- Enrollment
- 973
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Bakersfield, CA
Paul L. Cato Middle
Federal NCES profile for Paul L. Cato Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 060363013744
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paul L. Cato Middle earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of California schools.
- #17 of 25
- middle schools in Bakersfield · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 28.9:1
- large classes for California
- 48.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Paul L. Cato Middle has class sizes larger than 94% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paul L. Cato Middle ranks #17 of 25 middle schools in Bakersfield, CA.
School address
District: Bakersfield City · California
NCES ID 060363013744 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+25 students YoY
Paul L. Cato Middle held near 654 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+25 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 24.6 → 27.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+25 students YoY 060363013744 · Bakersfield, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
694 enr · 28.9:1 · 48.5% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: Curran Middle (973 students)
Paul L. Cato Middle held near 654 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+25 headcount). Teacher FTE added 24.6 → 27.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Paul L. Cato Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Curran Middle
Curran Middle
973 students
- Colonel Howard
Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary
960 students
- Voorhies Eleme
Voorhies Elementary
915 students
- Walter Stiern
Walter Stiern Middle
891 students
- Horace Mann El
Horace Mann Elementary
870 students
- This school
Paul L. Cato Middle
694 students
What this shows Paul L. Cato Middle reports 694 students on the CCD universe file.
How Paul L. Cato Middle compares
Paul L. Cato Middle 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 | 28.9:1 | ▲ 34% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.5% | ▼ 13% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 694 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
28.9:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
694
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% below the California average of 55.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
28.9:1
students per teacher
- 34% above state mean
Top 94% in California - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
51.6%
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
$19,155
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 32 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 71.6%
White 19.3%
Asian 4.3%
African American 2.6%
Two or More 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 71.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.7, Paul L. Cato Middle is about as mixed as the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Bakersfield City reports $19,155 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Paul L. Cato Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curran Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Voorhies Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Walter Stiern Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Horace Mann Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paul L. Cato Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 960
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 915
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 891
- Students per teacher
- 25.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 870
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar middle schools in Bakersfield
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Leon H. Ollivier Middle
Standard public school
1,152 students 24:1 students per teacher
Standard Middle
Standard public school
1,005 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Norris Middle
Standard public school
992 students 26.1:1 students per teacher
Stonecreek Junior High
Standard public school
986 students 20.5:1 students per teacher
Curran Middle
Standard public school
973 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Earl Warren Junior High
Standard public school
965 students 24.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle 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 (~694 students)
Frequently asked questions about Paul L. Cato Middle
How many students attend Paul L. Cato Middle?
Paul L. Cato Middle has 694 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Bakersfield, CA. CCD year-over-year: 629 (2022-23) → 654 (2023-24), nearly flat (+25).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul L. Cato Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul L. Cato Middle is 28.9:1, which is 34% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 84% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Paul L. Cato Middle?
48.5% of students at Paul L. Cato Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paul L. Cato Middle?
The largest demographic group at Paul L. Cato Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 71.6% of enrollment, in Bakersfield, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paul L. Cato Middle?
Paul L. Cato Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Paul L. Cato Middle rank among middle schools in Bakersfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Paul L. Cato Middle ranks #17 of 25 middle 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 middle schools in Bakersfield on the city page.
What other schools are in Bakersfield City?
Besides Paul L. Cato Middle, Bakersfield City also operates Curran Middle (973 students), Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary (960 students), and Voorhies Elementary (915 students). See the Bakersfield City district page for the complete list.