- Enrollment
- 3,069
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Bakersfield, CA
Independence High
Federal NCES profile for Independence High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 061954012132
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Independence High earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of California schools. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #6 of 20
- high schools in Bakersfield · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.5:1
- large classes for California
- 56.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Independence High has class sizes larger than 82% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Independence High ranks #6 of 20 high schools in Bakersfield, CA.
School address
District: Kern High · California
NCES ID 061954012132 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-60 students YoY
Independence High held near 2,334 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-60 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 91.3 → 89.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-60 students YoY 061954012132 · Bakersfield, CA High · LARGE · TRAD
2,324 enr · 25.5:1 · 56.4% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Bakersfield High (3,069 students)
Independence High held near 2,334 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-60 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 91.3 → 89.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Independence High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Bakersfield Hi
Bakersfield High
3,069 students
- Arvin High
Arvin High
2,653 students
- Ridgeview High
Ridgeview High
2,575 students
- Highland High
Highland High
2,530 students
- Stockdale High
Stockdale High
2,398 students
- This school
Independence High
2,324 students
What this shows Independence High reports 2,324 students on the CCD universe file.
How Independence High compares
Independence High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 25.5:1 | ▲ 19% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.4% | ▲ 2% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,324 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.5:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,324
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% above the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
25.5:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 82% in California - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
26.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,392
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 332 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 230 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 64.5%
White 13.6%
African American 8.0%
Asian 7.9%
Two or More 5.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 64.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.0, Independence High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Kern High reports $17,392 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Independence High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Arvin High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ridgeview High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Highland High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Stockdale High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Independence High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,653
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,575
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 2,530
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,398
- Students per teacher
- 28.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar high schools in Bakersfield
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Bakersfield High
Standard public school
3,069 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Ridgeview High
Standard public school
2,575 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Highland High
Standard public school
2,530 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
Stockdale High
Standard public school
2,398 students 28.2:1 students per teacher
Liberty High
Standard public school
2,369 students 27.5:1 students per teacher
East Bakersfield High
Standard public school
2,331 students 23.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~2,324 students)
Frequently asked questions about Independence High
How many students attend Independence High?
Independence High has 2,324 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bakersfield, CA. CCD year-over-year: 2,394 (2022-23) → 2,334 (2023-24), nearly flat (-60).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Independence High?
The student-teacher ratio at Independence High is 25.5:1, which is 19% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 62% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Independence High?
56.4% of students at Independence High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Independence High?
The largest demographic group at Independence High is Hispanic or Latino at 64.5% of enrollment, in Bakersfield, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Independence High?
Independence High has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Independence High rank among high schools in Bakersfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Independence High ranks #6 of 20 high schools in Bakersfield, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Bakersfield on the city page.
What other schools are in Kern High?
Besides Independence High, Kern High also operates Bakersfield High (3,069 students), Arvin High (2,653 students), and Ridgeview High (2,575 students). See the Kern High district page for the complete list.