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Kern County

California · Public K-12

Across all districts in Kern County, public schools number 279 and enroll approximately 197,431 K-12 students (169 elementary, 48 middle, and 51 high).

4-year change in Kern County

SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
197,431
+5,346 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
School count
271
+12 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages

How Kern County ranks

Among counties
MeasureThis countyIn CaliforniaIn the US
State test proficiency
ranked highest first
32.6%#41 of 55N/A
Enrollment
ranked largest first
197,431#10 of 55#32 of 2,745
Number of schools
ranked most first
271#11 of 55N/A
Students per teacher
ranked fewest first
22.1:1#46 of 55#2,631 of 2,655
Free or reduced-price lunch share
ranked highest first
75.7%#7 of 55#577 of 2,526
Diversity index
ranked most diverse first
48.5%#46 of 55#1,172 of 2,707
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.

Kern County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
Residents
915,075
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
279
61 districts
Enrollment
197,431
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$70,210
Below California avg
Free/reduced lunch
75.7%
Above California avg
Elementary
169
90,616 students
Middle
48
31,128 students
High
51
57,417 students
Combined / other
11
18,270 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Kern High
42,814 students · 61 districts in Kern County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Kern County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
44%
Hispanic
57%
Black
5%
Asian
5%
Two or more
25%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
18%
Hispanic
69%
Black
5%
Asian
4%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
18.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
8.6%
civilian labor
Median age
33
28.6% under 18

Test scores in Kern County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 233 schools ranked. California state average: 49.4%.

See all 233 schools in Kern County ranked by score →

All schools (279)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Irving L. Branch ElementaryEdwardsElementary03-06388·
Kern County Special EducationBakersfieldCombinedKG-12387·
Beardsley Junior HighBakersfieldMiddle07-08383·
Vista West Continuation HighBakersfieldHigh09-12375·
William A. Bailey ElementaryEdwardsElementaryKG-02366·
Harvest ElementaryDelanoElementaryKG-05365·
Richmond ElementaryRidgecrestElementaryKG-05364·
Terrace ElementaryDelanoElementaryKG-05363·
South Fork ElementaryWeldonElementaryKG-08348·
Gateway ElementaryRidgecrestElementaryKG-05346·
Quailwood ElementaryBakersfieldElementaryKG-06345·
Vineland ElementaryBakersfieldElementaryKG-04336·
Parkview ElementaryTaftElementaryKG-03328·
Kern County CommunityBakersfieldCombinedKG-12325·
Albany Park ElementaryDelanoElementaryKG-05319·
Downtown ElementaryBakersfieldElementaryKG-08317·
Princeton Street ElementaryDelanoElementaryKG-05308·
Conley ElementaryTaftElementaryKG-03306·
SunsetBakersfieldMiddle05-08302·
Pierce ElementaryRidgecrestElementaryKG-05297·
Buttonwillow ElementaryButtonwillowElementaryKG-08288·
Maple ElementaryShafterElementaryKG-08287·
West Boron ElementaryBoronElementaryKG-06276·
Jefferson ElementaryTaftElementaryKG-03271·
Woodrow Wallace MiddleLake IsabellaMiddle06-08269·
Boron Junior-Senior HighBoronHigh07-12253·
Frazier Mountain HighLebecHigh09-12244·
Tierra Del Sol Continuation HighBakersfieldHigh09-12241·
Ridgecrest Elem Acad for Language Music and SciRidgecrestElementaryKG-06239·
William Penn ElementaryBakersfieldElementaryKG-05235·
Frazier Park ElementaryFrazier ParkElementaryKG-04234·
Di Giorgio ElementaryArvinElementaryKG-08231·
Taft PrimaryTaftElementaryKG-03231·
El Tejon ElementaryLebecMiddle05-08221·
Vista Continuation HighBakersfieldHigh09-12221·
Lost Hills ElementaryLost HillsElementaryKG-05201·
Kern County Juvenile CourtBakersfieldCombinedKG-12191·
Central Academy of Arts and TechnologyBakersfieldCombinedKG-12179·
Pond ElementaryWascoElementaryKG-08175·
General Shafter ElementaryBakersfieldElementaryKG-08169·
Inyokern ElementaryInyokernElementaryKG-05161·
Elk Hills ElementaryTupmanElementaryKG-08159·
Semitropic ElementaryWascoElementaryKG-08140·
Maricopa ElementaryMaricopaElementaryKG-05133·
Wasco Independence HighWascoHigh09-12109·
Tehachapi Independent Learning AcademyTehachapiElementaryKG-08108·
Kernville ElementaryKernvilleElementaryKG-05105·
Mesquite Continuation HighRidgecrestHigh09-1295·
A. M. Thomas MiddleLost HillsMiddle06-0890·
Grow Academy ArvinArvinElementaryKG-0887·
Central Valley High (Continuation)ShafterHigh09-1286·
Buena Vista High (Continuation)TaftHigh09-1285·
Grow Academy ShafterShafterElementaryKG-0880·
Nueva Continuation HighLamontHigh09-1279·
Maricopa HighMaricopaHigh09-1272·
Abraham Lincoln AlternativeRosamondCombined04-1271·
Maricopa MiddleMaricopaMiddle06-0871·
Valley HighDelanoHigh09-1271·
Midway ElementaryFellowsElementaryKG-0865·
McKittrick ElementaryMckittrickElementaryKG-0861·
Peak to Peak Mountain CharterPine Mountain ClubElementaryKG-0854·
Rare Earth High (Continuation)RosamondHigh10-1249·
Piute Mountain ElementaryCalienteElementaryKG-0844·
San Joaquin High (Continuation)McfarlandHigh09-1243·
Rafer JohnsonBakersfieldElementaryKG-0832·
Monroe High (Continuation)TehachapiHigh09-1225·
Blake ElementaryWoodyElementaryKG-0823·
McFarland IndependentMcfarlandCombinedKG-1223·
McGowan (Robert) High (Continuation)BoronHigh07-1223·
Linns Valley-Poso Flat ElementaryGlennvilleElementaryKG-0822·
Greenfield CommunityBakersfieldElementaryKG-0813·
Kern County ROPMojaveHigh09-120·
Kern High ROCBakersfieldHigh09-120·
High DesertRidgecrestElementaryM-M··
Mountain View TK-8BakersfieldElementaryM-M··
Opportunities for Learning - RidgecrestRidgecrestElementaryM-M··
Rafer Johnson Childrens CenterBakersfieldElementaryM-M··
Sierra Vista Education CenterRidgecrestElementaryM-M··
Vieweg STEM AcademyRidgecrestElementaryM-M··

