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What's the most underrated thing about Buena Vista Elementary that outsiders don't know?
Community prompt from u/allk12. Replies below.
Enrollment
713
Elementary
DISTRICT 761 · STATE 465
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·PANAMA-BUENA VISTA UNION·NCES 060639000561
Buena Vista Elementary
6547 Buena Vista Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93311 · (661) 831-0818 · Kern County
GRADES KG–06ELEMENTARY41-RURALTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL713 STUDENTS
A-
allk12 Grade
Scored higher than 75% of California public elementary schools
- B+Test scores Share of students meeting the state standard in reading, math, and other tested subjects, 2023-24 and 2024-25.
- ABeats expectations How far test scores land above or below what the share of low-income students predicts for a school in this state.
- C-Three-year trend Change in reading and math proficiency over the last three test years.
Grades compare a school only with schools in the same state, because every state gives its own test. How grades work · Top-graded California public elementary schools
Student : Teacher
25.9:1
28 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 24.7:1 · STATE 22.3:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
71%
505 students
DISTRICT 78% · STATE 65%
Community
6
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other elementary schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade, 2024-25
| Grade | Students | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 140 | 20% |
| Grade 1 | 71 | 10% |
| Grade 2 | 85 | 12% |
| Grade 3 | 116 | 16% |
| Grade 4 | 92 | 13% |
| Grade 5 | 103 | 14% |
| Grade 6 | 106 | 15% |
This year's kindergarten class (140) is 32% larger than its 6th grade class (106).
Student demographics
66%Diversity index
The chance that two students picked at random belong to different racial or ethnic groups.
DISTRICT 58% · STATE 62% · US 70%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. District, state, and US figures are each group's share of all public school students in that area (US excludes territories). Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Test scores
CAASPP 2024-25 . % met or exceeded standardEnglish Language Arts
56.9%
CA avg 49.1% . +10.9pp since 2014
Math
47.9%
CA avg 37.7% . +17.9pp since 2014
What this means: On the CAASPP, California's statewide test, about 57 of every 100 students at this school read and write at grade level and about 48 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all California schools, those numbers are about 49 and 38. Reading and writing scores are up about 11 points since 2014, while math scores are up about 18 points.
Performance levels, 2024-25
| Subject | Standard Exceeded | Standard Met | Standard Nearly Met | Standard Not Met |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language Arts | 25.6% | 31.3% | 23.2% | 19.9% |
| Math | 20.6% | 27.3% | 30.3% | 21.8% |
Share of tested students at each CAASPP level. Each student counts in one level, so a row adds to about 100%.
CAASPP results by year
| School year | English Language Arts | Math |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 56.9% | 47.9% |
| 2023-24 | 58.8% | 45.0% |
| 2022-23 | 55.4% | 47.1% |
| 2021-22 | 63.8% | 45.0% |
| 2018-19 | 56.2% | 48.0% |
| 2017-18 | 53.8% | 41.0% |
| 2016-17 | 53.5% | 35.0% |
| 2015-16 | 58.0% | 39.0% |
| 2014-15 | 46.0% | 30.0% |
% met or exceeded standard, all students and all tested grades.
Source: CAASPP. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
BeatsExpectations
Demographically-adjusted score · methodologyTier
AS EXPECTED
Performing as predicted given the school's student profile
Actual proficiency
52.1%
composite math + reading, all grades
Predicted
38.0%
based on CA schools with similar FRL share
Beats by
+14.1pp
above demographic expectation
What this means: About 52% of students here test proficient in math and reading, compared with the roughly 38% typical for California schools with a similar share of low-income students. BeatsExpectations measures results against demographically similar schools rather than by raw scores, and this school falls within the typical range, neither among California's top nor bottom 10%.
