- Enrollment
- 3,069
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Bakersfield, CA
South High
Federal NCES profile for South High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 061954002353
👥 S:T ratio 9
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 40
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South High earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. It is also one of the largest schools in California.
- #9 of 20
- high schools in Bakersfield · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.7:1
- students per teacher
- 87.7%
- free-lunch eligible
South High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South High ranks #9 of 20 high schools in Bakersfield, CA.
School address
District: Kern High · California
NCES ID 061954002353 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-26 students YoY
South High held near 2,150 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-26 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 93.5 → 92.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-26 students YoY 061954002353 · Bakersfield, CA High · LARGE · TRAD
2,107 enr · 22.7:1 · 87.7% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Bakersfield High (3,069 students)
South High held near 2,150 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-26 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 93.5 → 92.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
South 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
South High
2,107 students
What this shows South High reports 2,107 students on the CCD universe file.
How South High compares
South 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 | 22.7:1 | ▲ 6% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 87.7% | ▲ 58% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,107 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.7:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,107
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
87.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 58% above the California average of 55.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.7:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 59% in California - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
33.7%
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 301 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 267 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 84.0%
African American 8.0%
White 4.1%
Two or More 2.5%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 84.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.6, South High is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 6
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 South High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Arvin High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridgeview High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Highland High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stockdale High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South 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 (~2,107 students)
Frequently asked questions about South High
How many students attend South High?
South High has 2,107 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bakersfield, CA. CCD year-over-year: 2,176 (2022-23) → 2,150 (2023-24), nearly flat (-26).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South High?
The student-teacher ratio at South High is 22.7:1, which is 6% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 45% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South High?
87.7% of students at South High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South High?
The largest demographic group at South High is Hispanic or Latino at 84.0% of enrollment, in Bakersfield, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South High?
South High has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 South High rank among high schools in Bakersfield?
By Resource Investment Index, South High ranks #9 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 South 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.