Original Research by School Decision on Epic De Cesar Chavez District
EPIC de Cesar Chavez District operates a single high school in Tehachapi, California, that serves a specific and narrowly defined population: adult learners, predominantly 18 and older, seeking a diploma through an accredited free program. The district itself is not a traditional public school system but rather the operational home of a WASC-accredited charter school run by the Farmworkers Institute of Education and Leadership Development, known as FIELD.
The enrollment is small, with the bulk of students in grades 10 and 12, and a student body that is almost entirely Hispanic. This composition reflects the program's roots and mission: it is designed for adults, many with farm-work and immigrant backgrounds, who did not complete a traditional high school pathway and are now returning to earn their diploma.
Because this is an adult-oriented program rather than a standard secondary school serving teenagers, many of the metrics typically used to evaluate schools do not apply. State assessment results in core subjects are not available in the data, nor is a four-year graduation rate as conventionally measured. These gaps do not reflect weak performance but rather the nature of the school: adults enrolled in a diploma-completion program operate on different timelines and accountability structures than age-based cohorts in traditional high schools.
The one operational metric available is chronic absenteeism, which stands at a very high level compared to the median and distribution across other Kern County districts. A parent or prospective student may want to ask the school directly what this reflects, as it could signal either the reality that adult learners juggle work and family alongside school, or genuine barriers to consistent attendance that the school may be working to address. Understanding what the school defines as absenteeism and how it supports attendance is important context here.
Per-pupil spending is in the upper range for Kern County. This spending level supports the free-tuition model and the personalized, small-cohort approach the program appears to offer.
This is not a school for a teenager seeking a conventional college-prep high school experience or competing for college admissions slots. It is a pathway designed for adults who need or prefer to earn a high school diploma outside the standard system. Anyone considering enrollment should speak directly with FIELD about program structure, course content, completion timelines, and the support available for working adults balancing multiple responsibilities.
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