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ButtonwillowPhoto: Jey0h · CC BY 3.0
C+
Schools in Buttonwillow · Buttonwillow Union Elementary School District, Kern High School District

Buttonwillow’s public schools score below 56% of California districts on tests and graduation

16% of students in Buttonwillow’s public schools are proficient in math, below the California average (33%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Buttonwillow, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within California, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 89% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
46%
▼ 0 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
16%
▼ 17 pts vs CA 33%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85%
▼ 1 pts vs CA 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.1K
▼ 10% vs CA $21.2K
FY2024 · Kern High
Students per teacher
24.0
CA 21.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
41,609 students on the public path
In brief

Buttonwillow’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 72 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Buttonwillow’s, its schools beat 69%, higher than their 44% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 46% of tested students were proficient in reading and 16% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 89% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

85% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across California. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Buttonwillow Union Elementary spends $29,909 per student and Kern High $19,073, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Buttonwillow’s grade

C+ Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 44% of California school districts. Both inputs trail the California average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 44%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (72)Better than 69%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 9,701 test results and a graduating class of 10,701 could put Buttonwillow anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 89% of Buttonwillow’s students in the tested grades sat them (9,665 in math, 9,736 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Buttonwillow, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–8Buttonwillow ElementaryButtonwillow Union Elementary School DistrictNo scores
9–1219 high schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A+

Buttonwillow runs its own schools through grade 8 (Buttonwillow Union Elementary School District). From grade 9, students attend the Kern High School District, shared with Arvin, Bakersfield and Shafter. Its high school is in Bakersfield. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Buttonwillow

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Buttonwillow Union Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 1 schools · 288 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 12.5 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$29,909CA $21,206 · FY2024
D
Kern High School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 25 schools · 42,814 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 24.1 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$19,073CA $21,206 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · K–8, Buttonwillow Union Elementary School District20%
State average 46.7% · 218 students tested
Math · K–8, Buttonwillow Union Elementary School District11%
State average 33.1% · 220 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Kern High School District47%
State average 46.7% · 9518 students tested
Math · 9–12, Kern High School District16%
State average 33.1% · 9445 students tested

Buttonwillow vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the California towns that share Buttonwillow’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ButtonwillowC+Buttonwillow Union Elementary K–8 · Kern High 9–12

Every school in Buttonwillow

20 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with California’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Buttonwillowby address
Buttonwillow Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–8
288 students12:1Rate it →
Also serving Buttonwillowin other towns
Bakersfield High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A−
3,069 students26:1Rate it →
Arvin High
High · Grades 9–12 · Arvin
A+
2,653 students26:1Rate it →
Ridgeview High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A+
2,575 students27:1Rate it →
Highland High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A
2,530 students24:1Rate it →
Stockdale High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
2,398 students28:1Rate it →
Liberty High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A+
2,369 students27:1Rate it →
East Bakersfield High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A
2,331 students24:1Rate it →
Independence High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
2,324 students26:1Rate it →
Golden Valley High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A
2,228 students23:1Rate it →
Centennial High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A+
2,212 students25:1Rate it →
West High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A+
2,159 students27:1Rate it →
North High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A
2,135 students25:1Rate it →
South High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A+
2,107 students24:1Rate it →
Frontier High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A+
2,098 students26:1Rate it →
Mira Monte High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
2,048 students24:1Rate it →
Foothill High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
A
2,043 students24:1Rate it →
Del Oro High
High · Grades 9–12 · Bakersfield
1,927 students25:1Rate it →
Shafter High
High · Grades 9–12 · Shafter
A
1,599 students22:1Rate it →
Kern Valley High
High · Grades 9–12 · Lake Isabella
A
516 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Buttonwillow’s schools

Are Buttonwillow’s schools good?

On California’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Buttonwillow children attend score below 56% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 69%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Buttonwillow in?

Two districts: Buttonwillow Union Elementary School District runs grades K–8, and Kern High School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Arvin, Bakersfield and Shafter.

Where do Buttonwillow kids go to high school?

One of 19 high schools, depending on your address: Bakersfield High, Arvin High, Ridgeview High, Highland High, Stockdale High, Liberty High, East Bakersfield High, Independence High, Golden Valley High, Centennial High, West High, North High, South High, Frontier High, Mira Monte High, Foothill High, Del Oro High, Shafter High and Kern Valley High.

What is Buttonwillow’s graduation rate?

85% of the class of 2023 in Kern High School District graduated in four years, against 86% across California.

How much does Buttonwillow spend per student?

$29,909 in Buttonwillow Union Elementary School District and $19,073 in Kern High School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Buttonwillow families are saying about school.

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School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within California. Stars are from neighbors.