The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on A. M. Thomas Middle
A.M. Thomas Middle serves grades 6 through 8 in Lost Hills, a small, unincorporated farmworker community in western Kern County. The school has a small enrollment, with students distributed evenly across the three middle grades. Nearly all students are Hispanic/Latino, and a substantial majority qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic reality of a town built on agricultural and oil industry employment where most households rent.
The school's academic performance shows mixed results across subjects and grades. In English language arts, students in grade 7 outperform the other grades; grades 6 and 8 show lower proficiency. Math proficiency is consistently low across all three grades, with grade 8 performing notably lower than grades 6 and 7. Science proficiency at grade 8 is the lowest measured result. These patterns suggest that students' literacy skills hold better than their quantitative reasoning, and that achievement declines as students progress through the school.
Within Kern County's districts, A.M. Thomas ranks in the top quartile on an overall proficiency index, a measure that averages performance across all tested subjects and grades. This places the school ahead of most of its county peers, which matters as context: though absolute proficiency levels are modest, the school's relative standing is strong. State testing data from prior years is not available for trend analysis.
The school is part of Lost Hills Union Elementary, a small rural district with a distinct identity. The district has implemented a full-service community schools model that layers academic instruction with mental health services, meals, health clinics, tutoring, and after-school programming. Publicly reported, the district achieved double-digit proficiency growth in English language arts and math following implementation of this wraparound approach, and A.M. Thomas earned California Distinguished School recognition in 2024, an award that holds for five years. For families considering the school, this signals sustained quality and a district philosophy that sees academics as one part of supporting whole students.
The school sits in a town with limited amenities but recent civic investment. Lost Hills Park anchors community life, and a pedestrian bridge over State Route 46 connects the residential south side, where the school is located, to the park, community center, and playground on the north. The town's housing stock is older and mixed, though newer affordable subdivisions have been built in recent years. Housing values are moderate by state standards, and rents are within reach for working families, though most households are renters.
Lost Hills itself is car-dependent with no public transit, though the town is accessible via Interstate 5. Employment centers around The Wonderful Company's agricultural operations and the Lost Hills Oil Field. For a family moving into the area, the school offers stability within a district known for supporting low-income, largely English-learner populations, and the community schools infrastructure provides practical support for working parents. The school's relative standing among county peers is notable, though parents evaluating math instruction and proficiency growth may want to look into that area more closely with the school directly.
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