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South High

Q: Is South High a good school?

South High ranks 1237 th of 2137 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

1237^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 2,137 California High Schools

Better than 42% of California high schools

Summary

South High is a public high school in Bakersfield, California, serving 2,107 students in grades 9–12 in an area with several nearby high schools. Its 2025–26 graduation rate was 93%, above the district’s 90% and the state’s 88%. The most important academic concern is mathematics: just 13% of students were proficient, 26 percentage points below the state rate.

English language arts is the school’s clearest strength: 50% were proficient, about 1 point above both the state and the Kern High district, and second among the ten nearby schools. Science was also strong compared with nearby schools, with 27% proficient—11 points above their average and second among the ten schools—but it remained 9 points below the state and about level with the district. In math, South ranked sixth among the ten nearby schools, whose average was 11%; the result was also 6 points below the district. Only Golden Valley High had a higher nearby-school ELA rate, while South’s science result trailed only one nearby school.

Results show a mixed trend: since 2022–23, ELA proficiency has fallen 7 points and math has fallen 4 points, while science has risen 6 points. Over the same period, the state’s math rate rose 4 points, widening South’s math gap from 18 to 26 points; science’s gap with the state stayed close to 9 points. SchoolDigger placed South at the 42nd percentile with 2 stars in 2025–26, down 14 percentile points from 2022–23, though its percentile was second-highest among nearby schools. The 2024–25 student-teacher ratio was 24.3. That year, 97% of students were free/reduced lunch eligible, compared with an 89% average among nearby schools reporting that same measure. In SchoolDigger’s statewide student-group rankings, the school ranked at the 81st percentile for English Language Learner Students in 2023–24, versus 53rd overall. In 2025–26, it ranked at the 18th percentile for Special Education Students, compared with 42nd overall; these rankings describe how well the school serves each group.

2,107

Students ?

24.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$24,619

Per pupil spending ?

96.8%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

All students in California receive free school meals.

1101 Planz Rd.
Bakersfield, CA 93304-6150

(661) 831-3680

District: Kern High

Feeder schools for South High:

Elementary:	Frank West Elementary
	Planz Elementary
	Prosperity Elementary
	Raffaello Palla Elementary
Middle:	Greenfield Middle

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

84.0%

African American:

8.0%

White:

4.1%

See top rated California high schools

Compare South High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 60th percentile in 2016 → 42nd in 2026

Strengths

✓93% graduate in 4 years — above the California average (88%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the California average (30% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 60th-percentile peak (2016) to 42nd (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school30%

District avg31%

California avg42%

1,237^th of 2,137

California public high schools ?

Bottom 42%▼ down 18 pts since 2016

From top 40% (2016) to bottom 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of California High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th of 25High Schools in the Kern High

643^rd of 968Kern High 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	41.5	1237 of 2137	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	46.3	1109 of 2162	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.1	1023 of 2159	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.2	957 of 2170	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.2	1300 of 2123	38.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.8	1268 of 2133	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.7	1000 of 2017	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.6	846 of 2021	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	58.4	819 of 2039	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	33.6	1292 of 1994	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	39.6	1065 of 2426	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	39.7	1063 of 2354	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	41.2	1022 of 2367	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	38.7	1043 of 2281	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2009	34.0	1226 of 2238	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	33.2	1090 of 2117	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	35.7	997 of 2063	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	35.3	975 of 1968	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	36.3	893 of 1901	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2004	33.2	857 of 1653	48.2%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	28.6	356 of 491	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	18.2	446 of 523	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.9	271 of 517	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	27.8	368 of 521	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	29.8	367 of 522	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.0	311 of 592	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.7	361 of 582	38.0%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2019	3.8	564 of 582	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2022	24.6	988 of 1161	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.3	807 of 1117	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	39.7	539 of 1052	48.8%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2024	59.2	205 of 1085	81.1%	★★★★☆
2023	53.2	294 of 1064	72.4%	★★★★☆
2022	42.0	478 of 1044	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	36.4	553 of 941	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	30.1	634 of 938	32.4%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	39.8	1119 of 1865	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	40.3	1118 of 1906	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.4	1034 of 1915	46.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.8	899 of 1915	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	31.2	1246 of 1858	32.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.5	1199 of 1833	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	50.8	878 of 1760	50.1%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	48.0	951 of 1880	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	57.7	763 of 1900	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.3	697 of 1902	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	65.8	553 of 1917	71.2%	★★★★☆
2022	44.6	967 of 1861	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	48.5	920 of 1814	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.1	600 of 1742	65.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	46.1	1069 of 1999	46.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	52.6	912 of 2013	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.3	828 of 2026	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.4	689 of 2030	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	42.3	1059 of 1943	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	47.5	998 of 1937	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	61.0	696 of 1862	62.6%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	37.7	1180 of 1932	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	47.4	973 of 1942	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.8	893 of 1948	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.7	899 of 1963	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	35.3	1164 of 1916	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	37.0	1140 of 1880	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	43.4	1044 of 1834	43.1%	★★☆☆☆

