Curran Middle, Bakersfield CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Curran Middle

Curran Middle is a regular public middle school serving grades 6 through 8 in Bakersfield, with an enrollment of just over one thousand students. The school sits in the 93309 zip code in the western portion of the city.

The student body reflects Bakersfield's broader demographics. A substantial majority of students are Hispanic, with smaller populations of Black, White, Asian, and other groups. A very high share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating concentrations of economic need. Specific data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available, and a parent may want to contact the school directly for those figures.

On state assessments, Curran's performance is a serious concern. In English language arts, proficiency sits in a range from roughly a quarter of students in grade 6 to under one-third in grades 7 and 8. Math results are substantially lower, with proficiency in single digits across all three grade levels. Science proficiency in grade 8 is also quite low. These numbers place the school in the bottom quartile among Kern County school districts on overall proficiency. The reason for this weakness is not explained in available data; parents and prospective families should ask school leadership directly what academic support is available and what improvement efforts are underway.

Bakersfield itself is among California's fastest-growing cities, with residential expansion in newer subdivisions in the north and planned development concentrated downtown and in southeast neighborhoods. The city's economy centers on health care, retail, energy, and agriculture. Its built environment is car-dependent except for a small, walkable downtown core and a network of riverside parks and trails along the Kern River. The wider Kern County housing market sits below the state average for home prices, making it more affordable than many California regions, though rental costs have risen in recent months.

The Bakersfield City School District, Curran's parent district, is the largest elementary district in California and operates across the city. Recent policy shifts include a resolution approved in fall 2025 supporting development of ethnic studies coursework integrated across subjects, a new smartphone restriction policy set to take effect for fall 2026 in line with state law, and a policy revision allowing religious opt-outs from instruction based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Curran serves a neighborhood student population with substantial economic hardship and faces real challenges in math and science proficiency. The school sits within a district and city experiencing growth and planning, and a family considering enrollment should view this school alongside what specific academic interventions and support systems the school offers to address the proficiency gaps shown in testing data.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 69%

School 9% · District 16% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 77%

School 7% · District 12% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 86%

School 6% · District 10% · ▼ 3 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 626%

School 26% · District 29% · ▼ 4 pts below district

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

Grade 729%

School 29% · District 29%

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 27% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Science

Grade 813%

School 13% · District 16% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 826%

School 26% · District 29% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 11 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income24%Higher-income44%20 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income29%Higher-income27%2 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income28%Higher-income32%4 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income9%Higher-income6%3 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income8%Higher-income3%5 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income6%Higher-income10%4 pp gap