Summary:
The McFarland Unified school district serves approximately 3,300 students across seven schools, from kindergarten through high school, in a community where the vast majority of students are economically disadvantaged.
Performance varies significantly across the district, with McFarland High School Early College standing out as the top performer, boasting a graduation rate well above the state average and strong test scores in English. In contrast, San Joaquin High (Continuation) faces severe challenges with very low graduation and high dropout rates. Among elementary schools, Horizon Elementary leads in academic rankings and math proficiency, while McFarland Junior High shows a notable dip in performance compared to its feeder schools.
Key takeaways for parents include the strong success of the Early College model at the high school level and the importance of attendance, as schools with lower chronic absenteeism like Kern Avenue Elementary and Horizon tend to have better outcomes. The district's overall test scores are below state averages, but the standout success of McFarland High School Early College demonstrates that high achievement is possible within the community.
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