Jefferson Elementary, Bakersfield CA

Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Elementary

Jefferson Elementary is a small school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in central Bakersfield, located on Lincoln Street in a zip code where housing values are modest by state standards and rental costs remain relatively affordable. The school enrolls roughly five hundred students, nearly all of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly Latino, with smaller populations of Black, white, and other students. The school is part of Bakersfield City, the largest elementary school district in California.

State assessment results show academic performance that is well below state expectations across tested subjects and grades. In English language arts, overall proficiency across grades three through six is in the low range, with proficiency declining as students progress from third to sixth grade. In mathematics, the pattern is similar and steeper, with proficiency dropping sharply by fifth and sixth grades to very low levels. Science proficiency, measured in grade five only, is also quite low. Relative to other schools in Kern County, Jefferson's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among the county's schools. This is the picture reflected in the most recent state assessment data; prior-year trends are not available to show whether performance has been stable or changing.

The school serves students with substantial academic need. The overwhelming majority of the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, indicating economic need across the student population. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available. Given the school's location, demographics, and academic results, families should understand that Jefferson operates in a high-poverty context and that proficiency levels are low. A parent interested in this school would want to look further into the school's instructional approach, any targeted interventions or support programs, and what the school's own goals and priorities are for improvement.

Bakersfield itself is among California's fastest-growing large cities, with ongoing development downtown and in historically underinvested neighborhoods. The city is anchored by a strong network of riverside parks and trails, a county library system, and regional transit. Daily life is car-dependent in most neighborhoods, though the downtown core is small and walkable. The city's economy rests on energy, agriculture, healthcare, and education, and its character is culturally diverse and relatively affordable compared to other California metros.

At the district level, recent changes will affect daily school experience. The Bakersfield City School District has approved ethnic studies coursework aimed at connecting lessons to students' cultural and community backgrounds, a curricular direction that will unfold across the coming years. The district is also implementing a new policy limiting student smartphone use during school hours, taking effect by fall 2026 in compliance with California's Phone-Free Schools Act. In October 2025, the board revised policy to allow parents to opt children out of instruction or activities that conflict with their religious beliefs, following a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 335%

School 35% · District 24% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 422%

School 22% · District 18% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 56%

School 6% · District 13% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 65%

School 5% · District 16% · ▼ 10 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 328%

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

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 421%

School 21% · District 27% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 21 pts below state median · ▼ 12 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 617%

School 17% · District 29% · ▼ 12 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 17% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▼ 17 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.