The top reported proficiency rate is 26% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ramon Garza Elementary
Ramon Garza Elementary is a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade public school in Bakersfield serving a student body that is overwhelmingly economically disadvantaged and Hispanic. The school sits on Center Street in a city that is experiencing rapid growth and development, with new housing, retail, and downtown investment reshaping many neighborhoods. The area around the school is part of Bakersfield's broader urban fabric, a largely car-dependent city whose walkability concentrates in the downtown core and along the Kern River Parkway.
The school's most immediate reality is its academic performance. State testing in 2024-25 shows proficiency rates that fall well below the district and state baseline. In mathematics, roughly one in five third graders achieved proficiency; that share dropped to one in six fourth graders and one in twelve fifth graders. English language arts results are similarly low, with approximately one in four students in grades three and four meeting proficiency, declining to one in four by grade five. Science proficiency in grade five stands at one in twelve students. These numbers place the school in the bottom quartile among Kern County district elementary schools when measured by overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. A parent considering this school should look into these results directly with the school to understand what remediation, intervention, and instructional support programs are in place, and how the school is working to move students toward grade-level mastery.
The enrollment is small to moderate for an elementary school, with roughly even grade distributions across the school's six grades. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting profound economic strain in the school's attendance area. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with small numbers of Black, white, and Asian students and no reported students from other groups. Data on English learner enrollment and special education enrollment was not available, so the full picture of student needs and services remains unclear from what is provided here.
Bakersfield City School District recently approved a resolution supporting ethnic studies coursework that can be woven into instruction across subjects, and has adopted a smartphone-use policy to take effect in fall 2026 in compliance with California law. The district also revised its religious-opt-out policy following a U.S. Supreme Court decision. These are system-wide decisions that will shape the instructional and daily environment across all schools, including Ramon Garza.
The community itself is in motion. Bakersfield is among California's fastest-growing large cities, with substantial new housing and commercial development planned for downtown and southeast neighborhoods. The Kern River Parkway provides extensive trails and parks along the city's eastern edge. Health care, retail, and education are among the largest employment sectors. Housing in the zip code is relatively affordable compared to other California markets, though rents have edged upward. Against that backdrop of growth and development, families choosing Ramon Garza should weigh the school's current proficiency levels carefully alongside any other schools available to them, and engage directly with school leadership about instructional priorities and progress.
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