Kern High, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on Kern High

Kern High School District serves the high school grades across Kern County, a sprawling region that stretches from Bakersfield to smaller towns and mountain communities. The district operates a large network of schools, including continuation and workforce-focused campuses alongside its traditional high schools, so there are options within the system for students following different academic and career paths.

The overall academic profile shows significant challenges. On the most recent state assessments, slightly more than half of students met the English language arts proficiency standard. Mathematics proficiency was substantially lower, with roughly one in five students reaching the standard. Science proficiency fell between those two, also well below the state benchmark. These numbers suggest that many families will want to understand what support and intervention structures the district offers, particularly in math. The district's chronic absenteeism rate sits above the midpoint among Kern County's districts, which can itself be a lever on academic outcomes; parents may want to explore what the district and individual schools are doing to address attendance.

State testing data for graduation rates was not available, so a parent should contact the district directly for that metric.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with meaningful Asian, white, and Black populations. Specific counts of students in special education and English learner programs were not available in the data provided, so families of students needing those services should check directly with the district and with the specific high school their student would attend.

Per-pupil spending in Kern High falls in the middle range, on the lower half, compared to other Kern County districts. The district has adopted a semester-long ethnic studies course, piloted during the 2024-2025 school year, with full rollout tied to California's requirement that all high school students complete ethnic studies to graduate starting with the class of 2030. This curriculum change affects every student's graduation pathway and has generated local discussion, so families considering the district should be aware of this graduation requirement and form their own view of its place in their student's education.

The community itself spans a wide band of housing markets. Home values are moderate relative to the state and well below the national median. Rental costs for the district's coverage area run somewhat below the national average as well. A mortgage on a median-priced home in the area would be affordable by national standards, though rents consume a meaningful share of household income. The district covers both Bakersfield proper and surrounding smaller towns and rural areas, each with different economic contexts and housing availability.

The district operates multiple pathways: traditional academic high schools, continuation schools for students who need an alternative structure, and the Kern Workforce 2000 Academy, which suggests a deliberate effort to serve students with varying educational trajectories and post-secondary goals. For families considering the district, the key questions are whether their student's needs align with one of the schools in the system and what the academic and disciplinary culture looks like at that specific campus.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

43,116

Grades

09–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 72%

Black 5%

White 16%

Asian 4%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 1%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

47%

—

Gr 11

47%

—

Math

Gr ALL

14%

—

Gr 11

14%

—

Science

Gr ALL

19%

—

Gr 10

18%

—

Gr 11

21%

—

Gr 12

20%

—

Gr HS

21%

—

Gr UG_SEC

21%

—

Schools in this District

25 schools are officially reported under this district.

Centennial High

Arvin High

Bakersfield High

Central Valley High (Continuation)

East Bakersfield High

Nueva Continuation High

Shafter High

South High

Vista Continuation High

West High

Ridgeview High

Kern Workforce 2000 Academy

Liberty High

Vista West Continuation High

Tierra Del Sol Continuation High

Del Oro High

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$321,740

Year-over-year change-0.1%

Range across 28 ZIP codes$190K to $629K

vs. state typical0.41x

vs. national typical0.87x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (28 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
93518	Caliente	$307K	+0.1%	13.1%
93308		$348K	-0.1%	11.5%
93283	Weldon	$205K	+3.2%	10.3%
93203	Arvin	$299K	-0.5%	7.2%
93255	Onyx	$246K	+0.7%	7.1%
93311	Bakersfield	$475K	-1.0%	6.2%
93307	Bakersfield	$319K	-0.3%	5.9%
93206	Buttonwillow	$233K	-0.2%	5.4%
93306	Bakersfield	$349K	-0.2%	4.1%
93313	Bakersfield	$416K	-0.7%	3.9%

Showing top 10 of 28 ZIP codes by land area weight

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,819/mo

Year-over-year change+1.9%

Range across 13 ZIP codes$1,367 to $2,658/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (13 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
93308		$1,394	+1.6%	11.5%
93311	Bakersfield	$2,043	+2.0%	6.2%
93307	Bakersfield	$1,720	+4.1%	5.9%
93306	Bakersfield	$1,799	+2.6%	4.1%
93313	Bakersfield	$2,354	+2.1%	3.9%
93314	Bakersfield	$2,287	-1.3%	3.7%
93312	Bakersfield	$2,356	+2.5%	0.6%
93536	Lancaster	$2,658	-2.4%	0.5%
93309	Bakersfield	$1,601	+4.6%	0.4%
93304	Bakersfield	$1,477	+1.4%	0.3%
93305	La Cresta - Altavista	$1,367	+8.3%	0.2%
93301	Bakersfield	$1,407	-5.3%	0.2%
93561	Tehachapi	$1,892	+2.1%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,624/mo

Home price / national median income3.8x

Annual rent / national median income26.1%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$195/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$776,233 (-1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Academic Performance
Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.