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Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary

Q: Is Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary a good school?

Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary ranks 4025 th of 5804 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-6

4025^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 5,804 California Elementary Schools

Better than 31% of California elementary schools

Summary

Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary is a K–6 school in Bakersfield City, serving 960 students in Bakersfield, California. Its latest results show a clear contrast: compared with nearby schools, it performs relatively well in English language arts and math, while science is its most notable academic weakness.

English language arts proficiency was 37% in 2025–2026, 7 points above the Bakersfield City district, 12 points below California, and 9 points above the nearby-school average; it ranked third among the 11 schools. Math proficiency was 25%—8 points above the district and nearby-school average, but 14 points below the state—and ranked second locally. Science proficiency was 17%, below the district by 3 points, the state by 19 points, and the nearby average by 1 point; it ranked fifth. Fifth grade is a particular concern: its ELA proficiency was 28% and math was 11%, both below district and state results.

All three subject results improved from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, but remain slightly lower than four years earlier, while state results rose over that period. SchoolDigger ranks the school in the statewide 31st percentile with 2 stars, up from the 24th percentile the prior year; the district ranks in the 11th percentile with 1 star. SchoolDigger’s statewide ranking for African American students was at the 7th percentile in 2025–2026, compared with the school’s overall 31st percentile; for English Language Learner students, it was at the 53rd percentile in 2023–2024, compared with the school’s overall 33rd percentile that year. Chronic absenteeism fell from 52% in 2021–2022 to 21% in 2025–2026, but the latest rate was above the district’s 18% and state’s 18%. The school also had the largest enrollment and highest student-teacher ratio among nearby schools: 23.4 students per teacher in 2024–2025. In that year, 84% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible.

960

Students ?

23.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$21,979

Per pupil spending ?

84.2%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

94%

Kindergartners with all required immunizations (2024-25)

Exemptions: 0% (any vaccine)

3401 Renegade Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93306-2054

(661) 631-5400

District: Bakersfield City

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

84.0%

White:

9.8%

African American:

4.0%

See top rated California elementary schools

Compare Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 44th percentile in 2015 → 31st in 2026

Strengths

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Bakersfield City

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (29% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 13 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school29%

District avg23%

California avg42%

4,025^th of 5,804

California public elementary schools ?

Bottom 31%▼ down 17 pts since 2016

From bottom 48% (2016) to bottom 31% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 33Elementary Schools in the Bakersfield City

863^rd of 968Bakersfield City among California districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	29.4	4025 of 5804	30.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	24.4	4461 of 5857	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.0	3923 of 5869	33.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.9	3439 of 5859	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.0	3701 of 5883	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	34.4	3583 of 5789	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	42.7	2983 of 5662	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	48.7	2623 of 5692	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	42.5	2925 of 5614	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2015	37.8	3151 of 5611	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	36.6	3555 of 5530	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2012	35.3	3577 of 5390	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2011	39.8	3242 of 5377	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2010	51.7	2477 of 5314	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2009	38.7	3134 of 5193	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	34.6	3295 of 5113	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	35.2	3216 of 5113	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2006	34.0	3053 of 4818	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2005	38.2	2823 of 4822	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2004	30.8	3193 of 4809	33.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	15.9	470 of 506	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	38.7	438 of 747	41.4%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	24.7	1751 of 2227	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	45.1	1475 of 3162	53.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	52.9	1054 of 3245	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	49.3	1235 of 3311	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	68.8	584 of 3246	82.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	25.0	4247 of 5569	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.1	4335 of 5597	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.7	3827 of 5612	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.3	3275 of 5609	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	29.9	3739 of 5635	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	35.3	3386 of 5492	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.8	3033 of 5413	44.0%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	40.1	2991 of 5085	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.1	3368 of 5107	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.8	2779 of 5107	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.8	2307 of 5087	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.2	2655 of 5084	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.4	2321 of 4963	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.8	1742 of 4830	63.9%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	37.9	3346 of 5412	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.1	3825 of 5460	29.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	37.3	3346 of 5517	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	46.2	2604 of 5363	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	37.7	3197 of 5264	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	46.7	2627 of 5173	49.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.6	1923 of 5084	62.2%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	34.8	3478 of 5590	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	25.4	4238 of 5628	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.0	3747 of 5643	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.9	3341 of 5638	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	34.5	3415 of 5663	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.1	3537 of 5510	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.0	2787 of 5431	48.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	37.8	1625 of 2920	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.9	1506 of 2847	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	34.0	1616 of 2635	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.6	1769 of 2420	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2025	4.2	2536 of 2598	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	12.6	2391 of 2651	9.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	20.6	2208 of 2661	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	14.6	2406 of 2726	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.4	2397 of 2834	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	25.0	2209 of 2737	19.3%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2024)53rd percentile+20 vs school

Special Education (2026)44th percentile+14 vs school

Hispanic (2026)41st percentile+11 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)38th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)38th percentile+7 vs school

Female (2026)24th percentile-7 vs school

Disabled (2022)21st percentile-16 vs school

African American (2026)7th percentile-24 vs school

White (2025)2nd percentile-21 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy37%-12 vs state