BeatsExpectations runs a per-state regression of proficiency on free/reduced-lunch share, then scores each school by residual. How this is calculated →
Schools most like Buena Vista Elementary
Buena Vista Elementary's state test result (52.1% proficient) is higher than 2 of the 4 schools below with a result.
| School | Students | Low-income | Proficient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista Elementary this school | 713 | 70.8% | 52.1% |
| Norman Liddell Elementary Fresno | 628 | 69.7% | 57.0% |
| Leo B. Hart Elementary Bakersfield | 705 | 71.6% | 48.5% |
| Citizens of the World Charter School Silver Lake Los Angeles | 718 | 70.3% | N/A |
| Bryn Mawr Elementary Loma Linda | 622 | 68.3% | 44.9% |
| Manchester Gate Fresno | 684 | 73.4% | 76.7% |
Matched among California elementary schools on enrollment, the share of students from low-income families (eligible for free or reduced-price lunch), and racial and ethnic makeup. Proficient is the average share of students meeting the state standard across all of the school's state tests in 2023-24 and 2024-25, the same combined score our test-score rankings use. Online schools and schools serving specialized populations are not matched.
Where Buena Vista Elementary ranks
Among elementary schools| Measure | This school | In California | In Kern County |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 52.1% | #1,579 of 5,151 | #8 of 148 |
| Math proficiency ranked highest first | 47.9% | #1,728 of 5,172 ▲ 92 | #11 of 150 ▲ 5 |
| Reading proficiency ranked highest first | 56.9% | #1,550 of 5,172 ▼ 233 | #9 of 150 ▼ 2 |
| 3-year test score change ranked biggest drop first | -2.0pp | #1,209 of 5,116 | #29 of 147 |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 713 | #694 of 5,915 | #42 of 163 |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 25.9:1 | #4,824 of 5,352 | #137 of 145 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 65.9% | #1,129 of 5,354 | #8 of 145 |
| Free and reduced lunch ranked highest share first | 70.8% | #2,903 of 5,625 | #118 of 153 |
| Enrollment change since 2017-18 ranked steepest decline first | -24.6% | #932 of 3,837 | #15 of 95 |
Ranked against other public elementary schools. Online schools are left out of every list, and test-score lists leave out schools that serve specialized populations. Each rank links to the full list. Arrows under a test-score rank show places moved since the prior test year, among schools tested both years.
4-year change
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
713
-203 (-22%) vs 2020
+651% since 1990-91, when it was 95
Student : Teacher
25.9:1
was 26.9:1
Source: NCES Common Core of Data
Enrollment and staffing by year
| School year | Students | Teachers (FTE) | Students per teacher | Free and reduced lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 713 | 27.5 | 25.9:1 | 71% (505) |
| 2023-24 | 720 | 28.5 | 25.3:1 | 70% (507) |
| 2022-23 | 718 | 29.5 | 24.3:1 | 64% (457) |
| 2020-21 | 916 | 34 | 26.9:1 | 53% (482) |
| 2017-18 | 946 | 32.5 | 29.1:1 | 56% (532) |
| 2015-16 | 893 | 30 | 29.8:1 | 47% (419) |
| 2010-11 | 881 | N/A | N/A | 46% (401) |
| 2000-01 | 397 | 20 | 19.9:1 | 10% (38) |
| 1990-91 | 95 | 5 | 19.0:1 | N/A |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data. Rows are the federal collections on file for Buena Vista Elementary.
Since 2017-18: students down 25% (946 to 713); teachers down 15% (32.5 to 27.5).
About Buena Vista Elementary
Buena Vista Elementary is a large elementary school with its address in Bakersfield, California. Its 713 students are spread across kindergarten through 6. The typical figure for elementary schools in California is about 465 students.
Buena Vista Elementary is one of 25 schools in Panama-Buena Vista Union, which enrolls 19,366 students in total.
Hispanic students make up a majority at Buena Vista Elementary, at 52%. The remaining students are 18% White, 17% Asian, 9% Black, and 4% multiracial. Buena Vista Elementary's diversity index is 66%, against a US figure of 70%.
