Enrollment
375
California · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Bakersfield, CA
Vista West Continuation High
Federal NCES profile for Vista West Continuation High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 061954009145
👥 S:T ratio 21
📚 AP courses 10
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 63
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Vista West Continuation High earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median.
- #18 of 20
- high schools in Bakersfield · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.7:1
- students per teacher
- 75.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Vista West Continuation High has class sizes near the California median. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Vista West Continuation High ranks #18 of 20 high schools in Bakersfield, CA.
School address
District: Kern High · California
NCES ID 061954009145 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.7:1
vs 21.5:1 California avg
-8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
75.3%
vs 55.5% California avg
+36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Vista West Continuation High compares with California and U.S. medians
What stands out at Vista West Continuation High
Vista West Continuation High is a high-poverty, mid-sized high school in Bakersfield, California, enrolling 375 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 19.7:1 puts it in the smaller third of California schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 75.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 375 students, its enrollment sits close to the California median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 9,998 scored California schools.
Against 1,748 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #756.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (50%) and White (36%) (diversity index 61/100).
No Advanced Placement courses are reported for this campus in the federal data.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 188 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 81.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 120 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 375 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Bakersfield's high schools, it stands alongside Bakersfield High (3,069 students): Vista West Continuation High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.7:1 vs 24.4:1).
Kern High also operates Bakersfield High (3,069 students) and Arvin High (2,653 students) alongside Vista West Continuation High.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Vista West Continuation High compares
Vista West Continuation High on the metrics families compare, against California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.7:1 | ▼ 8% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 75.3% | ▲ 36% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 375 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.7:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
375
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
75.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
19.7:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 33% in California - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
81.1%
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
$15,830
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $16,509
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 188 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 120 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 32.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 50.0%
White 36.1%
African American 9.1%
Two or More 1.6%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 50.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.1, Vista West Continuation High is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Kern High, which includes Vista West Continuation High.
$15,830
Per student
-4%
vs California
Avg $16,509
-5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.9%
State 63.4%
Federal 11.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Vista West Continuation High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Arvin High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ridgeview High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Highland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stockdale High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Vista West Continuation High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,069
- Students per teacher
- 24.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- 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
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of California, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~375 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Vista West Continuation High's federal record.
- Compare Vista West Continuation High against another school. Compare schools
- Kern High's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Vista West Continuation High
How many students attend Vista West Continuation High?
Vista West Continuation High has 375 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bakersfield, CA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vista West Continuation High?
The student-teacher ratio at Vista West Continuation High is 19.7:1, which is 8% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Vista West Continuation High?
75.3% of students at Vista West Continuation High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Vista West Continuation High?
The largest demographic group at Vista West Continuation High is Hispanic or Latino at 50.0% of enrollment, in Bakersfield, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Vista West Continuation High?
Vista West Continuation High has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Vista West Continuation High rank among high schools in Bakersfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Vista West Continuation High ranks #18 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.
Is Vista West Continuation High a good school?
Vista West Continuation High earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the California median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Kern High?
Besides Vista West Continuation 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.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.