Freedom Middle, Bakersfield CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Freedom Middle

Freedom Middle is a public seventh and eighth grade school in Bakersfield, located in Kern County. It serves roughly equal cohorts of students in each grade and enrolls about one in three students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is split fairly evenly between Hispanic students and white students, with smaller shares of Asian, multiracial, Black, and American Indian students. The school sits in the Noriega Road area on Bakersfield's north side.

Test results show uneven performance across subjects. In English language arts, the school's results are solidly mid-range. Seventh graders show roughly half proficiency, while eighth graders score higher, suggesting students gain ground in reading and writing as they progress through the school. Math proficiency is substantially lower. Seventh graders achieve proficiency at rates roughly a quarter of the time, and eighth graders score even lower, in the low-mid-twenties percentile range. The gap between ELA and math is pronounced. Science testing in eighth grade shows proficiency rates in the low thirties. An older social studies assessment from 2013 showed stronger performance, though that test is no longer in use. Overall, the school's average proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile among districts across Kern County, a notable position given that most schools in the county sit well below that mark.

The disparity between ELA and math merits attention. Math has emerged as a consistent area where many schools struggle, but at Freedom Middle the gap is substantial. Students and families might ask the school directly about its approach to math instruction and intervention, and whether there are specific supports for students who need additional help in that subject.

Bakersfield itself is a fast-growing city on California's central valley. It is home to major energy and agricultural businesses, and its everyday character blends suburban neighborhoods, a walkable downtown centered on historic theaters and restaurants, and significant commercial and residential development. The region is relatively affordable compared to coastal California, though housing costs have been edging upward. Most of the city is car-dependent, though downtown and a few neighborhoods offer more compact, walkable environments. Schools in Bakersfield reflect the city's economic diversity and cultural makeup; about two in five of Freedom Middle's students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

The Rosedale Union Elementary district, which operates Freedom Middle, is the largest elementary school district in California. Recent district-level information about strategic priorities or operational changes was not available from public sources, so a parent considering the school may want to contact the district office directly to learn about any major initiatives or shifts in instructional focus.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 729%

School 29% · District 34% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 826%

School 26% · District 31% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 750%

School 50% · District 51% · ▼ 1 pts below district

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

Grade 858%

School 58% · District 57% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 22 pts above county median

Science

Grade 829%

School 29% · District 37% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 860%

School 60% · District 62% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

This schoolRosedale 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 7Lower-income42%Higher-income56%14 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income48%Higher-income66%18 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 7Lower-income25%Higher-income33%8 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income18%Higher-income33%15 pp gap