Best Schools in Kern County, CA
Kern County, CA has 300 public schools (51 high, 49 middle, 177 elementary) serving 203,719 students. On average they score 28% on state proficiency tests against a projected 26%, so schools in Kern County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Kern County, CA
The top high schools in Kern County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Stockdale High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kern High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2298 Students
2. Frontier High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kern High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2072 Students
3. Burroughs High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Sierra Sands Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1479 Students
4. Centennial High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kern High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2175 Students
5. Cesar E. Chavez High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Delano Joint Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1377 Students
6. Liberty High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kern High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2358 Students
7. Robert F. Kennedy High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Delano Joint Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1367 Students
8. Independence High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Kern High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2394 Students
9. Delano High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Delano Joint Union High • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1290 Students
10. Mcfarland High School Early College
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Mcfarland Unified • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1021 Students
Best Middle Schools in Kern County, CA
The top middle schools in Kern County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Earl Warren Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Panama-buena Vista Union • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 937 Students
2. Rio Bravo-greeley Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rio Bravo-greeley Union Elementary • Public • Grades 3 - 8 • 414 Students
3. Rosedale Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosedale Union Elementary • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 745 Students
4. La Vina Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Delano Union Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 533 Students
5. Fruitvale Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Fruitvale Elementary • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 652 Students
6. Norris Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Norris Elementary • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 883 Students
7. Almond Tree Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Delano Union Elementary • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 550 Students
8. Stonecreek Junior High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Panama-buena Vista Union • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1036 Students
9. Leon H. Ollivier Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Greenfield Union • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1008 Students
10. Paul L. Cato Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bakersfield City • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 629 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Kern County, CA
The top elementary schools in Kern County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Highgate Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Panama-buena Vista Union • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 544 Students
2. Peak To Peak Mountain Charter
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Peak To Peak Mountain Charter District • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 56 Students
3. Ronald Reagan Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Panama-buena Vista Union • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 897 Students
4. Mckittrick Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Mckittrick Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 79 Students
5. Midway Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Midway Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 85 Students
6. Downtown Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bakersfield City • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 323 Students
7. W. A. Kendrick Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Greenfield Union • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 679 Students
8. Stockdale Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Panama-buena Vista Union • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 600 Students
9. William B. Bimat Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Norris Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 515 Students
10. Del Rio Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Rosedale Union Elementary • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 585 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Kern County, CA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Kern County, CA has a total population of 909,235 with 30% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 77%, and 20% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Kern County, CA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Kern County, CA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
27.91 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.92 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
22.99 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Kern County, CA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Kern County, CA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Kern County, CA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Kern County, CA
How many schools are in Kern County, CA?
Kern County, CA has 300 public schools: 51 high schools, 49 middle schools and 177 elementary schools, serving 203,719 students in total.
How do schools in Kern County perform on state tests?
On average, 300 schools in Kern County score 28% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 26%, so on average schools in Kern County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Kern County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Kern County, CA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 40%
- Projected: 38%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 34%
- Projected: 32%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 33%
- Projected: 29%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 31%
- Projected: 24%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 29%
- Projected: 21%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 25%
- Projected: 31%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 29%
- Projected: 33%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 37%
- Projected: 33%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 33%
- Projected: 34%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 54%
- Projected: 48%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Kern County
30 places in Kern County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (30)
- Bakersfield (142)
- Delano (17)
- Ridgecrest (9)
- Wasco (9)
- Taft (7)
- Arvin (6)
- Mcfarland (6)
- Shafter (6)
- Tehachapi (6)
- Maricopa (5)
- Rosamond (5)
- California City (4)
- Lamont (4)
- Edwards (3)
- Lake Isabella (3)
- Boron (2)
- Lebec (2)
- Lost Hills (2)
- Mojave (2)
- Buttonwillow (1)
- Caliente (1)
- Fellows (1)
- Frazier Park (1)
- Glennville (1)
- Inyokern (1)
- Kernville (1)
- Pine Mountain Club (1)
- Tupman (1)
- Weldon (1)
- Woody (1)
School districts (27)
- Bakersfield City (44 schools)
- Panama-Buena Vista Union (25 schools)
- Kern High (24 schools)
- Delano Union Elementary (12 schools)
- Greenfield Union (12 schools)
- Sierra Sands Unified (10 schools)
- Rosedale Union Elementary (9 schools)
- McFarland Unified (7 schools)
- Mojave Unified (6 schools)
- Southern Kern Unified (6 schools)
- Taft City (6 schools)
- Tehachapi Unified (6 schools)
- Wasco Union Elementary (6 schools)
- Fruitvale Elementary (5 schools)
- Muroc Joint Unified (5 schools)
- Norris Elementary (5 schools)
- Arvin Union (4 schools)
- Beardsley Elementary (4 schools)
- Delano Joint Union High (4 schools)
- Fairfax Elementary (4 schools)
- Lamont Elementary (4 schools)
- Richland Union Elementary (4 schools)
- Standard Elementary (4 schools)
- El Tejon Unified (3 schools)
- Kern County Office of Education (3 schools)
- Kernville Union Elementary (3 schools)
- Maricopa Unified (3 schools)