Best Public Schools in Zip Code 93304

This analysis examines 15 public schools in the Bakersfield, CA area (zip code 93304), serving approximately 9,458 students from kindergarten through 12th grade across four different school districts: Kern High, Bakersfield City, Greenfield Union, and Panama-Buena Vista Union.

Academic performance varies widely among these schools, which all serve communities with high economic need. W. A. Kendrick Elementary stands out as the highest-performing school in the area, with test scores well above district and state averages, while McKinley Elementary faces significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 3% of elementary schools statewide. Mathematics is a particular area of concern across nearly all schools, with proficiency rates far below state averages. The two middle schools, Emerson Middle and Sequoia Junior High, both rank in the bottom 15% of California middle schools, indicating a difficult transition for students.

Despite these challenges, there are notable successes. South High achieves an above-average graduation rate of 90% and strong English scores, even while serving a high-need population. The data shows that district affiliation matters; schools in the Greenfield Union district, like Kendrick, tend to outperform those in the Bakersfield City district. Furthermore, higher per-student spending does not guarantee better results, as seen at the very small Rafer Johnson school, which has the highest spending but the lowest test scores.