McFarland Independent

Located at 599 Fifth St., in McFarland, California, McFarland Independent is a micro-enrollment unified-grade school that educates 23 students (grades K through 12), overseen by McFarland Unified. That puts it 96% smaller than the typical public school in California, which averages around 602 students.

Across the 7 schools in McFarland Unified (3,282 students total), McFarland Independent accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, McFarland Independent shows that the student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic (91%); the rest reads as 4% Black, 4% Asian. That is noticeably more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 57%.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, McFarland Independent has 2 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 12.0:1. The state averages around 18.6:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. An estimated 87% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. Set against Kern County (around 76%), the school's rate is noticeably above typical.

In the broader community, Kern County reports that the typical household earns roughly $70,210 per year, 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 15%. Across Kern County's 279 public schools (combined enrollment of about 197,431 students), McFarland Independent is one campus in the mix.

San Joaquin High (Continuation) is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.0 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 6 other public schools cluster around McFarland Independent.

The campus sits in a small-town setting.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at McFarland Independent has edged up 77%, going from 13 students in 2018 to 23 in 2025. The Hispanic share of enrollment contracted from 100% to 91% over that span. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 18.6:1 in 2018 to 12.0:1 today.

Inside the community feed, members of the McFarland Independent community share and discuss sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Posting is open to anyone connected to the school.