South Fork Union, CA - District Data

Original Research by School Decision on South Fork Union

South Fork Union is a small K-8 district in Kern County serving a rural area in the Sierra foothills. The district operates South Fork Elementary and South Fork Middle School as separate campuses, a structure recently restored to give middle-grade students their own identity and dedicated programming.

Test proficiency tells a mixed story across grade bands. In the elementary grades, proficiency in math and English language arts runs low across third through fifth grades, with fewer than half the students meeting proficiency in either subject at those levels. The picture strengthens markedly in the upper grades: by eighth grade, about half of all students meet proficiency in both math and ELA, suggesting either that students gain ground in middle school or that the cohort shifts as students leave. Grade seven shows a jump as well, with math around the middle range and ELA approaching half proficient. Science proficiency is similarly modest, measured in fifth and eighth grades at under forty percent.

The enrollment is small, under four hundred students across all grades from kindergarten through eighth. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population making up roughly a quarter of enrollment, and smaller counts of students of mixed race or from other groups. Free and reduced-price lunch data was not available, so the economic profile of families relies on the housing context: homes in the district's service area are generally affordable relative to county and state medians, though a parent may want to ask the school directly about the makeup of family income and supports.

Chronic absenteeism is elevated for this area, running substantially higher than the median among Kern County's districts. That pattern deserves conversation with the school; in rural areas transportation, weather, or distance can play a role, and understanding what the district sees as the drivers matters for families considering enrollment.

The district recently launched an independent study program as a formal option, meaningful in a remote setting where commute times or family circumstances might make traditional daily attendance difficult. Parents can now choose between the in-person elementary and middle school campuses or the new study program for K-8 students.

Per-pupil spending falls in the lower-middle range among county districts, and overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the county median, a modest strength in this comparison set. The district's test results show clear development through the grades, and the separate middle school structure gives that transition a distinct setting rather than housing all ages in one building. For families in this rural corridor who value accessible affordability, small school scale, or flexibility through independent study, South Fork Union fits a particular niche; the academic foundation in upper grades offers some support, though the elementary pathway shows room for growth.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

340

Grades

KG–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 24%

White 64%

Asian 1%

Two+ 9%

Am. Indian / AK Native 2%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr ALL

37%

—

Gr 3

19%

—

Gr 4

34%

—

Gr 5

32%

55%

Gr 6

31%

—

Gr 7

54%

36%

Gr 8

50%

—

Math

Gr ALL

26%

—

Gr 3

14%

—

Gr 4

26%

—

Gr 5

12%

36%

Gr 6

15%

—

Gr 7

41%

43%

Gr 8

50%

—

Science

Gr 5

24%

45%

Gr 8

32%

—

Gr HS

27%

—

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

South Fork Elementary

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

24%

Grade 3

24%

Grade 4

17%

Grade 5

27%

Grade 6

41%

Grade 7

53%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

20%

Grade 3

33%

Grade 4

37%

Grade 5

35%

Grade 6

49%

Grade 7

53%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

29%

Grade 5

37%

Grade 8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

29%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$227,414

Year-over-year change+2.0%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$205K to $334K

vs. state typical0.29x

vs. national typical0.62x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
93283	Weldon	$205K	+3.2%	54.1%
93255	Onyx	$246K	+0.7%	39.2%
93518	Caliente	$307K	+0.1%	6.0%
93240	Lake Isabella	$220K	-1.5%	0.6%
93238	Kernville	$334K	-2.5%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,148/mo

Home price / national median income2.7x

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.