 / Rural: Fringe
Wasco High
Wasco Union High
Wasco, 93280 / Town: Distant
Additional School Profiles
Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.
- Shafter High
- Burroughs High
- Cesar E. Chavez High
- Robert F. Kennedy High
- Delano High
- Tehachapi High
- Valley Oaks Charter
- McKee Middle
- Taft Union High
- Valle Verde Elementary
- Stonecreek Junior High
- Voorhies Elementary
- Curran Middle
- McFarland High School Early College
- Leon H. Ollivier Middle
- Douglas J. Miller Elementary
- Standard Middle
- Alicante Avenue Elementary
- Bill L. Williams Elementary
- Dolores S. Whitley TK-8
- Pioneer
- Westpark Elementary
- Earl Warren Junior High
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$8,004
State avg $8,762
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Kern County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which California counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in California?
How should I read the school score in Kern County?
What is the graduation rate in Kern County?
How much does Kern County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Kern County, California — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Kern County, California?
Kern County manages one of the state's largest educational networks, with 272 schools serving 195,695 students. The county is divided into 58 districts and includes 161 elementary schools and 51 high schools. This infrastructure also supports 14 charter schools and 20 alternative education centers.
What are the major school districts in Kern County, California?
Kern High is a major player with 42,667 students, while Bakersfield City district manages 45 schools. The county is also home to large-scale charters like Blue Ridge Academy, which serves 6,751 students across various grade levels. Traditional high schools like Bakersfield and Arvin enroll nearly 3,000 students each, offering robust extracurricular and academic programs.
What is the school experience like in Kern County?
Kern County offers every type of school environment, from 97 city-based schools to 58 in rural settings. The average school size is 733 students, making it one of the more densely populated school systems in the region. This variety ensures that families can choose between bustling urban campuses and quiet rural schoolhouses.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.