The count of teachers at Buena Vista Elementary is 27.5 full-time equivalents, for a ratio of 25.9:1. That is 3.6 students per teacher above the 22.3:1 average for elementary schools in California. Around 71% of the school's students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Buena Vista Elementary is graded A- by allk12, scoring above 75% of California public elementary schools once test results, poverty-adjusted performance, and the recent trend are combined.
The model predicts 38.0% for a school in California with Buena Vista Elementary's free or reduced-price lunch share. Buena Vista Elementary posts 52.1%.
Kern County has these Census figures: the median household income is $70,210, roughly 19% of adults have a four-year degree or more, and about 15% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Kern County is home to 279 public schools and about 197,431 public school students.
Grow Public Schools is the public school closest to Buena Vista Elementary, about 1.1 miles away. There are at least 8 other public schools within five miles. Ranking the closest schools with test data puts Buena Vista Elementary at 3rd of 8.
The NCES locale for Buena Vista Elementary is Rural: Fringe, which covers schools in rural territory close to an urban area.
The school enrolled 713 students in 2024-25, 203 fewer than the 916 it had in 2020-21. Staffing shifted too: the ratio moved from 26.9:1 to 25.9:1.
The allk12 site hosts a discussion page for Buena Vista Elementary covering things like sports tryouts, band and choir, and theater. Reviews and ratings from people who know the school are welcome.
Kern County at a glance
View full county profilePopulation
915,075
Census ACS
Median income
$70,210
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
19%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
15%
Below federal line
Schools in county
279
197,431 students
Quick facts
Related schools
Other schools in Panama-Buena Vista Union
- Dolores S. Whitley TK-8Elementary · 1,151 students
- Douglas J. Miller ElementaryElementary · 994 students
- Stonecreek Junior HighMiddle · 986 students
- Earl Warren Junior HighMiddle · 965 students
- Berkshire ElementaryElementary · 932 students
- Bill L. Williams ElementaryElementary · 926 students
Other schools in Bakersfield
- Bakersfield HighHigh · 3,069 students
- Ridgeview HighHigh · 2,575 students
- Highland HighHigh · 2,530 students
- Stockdale HighHigh · 2,398 students
- Liberty HighHigh · 2,369 students
- East Bakersfield HighHigh · 2,331 students
Other Buena Vista Elementary schools
10 other US public schools in 6 states are named Buena Vista Elementary. Buena Vista Elementary is the 2nd largest of the 11.
- Buena Vista ElementaryPalmdale, CA · 573 students
- Buena Vista ElementaryLompoc, CA · 498 students
- Buena Vista ElementaryWalnut Creek, CA · 495 students
- Buena Vista ElementaryCarlsbad, CA · 281 students
- Buena Vista ElementaryTulare, CA · 180 students
Nearby schools
- Grow Public Schools1.1 mi · 1,446
- Earl Warren Junior High1.3 mi · 965
- Independence High1.4 mi · 2,324
- Old River Elementary1.8 mi · 795
- Sing Lum Elementary1.9 mi · 809
- Stockdale High2.2 mi · 2,398
Frequently asked questions
About Buena Vista ElementaryHow large is Buena Vista Elementary?
Buena Vista Elementary enrolls approximately 713 students in grades KG-06.
What age range does Buena Vista Elementary serve?
Buena Vista Elementary serves students from grade KG through grade 06.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buena Vista Elementary?
The student-to-teacher ratio at Buena Vista Elementary is approximately 25.9:1 (28 FTE teachers).
What is the racial breakdown of students at Buena Vista Elementary?
At Buena Vista Elementary, the student body is approximately 18% White, 52% Hispanic, 9% Black, 17% Asian, 4% Two or more.
Is Buena Vista Elementary public or private?
Buena Vista Elementary is a public K-12 school, overseen by Panama-Buena Vista Union.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.