Fairfax Elementary

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Bakersfield, California - 4 schools

An equity score of 61/100 ranks Fairfax Elementary #485 of 1526 districts in California (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $17,170 per pupil, Fairfax Elementary ranks #968 of 1880 California districts by per-pupil spending (California districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,678
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$17,170
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Fairfax Elementary operates 4 public schools serving 2,678 students, placing it among the smallest districts in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 4 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Kern County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,170 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 1880 California districts by per-pupil spending. See how California compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 14.2% local, 66.9% state, and 19.0% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 61/100, ranked #485 of 1526 in California against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 552.6:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 25.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 91.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.3% White, 1.6% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Zephyr Lane Elementary, with a diversity index of 17.8/100.

Its largest campus is Zephyr Lane Elementary, enrolling 797 students (30% of the district's total enrollment).

Zephyr Lane Elementary accounts for 29.8% of all Fairfax Elementary student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Fairfax Elementary-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: elementary. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Fairfax Elementary reports 84.8% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share is at least 75%, indicating a high concentration of measured economic need. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Fairfax Elementary student-counselor ratio is 553:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Fairfax Elementary chronic absenteeism rate is 25.5% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Fairfax Elementary is typically wider than the Fairfax Elementary-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

19.0%
Federal
66.9%
State
14.2%
Local

Funding Equity

61
Equity Score
485 / 1526
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 4 schools in Fairfax Elementary.

White 3.3%
Hispanic or Latino 91.9%
African American 1.6%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 1.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 15.3/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Fairfax Elementary's schools, below the California average of 46.0.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Zephyr Lane Elementary 17.8
  2. 2 Fairfax Jr. High 16.8
  3. 3 Shirley Lane Elementary 15.7
  4. 4 Virginia Avenue Elementary 10.8

Programs & Resources

552.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Fairfax Elementary

School Enrollment
Zephyr Lane Elementary
797
Virginia Avenue Elementary
644
Shirley Lane Elementary
617
Fairfax Jr. High
609

How Fairfax Elementary Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The California districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Escalon Unified Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
San Rafael City High Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Exeter Unified Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Lamont Elementary Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
San Carlos Elementary Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Fairfax Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in California

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Los Angeles Unified
427,795 students · 785 schools · $22,606/pupil
Compare vs Fairfax Elementary →
San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $20,783/pupil
Compare vs Fairfax Elementary →
Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,909/pupil
Compare vs Fairfax Elementary →
Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $18,419/pupil
Compare vs Fairfax Elementary →
Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $15,921/pupil
Compare vs Fairfax Elementary →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Fairfax Elementary

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Los Angeles Unified →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Fairfax Elementary?

Fairfax Elementary has 4 schools, including 4 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,678 students.

How much does Fairfax Elementary spend per student?

Fairfax Elementary spends $17,170 per student. The district has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #485 in California.

What is the demographic composition of Fairfax Elementary?

Fairfax Elementary students are 91.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.3% White, 1.6% African American, 1.2% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Fairfax Elementary?

Fairfax Elementary has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #485 out of 1526 districts in California.