Semitropic Elementary, CA

Original Research by School Decision on Semitropic Elementary

Semitropic Elementary is a single-school district in Kern County that serves kindergarten through eighth grade. The district's defining characteristic is its status as a California District of Choice, meaning families from outside its boundaries can enroll their children without needing permission from their home district. This status became permanent in 2024 when the state removed the sunset clause that had previously created annual uncertainty. A substantial majority of the district's enrolled students are transfers from neighboring districts, making this an open-enrollment rather than neighborhood-based setting.

The district's test results across mathematics and English language arts are very low. In mathematics, proficiency ranges from zero in grades five and eight to around one in six students in grades three, six, and seven. In English language arts, proficiency is somewhat higher, ranging from about one in four students in grade three to around four in ten in grade seven, though it drops back to roughly one in four in grade eight. Science proficiency data from the California Science Test shows zero proficiency in both tested grades, five and eight. These results place the district in the bottom quartile among Kern County's districts on an overall proficiency index. A parent may want to look into these numbers further with the school to understand what academic supports or interventions are being used and what the learning experience looks like on the ground.

The district's enrollment is small, with around 140 students distributed across nine grade levels, making classes quite compact. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with just over nine in ten students identifying that way, and a very small number of students identifying as Black or White. Demographic breakdowns for free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner status were not available in the data provided.

Chronic absenteeism in the district runs at just over one in four students, placing it above the midpoint among Kern County's districts on that measure. Per-pupil spending is in the upper range for the county, reflecting the district's small size and fixed administrative costs spread across a modest enrollment.

The district has recently stood up an Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, adding staffing in 2024 to coordinate and support before-school and after-school enrichment activities. The decision to invest in this expanded-day programming signals an effort to broaden student learning beyond the core school day, though the funding comes from a statewide stream rather than local resources.

Housing values in the district's service area, which spans the towns of Lost Hills and Wasco, center on the mid-range for the region, and affordability relative to median household income is roughly in line with national benchmarks. For families considering the transfer option that the district offers, proximity and enrollment flexibility are the draw; academic performance is a dimension they will want to examine closely.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

142

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 96%

Black 3%

White 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

30%

—

Gr 3

18%

—

Gr 5

32%

—

Gr 6

35%

—

Gr 7

47%

—

Gr 8

24%

—

Math

Gr ALL

—

Gr 3

—

Gr 5

—

Gr 6

18%

—

Gr 7

20%

—

Gr 8

—

Science

Gr 5

—

Gr 8

—

Gr HS

—

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

Semitropic Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

5 grades reported

17%

Grade 3

Grade 5

17%

Grade 6

19%

Grade 7

Grade 8

English Language Arts

5 grades reported

25%

Grade 3

30%

Grade 5

33%

Grade 6

44%

Grade 7

24%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

Grade 5

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

14%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$315,159

Year-over-year change-1.6%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$275K to $316K

vs. state typical0.41x

vs. national typical0.86x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
93280	Wasco	$316K	-1.6%	97.8%
93249	Lost Hills	$275K	+0.0%	2.2%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,590/mo

Home price / national median income3.8x

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

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.