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US Initiatives

Bakersfield City

California · Public School District
44
Schools
28,835
Students
$18,394
Per-Pupil Spend
+28% nat'l
86.9%
Free Lunch Rate
+35pp vs nat'l
—
Graduation Rate
District Overview

Bakersfield City is a public school district in California serving 28,835 students across 44 schools. It includes 34 elementary, 10 middle schools. Per-pupil spending of $18,394 is above average for a US public school district. 87% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 43/100.

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All Schools (44)
Elementary Schools34 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Bessie E. Owens ElementaryKG–06889
Caroline Harris ElementaryKG–06573
Casa Loma ElementaryKG–06435
Cesar E. Chavez ElementaryKG–06509
College Heights ElementaryKG–06776
Colonel Howard Nichols ElementaryKG–06931
Downtown ElementaryKG–08323
Dr. Douglas K. Fletcher ElementaryKG–05770
Dr. Juliet Thorner ElementaryKG–06844
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ElementaryKG–06703
Evergreen ElementaryKG–05670
Frank West ElementaryKG–05695
Franklin ElementaryKG–06451
Fremont ElementaryKG–06742
Harding ElementaryKG–06567
Henry Eissler ElementaryKG–06566
Horace Mann ElementaryKG–06845
Hort ElementaryKG–05641
Jefferson ElementaryKG–06533
Leo G. Pauly ElementaryKG–06689
Longfellow ElementaryKG–06746
McKinley ElementaryKG–06666
Mt. Vernon ElementaryKG–06678
Munsey ElementaryKG–06621
Myra A. Noble ElementaryKG–05792
Pioneer Drive ElementaryKG–06646
Rafer JohnsonKG–0832
Ramon Garza ElementaryKG–05745
Roosevelt ElementaryKG–05426
Stella I. Hills ElementaryKG–06665
Voorhies ElementaryKG–061,032
Wayside ElementaryKG–06683
William Penn ElementaryKG–05284
Williams ElementaryKG–06523
Middle Schools10 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Abraham Lincoln Jr. High07–08620
Chipman Junior High07–08727
Compton Junior High07–08563
Curran Middle06–081,023
Emerson Middle06–08754
Paul L. Cato Middle06–08629
Sequoia Jr. High07–08771
Sierra Middle06–08738
Walter Stiern Middle06–08659
Washington Middle06–08660
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,394+28% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
78%
State
77.8%
Local (property tax)
6.5%
Federal
15.7%

State funding accounts for 78% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
44
Schools
28,835
Students
87%
Free Lunch
$18K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate—
Opportunity Score43/100
StateCalifornia →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $18,394 per pupil — 28% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 44 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
87% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Bakersfield City?
Bakersfield City has 44 public schools, serving a total of 28,835 students.
How much does Bakersfield City spend per student?
Bakersfield City spends $18,394 per pupil — 28% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Bakersfield City?
87% of students in Bakersfield City qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Bakersfield City?
No, Bakersfield City does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Bakersfield City serve?
Bakersfield City serves grades KG through 8, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Bakersfield City?
The median opportunity score across schools in Bakersfield City is 43/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.