Summary:
This analysis examines seven middle schools in Bakersfield's 93307 zip code, serving grades 5-8 or 6-8, all operating within five different school districts and serving predominantly low-income student populations.
Among these schools, Leon H. Ollivier Middle stands out as the top performer, exceeding state averages in English and Science and having the lowest chronic absenteeism among larger schools. In contrast, Mountain View Middle faces significant challenges, ranking in the bottom 14th percentile statewide with the lowest math proficiency. An interesting case is Edison Middle, which has the highest per-student spending and lowest student-teacher ratio but still ranks very low academically.
Schools within the Greenfield Union district, which includes three of the seven schools, generally perform better than those in other districts like Lamont Elementary. A key finding is that higher spending does not guarantee better performance, and lower chronic absenteeism is strongly correlated with stronger academic results. Parents should note that no school in this area meets the state average for mathematics proficiency.
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