La Vina Middle, Delano CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on La Vina Middle

La Vina Middle is a traditional public middle school serving grades six through eight in Delano, a mid-sized agricultural city in the San Joaquin Valley. The school has a student body of about moderate size, with a stark economic and demographic profile: a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and most students are Hispanic, with meaningful representation of Asian students and small counts from other groups. The school sits in a working-class community whose daily life centers on farming, retail, and service work.

On state assessments, the school shows a familiar pattern in many lower-income California settings: stronger performance in English language arts than in mathematics and science. In the most recent testing, students reached proficiency in English language arts at higher rates across all three grades, with sixth-grade reaching a solid level, seventh-grade moving higher, and eighth-grade holding firm. Math proficiency, by contrast, declined across the grade band, with eighth-graders showing the lowest attainment. Science proficiency in eighth grade, the only year tested, sits notably lower than either English or math. Performance in math and science represents a significant area of need; a parent may want to discuss with the school what approaches it is using to support students in these areas and what resources or tutoring options exist.

Among districts in Kern County, La Vina's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile, meaning its combined academic standing across tested subjects and grades ranks above the median district in the county. That measure reflects strength in English language arts; the math and science results pull down what might otherwise be more pronounced strength.

The school operates within Delano Union Elementary, a district serving the city. Delano itself is in a moderate-growth phase, with active new housing construction and neighborhood development west of Highway 99 and downtown mixed-use projects underway. Housing costs are modest relative to California statewide, and the city's economy remains agriculture-centered, though retail, healthcare, and public employment are significant. Public transit via the Delano Area Rapid Transit system connects residents locally and to jobs in Bakersfield.

The school's location on Browning Road places it within Delano's residential fabric. No data on school-specific programs, staffing, or attendance patterns was available, so prospective families would benefit from visiting the school's website or contacting the principal directly to learn about course offerings, clubs, support services for English learners or students with disabilities, and the classroom culture. The available academic snapshot shows clear strength in reading and language skills but identifies mathematics as an area where middle-grade students encounter greater difficulty, which is worth understanding directly with the school if your child would benefit from targeted academic support.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 640%

School 40% · District 35% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Grade 737%

School 37% · District 34% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Grade 834%

School 34% · District 35% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 659%

School 59% · District 54% · ▲ 5 pts above district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 769%

School 69% · District 62% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Grade 865%

School 65% · District 54% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 20 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Science

Grade 832%

School 32% · District 25% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 850%

School 50% · District 47% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

This schoolDelano Union Elementary, 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-income55%Higher-income81%26 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income67%Higher-income78%11 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income61%Higher-income78%17 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income37%Higher-income58%21 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income34%Higher-income49%15 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income28%Higher-income58%30 pp gap