Mathematics25%-14 vs state

Science17%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CAST Science (2026)		Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)					Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)					Vaccination (2024-25)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	CAST Science 5th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 3rd Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 4th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Vaccination: Kindergartners with all required immunizations	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary	Public	K-6	3401 Renegade Ave.	Bakersfield	93306	Kern County	Bakersfield City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 631-5400	960	41	23.4	84.2%	94 (9.8%)	38 (4.0%)	806 (84.0%)	12 (1.3%)	7 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.3%)	29.4	4025^th of 5804 public elementary schools	30.7%		24.4	4461^st of 5857 public elementary schools	23.8%	436	16.5	16.5	46.0	38.3	28.3	38.0	37.5	44.1	27.8	10.8	17.8	24.6	94%	0%	$21,979	$17,664	$4,315
Harding Elementary	Public	K-6	3201 Pico Ave.	Bakersfield	93306	Kern County	Bakersfield City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 631-5300	542	26	20.8	81.2%	71 (13.1%)	20 (3.7%)	436 (80.4%)	6 (1.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.1%)	38.6	3317^th of 5804 public elementary schools	42.8%		25	4406^th of 5857 public elementary schools	24.8%	1089	40.4	40.4	23.3	44.4	50.9	35.6	38.6	21.7	31.5	40.4	27.9	30.0	94%	0%	$27,180	$22,652	$4,528
Henry Eissler Elementary	Public	K-6	2901 Eissler St.	Bakersfield	93306	Kern County	Bakersfield City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 631-5250	529	29	17.9	85.3%	60 (11.3%)	18 (3.4%)	424 (80.2%)	18 (3.4%)	2 (0.4%)	3 (0.6%)	4 (0.8%)	29.1	4065^th of 5804 public elementary schools	30.0%		26.9	4228^th of 5857 public elementary schools	27.8%	163	7.5	7.5	48.6	30.1	33.3	48.8	39.9	38.9	25.3	12.4	17.3	23.0	95%	0%	$27,768	$22,872	$4,896
College Heights Elementary	Public	K-6	2551 Sunny Ln.	Bakersfield	93305	Kern County	Bakersfield City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 631-5220	761	36	20.9	94.7%	25 (3.3%)	69 (9.1%)	654 (85.9%)	7 (0.9%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.4%)	9.2	5635^th of 5804 public elementary schools	2.9%		9.2	5672^nd of 5857 public elementary schools	3.2%	37	7.6	7.6	12.9	24.1	17.4	22.0	18.9	9.7	11.4	4.4	14.3	9.9	95%	0%	$27,376	$22,638	$4,738
Myra A. Noble Elementary	Public	K-5	1015 Noble Ave.	Bakersfield	93305	Kern County	Bakersfield City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 631-5410	813	40	20.3	90.9%	45 (5.5%)	44 (5.4%)	707 (87.0%)	4 (0.5%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (1.0%)	9	5643^rd of 5804 public elementary schools	2.8%		8.1	5733^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	2.1%	90	5.0	5.0	19.7	26.3	15.9		20.4	15.6	13.3	0.7		9.5	95%	0%	$26,405	$21,766	$4,639
Horace Mann Elementary	Public	K-6	2710 Niles St.	Bakersfield	93306	Kern County	Bakersfield City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 631-5360	870	41	21.2	95.4%	29 (3.3%)	47 (5.4%)	789 (90.7%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	20.8	4723^rd of 5804 public elementary schools	18.6%		28.5	4093^rd of 5857 public elementary schools	30.1%	630	25.0	25.0	21.9	31.4	37.9	30.7	30.3	15.8	24.8	20.4	10.5	17.8	95%	0%	$27,280	$22,512	$4,768
Jefferson Elementary	Public	K-6	816 Lincoln St.	Bakersfield	93305	Kern County	Bakersfield City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 631-5340	510	25	20.4	97.3%	31 (6.1%)	20 (3.9%)	457 (89.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	13.7	5323^rd of 5804 public elementary schools	8.3%		14.6	5305^th of 5857 public elementary schools	9.4%	18	16.2	16.2	34.3	20.8	20.6	17.6	23.3	23.3	13.9	5.9	10.7	13.5	93%	0%	$30,071	$25,472	$4,599
Williams Elementary	Public	K-6	1201 Williams St.	Bakersfield	93305	Kern County	Bakersfield City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 631-5840	452	22	20.5	—	8 (1.8%)	32 (7.1%)	411 (90.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	13.6	5336^th of 5804 public elementary schools	8.1%		10	5636^th of 5857 public elementary schools	3.8%	300	14.5	14.5	26.4	15.0	27.4	34.0	25.4	15.1	8.3	6.5	15.1	11.0	97%	0%	$29,231	$24,220	$5,011
Ramon Garza Elementary	Public	K-5	2901 Center St.	Bakersfield	93306	Kern County	Bakersfield City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 631-5290	658	32	20.3	95.9%	17 (2.6%)	18 (2.7%)	615 (93.5%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.6%)	16.3	5106^th of 5804 public elementary schools	12.0%		16	5188^th of 5857 public elementary schools	11.4%	82	13.1	13.1	37.7	21.8	21.3		25.9	36.5	8.3	8.2		15.9	98%	0%	$28,354	$23,316	$5,038
Dr. Juliet Thorner Elementary	Public	K-6	5501 Thorner St.	Bakersfield	93306	Kern County	Bakersfield City	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 631-5490	813	36	22.5	78.1%	91 (11.2%)	50 (6.2%)	627 (77.1%)	18 (2.2%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	24 (3.0%)	17.9	4978^th of 5804 public elementary schools	14.2%		16.9	5113^th of 5857 public elementary schools	12.7%	135	18.9	18.9	28.0	27.4	33.3	34.6	31.3	15.1	6.6	9.9	15.6	11.8	95%	0%	$24,136	$20,034	$4,102

Frequently Asked Questions about Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary?

Students at Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary are 84% Hispanic, 10% White, 4% African American, 1% Asian.

What district is Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary in?

Bakersfield City

Is Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary a good school?

Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary ranks 4025^th of 5804 California elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 960 students attended Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary.

Rate Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary!

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Latest California data All new data »

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesNewOct 15, 2026

2025–26 CAST, CSA Spanish & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewOct 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJul 1, 2026

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.