College Heights Elementary, Bakersfield CA

Original Research by School Decision on College Heights Elementary

College Heights Elementary is a kindergarten through sixth-grade school in Bakersfield serving a population that is almost entirely low-income and predominantly Hispanic. The school has an enrollment of about one thousand students across its grade band, with a substantial majority qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The racial and ethnic composition is heavily Hispanic, with smaller populations of Black, White, and Asian students.

The school's state assessment results reflect significant academic challenges. In English language arts, proficiency rates across third through sixth grade range from low to moderate, with sixth grade showing the highest performance. Mathematics proficiency is notably lower, with third and fourth grades in the low range, fifth grade particularly low, and sixth grade in the single digits. Science proficiency in fifth grade, the grade tested, was also low. These results place the school in the bottom quartile when compared against other schools within Kern County on a proficiency index that averages performance across tested subjects and grades.

The school sits in Bakersfield, a mid-sized city in California's Central Valley that is experiencing rapid growth and significant change. The city's economy centers on agriculture, energy, and healthcare, and it has a notably diverse population. Neighborhoods range from upscale areas to older historic districts, though most of the city is car-dependent; a walkable downtown core with restored storefronts and cultural landmarks exists, but most residents rely on automobiles for daily errands. Housing values in the zip code are moderate relative to California; monthly rent is affordable compared to statewide benchmarks.

The Bakersfield City School District, College Heights' parent district, has been moving forward on several parent-relevant initiatives. In fall 2025, the board approved development of ethnic studies coursework to be integrated across subjects, aiming to connect student learning with cultural and community backgrounds. The district is also implementing a new policy restricting student smartphone use during school hours, set to take effect by fall 2026 in compliance with state law. Additionally, the board revised policy in October 2025 to allow parents to opt their children out of instruction or activities that conflict with religious beliefs, following a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

A parent considering this school should seek further information directly from the school about intervention strategies and support systems in place to address the low proficiency rates, especially in mathematics. The school serves a community with substantial economic need and serves predominantly Hispanic students; families may want to learn more about how the school engages families, what bilingual support is available if relevant, and what programs exist to support students working toward grade-level proficiency.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 312%

School 12% · District 24% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 31 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 412%

School 12% · District 18% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 56%

School 6% · District 13% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 610%

School 10% · District 16% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 310%

School 10% · District 27% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 417%

School 17% · District 27% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 29% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 26 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 29% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Science

Grade 58%

School 8% · District 17% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

This schoolBakersfield City, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.