Cities in Kern County

Bakersfield152 schoolsDelano17 schoolsRidgecrest14 schoolsWasco10 schoolsShafter8 schoolsTaft8 schoolsTehachapi8 schoolsArvin7 schoolsMcfarland7 schoolsRosamond6 schoolsMaricopa5 schoolsCalifornia City4 schoolsLamont4 schoolsBoron3 schoolsEdwards3 schoolsLake Isabella3 schoolsLost Hills3 schoolsMojave3 schoolsLebec2 schoolsButtonwillow1 schoolCaliente1 schoolFellows1 schoolFrazier Park1 schoolGlennville1 schoolInyokern1 schoolKernville1 schoolMckittrick1 schoolPine Mountain Club1 schoolTupman1 schoolWeldon1 schoolWoody1 school

About Kern County

Kern County is a population-heavy California county of about 915,075 residents, home to 279 public schools and roughly 197,431 students.

Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $70,210 a year, roughly 19% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 15% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 21% below the California median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Kern County is made up of 169 elementary schools (90,616 students), 48 middle schools (31,128), 51 high schools (57,417), and 11 combined or other schools.

Kern High dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 42,814 students on its own.

Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 197,431 students, rose 3% from the 192,085 reported in SY 2020-21. The school count climbed from 259 to 271 across the same 4-year window.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Kern County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Kern County?
There are 279 public K-12 schools in Kern County, California, with a combined enrollment of about 197,431.
How many high schools are in Kern County?
Kern County, California has 51 public high schools, serving approximately 57,417 students.
How many middle schools are in Kern County?
Kern County, California has 48 public middle schools, serving approximately 31,128 students.
How many elementary schools are in Kern County?
Kern County, California has 169 public elementary schools, serving approximately 90,616 students.
What is the largest school district in Kern County?
Kern High is the largest school district in Kern County, serving approximately 42,814 students. The county contains 61 school districts overall.
What is the population of Kern County?
Kern County, California has a population of approximately 915,075, with a median age of 33. About 28.6% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Kern County?
Median household income in Kern County is $70,210, below the California average of $89,387. About 15.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Kern County?
Approximately 18.8% of adults 25 and older in Kern County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Kern County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 75.7% of students in Kern County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the California county average of 60.6%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Kern County schools?
Across Kern County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 22.9 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data