Migrant

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	33.1	54 of 82	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2025	31.4	65 of 85	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	87.6	7 of 85	91.8%	★★★★★
2023	57.2	31 of 74	58.1%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	23.7	1011 of 1235	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	27.5	936 of 1252	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.5	596 of 1216	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	33.2	748 of 1197	37.5%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	California percentile	Rating
2026	25.0	890 of 1132	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	30.3	839 of 1155	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	47.7	645 of 1173	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	21.5	958 of 1193	19.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	23.1	939 of 1204	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	21.5	988 of 1222	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	23.3	929 of 1173	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

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)81st percentile+28 vs school

Hispanic (2026)49th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)47th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)40th percentile~ school

Male (2026)39th percentile-3 vs school

Migrant (2026)34th percentile-8 vs school

African American (2026)27th percentile-15 vs school

White (2026)21st percentile-21 vs school

Special Education (2026)18th percentile-24 vs school

Disabled (2022)15th percentile-24 vs school

Asian (2019)3rd percentile-37 vs school

By subject vs California (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts/Literacy50%~ state avg

Science27%-9 vs state

Mathematics13%-26 vs state

★

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Schools Near South High

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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 Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				CSA Spanish Overall (2026)		CSA Spanish Listening (2026)		CSA Spanish Writing (2026)		CSA Spanish Reading (2026)		CSA Spanish Speaking (2026)	CAST Science (2026)				Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy (2026)		Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)		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	CSA Spanish Overall 11th Grade	CSA Spanish Overall All Grades	CSA Spanish Listening 11th Grade	CSA Spanish Listening All Grades	CSA Spanish Writing 11th Grade	CSA Spanish Writing All Grades	CSA Spanish Reading 11th Grade	CSA Spanish Reading All Grades	CSA Spanish Speaking 11th Grade	CAST Science 10th Grade	CAST Science 11th Grade	CAST Science 12th Grade	CAST Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts/Literacy All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 11th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South High	Public	9-12	1101 Planz Rd.	Bakersfield	93304	Kern County	Kern High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 831-3680	2,107	87	24.3	96.8%	86 (4.1%)	169 (8.0%)	1,769 (84.0%)	19 (0.9%)	9 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	52 (2.5%)	41.5	1237^th of 2137 public high schools	42.1%		46.3	1109^th of 2162 public high schools	48.7%	128											20.6	40.9	26.7	49.8	49.8	12.8	12.8	$24,619	$22,564	$2,055
Vista Continuation High	Public	9-12	200 P St.	Bakersfield	93304	Kern County	Kern High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 327-8561	221	15	14.6	93.7%	11 (5.0%)	20 (9.0%)	183 (82.8%)	4 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	11.1	1885^th of 2137 public high schools	11.8%		9.6	2038^th of 2162 public high schools	5.7%	153												5.9	4.4	10.0	10.0	4.6	4.6	$43,433	$42,086	$1,347
