- Enrollment
- 973
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Bakersfield, CA
Walter Stiern Middle
Federal NCES profile for Walter Stiern 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 060363002021
👥 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
Walter Stiern Middle earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of California schools.
- #17 of 25
- middle schools in Bakersfield · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 25.5:1
- large classes for California
- 83.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Walter Stiern Middle has class sizes larger than 82% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walter Stiern Middle ranks #17 of 25 middle schools in Bakersfield, CA.
School address
District: Bakersfield City · California
NCES ID 060363002021 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+124 students YoY
Walter Stiern Middle grew from 659 students in 2022-23 to 783 in 2023-24 (+18.8%).
Teacher FTE added 35.7 → 36.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+124 students YoY 060363002021 · Bakersfield, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
891 enr · 25.5:1 · 83.0% lunch · RII 23
Nearest enrollment peer: Curran Middle (973 students)
Walter Stiern Middle grew from 659 students in 2022-23 to 783 in 2023-24 (+18.8%). Teacher FTE added 35.7 → 36.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Walter Stiern 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
- This school
Walter Stiern Middle
891 students
- Horace Mann El
Horace Mann Elementary
870 students
- Bessie E. Owen
Bessie E. Owens Elementary
867 students
What this shows Walter Stiern Middle reports 891 students on the CCD universe file.
How Walter Stiern Middle compares
Walter Stiern Middle is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 83.0% | ▲ 50% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 891 | top 14% | - | - |
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.
891
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
83.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
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
60.9%
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 + 81 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 88.3%
White 7.1%
African American 3.6%
Two or More 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Asian 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 88.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 21.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 21.4, Walter Stiern Middle is less mixed than 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 Walter Stiern Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curran Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Colonel Howard Nichols Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Voorhies Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Horace Mann Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bessie E. Owens Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walter Stiern 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
- 870
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 867
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
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 (~891 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~25.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about Walter Stiern Middle
How many students attend Walter Stiern Middle?
Walter Stiern Middle has 891 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Bakersfield, CA. CCD year-over-year: 659 (2022-23) → 783 (2023-24), up 124.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter Stiern Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Walter Stiern Middle 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 Walter Stiern Middle?
83.0% of students at Walter Stiern Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walter Stiern Middle?
The largest demographic group at Walter Stiern Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 88.3% of enrollment, in Bakersfield, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walter Stiern Middle?
Walter Stiern 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 Walter Stiern Middle rank among middle schools in Bakersfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Walter Stiern 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 Walter Stiern 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.