Kern High

Bakersfield, California — 25 schools

43,020
Total Enrollment
25
Schools
$19,114
Per-Pupil Spending
High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Kern High operates 25 public schools serving 43,020 students, placing it in the mid-size range in California. The school portfolio breaks down into 25 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 42,814 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Kern County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $19,114 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 24.9% local, 63.4% state, and 11.6% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $73,190 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 64/100, ranked #385 of 1547 in California against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 18 of 25 schools offering Advanced Placement (194 AP courses district-wide), a 283.2:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 48.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 73.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% White, 4.9% African American across the district's schools.

Kern High school enrollment varies 39× across entities

Kern High school enrollment ranges from 79 students (lowest) to 3,069 students (highest), a spread of 2,990 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Kern High has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 72.9% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Kern High student-counselor ratio is 283:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within Kern High is typically wider than the Kern High-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Kern High chronic absenteeism rate is 48.9% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

11.6%
Federal
63.4%
State
24.9%
Local

Funding Equity

64
Equity Score
385 / 1547
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Kern County county, where this district is located.

$1,132
Studio/mo
$1,140
1 BR/mo
$1,483
2 BR/mo
$2,062
3 BR/mo
$2,488
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$73,190
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 25 schools in Kern High.

White 14.6%
Hispanic or Latino 73.0%
African American 4.9%
Asian 2.7%
Multiracial 4.1%
Other 0.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

18 / 25
Schools with AP
194 AP courses total
283.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
48.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Kern High

School Enrollment
Bakersfield High
3,069
Arvin High
2,653
Ridgeview High
2,575
Highland High
2,530
Stockdale High
2,398
Liberty High
2,369
East Bakersfield High
2,331
Independence High
2,324
Golden Valley High
2,228
Centennial High
2,212
West High
2,159
North High
2,135
South High
2,107
Frontier High
2,098
Mira Monte High
2,048
Foothill High
2,043
Del Oro High
1,927
Shafter High
1,599
Kern Valley High
516
Kern Workforce 2000 Academy
Charter
491
Vista West Continuation High
375
Tierra Del Sol Continuation High
241
Vista Continuation High
221
Central Valley High (Continuation)
86
Nueva Continuation High
79

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 · $25,877/pupil
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San Diego Unified
93,893 students · 175 schools · $26,901/pupil
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Fresno Unified
69,668 students · 101 schools · $20,737/pupil
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Long Beach Unified
65,554 students · 84 schools · $19,558/pupil
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Elk Grove Unified
62,061 students · 67 schools · $16,975/pupil
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Compare Kern High

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Kern High?

Kern High has 25 schools, including 25 high. Total enrollment is 43,020 students.

How much does Kern High spend per student?

Kern High spends $19,114 per student. The district has an equity score of 64/100, ranking #385 in California.

What is the average teacher salary in Kern High?

The average teacher salary in Kern High is $73,190 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Kern High?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Kern County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Kern High?

Kern High students are 73.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% White, 4.9% African American, 2.7% Asian, averaged across 25 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Kern High?

Kern High has an equity score of 64/100, ranking #385 out of 1547 districts in California. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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