Del Oro High	Public	9-12	1750 East Panama Ln.	Bakersfield	93307	Kern County	Kern High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 366-1750	1,927	77	25.1	96.3%	35 (1.8%)	97 (5.0%)	1,750 (90.8%)	12 (0.6%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	30 (1.6%)	26.5	1556^th of 2137 public high schools	27.2%		26	1569^th of 2162 public high schools	27.4%	13											15.3		15.1	38.5	38.5	10.9	10.9	$21,869	$20,252	$1,617
West High	Public	9-12	1200 New Stine Rd.	Bakersfield	93309	Kern County	Kern High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 832-2822	2,159	79	27.4	91.1%	147 (6.8%)	220 (10.2%)	1,627 (75.4%)	29 (1.3%)	15 (0.7%)	3 (0.1%)	115 (5.3%)	37.7	1329^th of 2137 public high schools	37.8%		41.1	1236^th of 2162 public high schools	42.8%	93										20.3		24.4	20.6	48.7	48.7	15.4	15.4	$23,209	$21,352	$1,857
Golden Valley High	Public	9-12	801 Hosking Ave.	Bakersfield	93307	Kern County	Kern High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 827-0800	2,228	96	23.2	90.8%	62 (2.8%)	99 (4.4%)	1,968 (88.3%)	48 (2.2%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (2.1%)	52.8	978^th of 2137 public high schools	54.2%		47.9	1074^th of 2162 public high schools	50.3%	96	29.6	29.6	23.9	23.9	15.5	15.5	11.4	11.4	84.5		33.5	10.0	31.3	59.4	59.4	20.4	20.4	$22,975	$21,278	$1,697
Kern Workforce 2000 Academy	Public, Charter	9-12	5801 Sundale Ave.	Bakersfield	93309	Kern County	Kern High	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 827-3158	491	54	9.0	89.0%	22 (4.5%)	32 (6.5%)	429 (87.4%)	3 (0.6%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	15.9	1735^th of 2137 public high schools	18.8%		10	2020^th of 2162 public high schools	6.6%	285											9.1	2.4	5.4	19.8	19.8	8.5	8.5	$46,549	$46,142	$407
Bakersfield High	Public	9-12	1241 G St.	Bakersfield	93301	Kern County	Kern High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 324-9841	3,069	120	25.6	81.5%	349 (11.4%)	335 (10.9%)	2,216 (72.2%)	39 (1.3%)	24 (0.8%)	7 (0.2%)	97 (3.2%)	34.6	1383^rd of 2137 public high schools	35.3%		39.4	1276^th of 2162 public high schools	41.0%	107											22.4	14.1	20.3	40.2	40.2	17.9	17.9	$21,848	$20,118	$1,730
Kern High Regional Occupational Center	Public	9-12	501 South Mt. Vernon Ave.	Bakersfield	93307	Kern County	Kern High Regional Occupational Center	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(661) 831-3327	0			—	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Tierra Del Sol Continuation High	Public	9-12	3700 East Belle Terrace	Bakersfield	93307	Kern County	Kern High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 832-3700	241	17	14.5	—	18 (7.5%)	23 (9.5%)	196 (81.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	10	1956^th of 2137 public high schools	8.5%		9.4	2043^rd of 2162 public high schools	5.5%	87												4.6	4.5	9.7	9.7	0.7	0.7	$44,322	$42,266	$2,056
Ridgeview High	Public	9-12	8501 Stine Rd.	Bakersfield	93313	Kern County	Kern High	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(661) 398-3100	2,575	96	26.9	71.8%	179 (7.0%)	122 (4.7%)	1,831 (71.1%)	207 (8.0%)	2 (0.1%)	12 (0.5%)	221 (8.6%)	38.2	1318^th of 2137 public high schools	38.3%		49.3	1055^th of 2162 public high schools	51.2%	263	5.6	5.6	11.1	11.1	16.7	16.7	5.6	5.6	22.2		24.9	14.3	24.5	48.2	48.2	14.0	14.0	$22,070	$20,360	$1,710

Frequently Asked Questions about South High

What district is South High in?

Kern High

Is South High a good school?

South High ranks 1237^th of 2137 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend South High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,107 students attended South High.

What is the racial makeup of South High?

Students at South High are 84% Hispanic, 8% African American, 4% White, 2% Two or more races.

What schools feed into South High?

South High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Frank West Elementary
Elementary : Planz Elementary
Elementary : Prosperity Elementary
Elementary : Raffaello Palla Elementary
Middle : Greenfield Middle

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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.