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Schools in Lake Isabella · Kern High School District, Kernville Union Elementary School District

Lake Isabella’s public schools score below 57% of California districts on tests and graduation

16% of students in Lake Isabella’s public schools are proficient in math, below the California average (33%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Lake Isabella, 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.

#574of 847 California townsK–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%
▼ 1 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
3
1,175 students on the public path
In brief

Lake Isabella’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 24 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lake Isabella’s, its schools beat 54%, higher than their 43% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Lake Isabella runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Woodrow W. Wallace Elementary (K–5) and Woodrow Wallace Middle (6–8) are Lake Isabella’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Kern High School District with Arvin, Bakersfield and Shafter: Kern Valley High. The high school’s own results earn an A, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

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

Kern High spends $19,073 per student and Kernville Union Elementary $23,261, 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 Lake Isabella’s grade

C+ Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 43% of California school districts, #574 of 847 California towns. 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 43%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (24)Better than 54%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 10,004 test results and a graduating class of 10,701 could put Lake Isabella anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 89% of Lake Isabella’s students in the tested grades sat them (9,965 in math, 10,042 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–5Woodrow W. Wallace ElementaryKernville Union Elementary School DistrictNo scores
6–8Woodrow Wallace MiddleKernville Union Elementary School DistrictNo scores
9–12Kern Valley HighKern High School DistrictA

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

Two districts serve Lake Isabella

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

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−
Kernville Union Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 3 schools · 764 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 19.6 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$23,261CA $21,206 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

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
Reading · K–8, Kernville Union Elementary School District29%
State average 46.7% · 524 students tested
Math · K–8, Kernville Union Elementary School District18%
State average 33.1% · 520 students tested

Lake Isabella vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Lake IsabellaC+Kernville Union Elementary K–8 · Kern High 9–12

Every school in Lake Isabella

3 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 Lake Isabellaby address
Woodrow W. Wallace Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
390 students21:1Rate it →
Woodrow Wallace Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
269 students17:1Rate it →
Kern Valley High
High · Grades 9–12
A
516 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Lake Isabella’s schools

Are Lake Isabella’s schools good?

On California’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Lake Isabella children attend score below 57% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #574 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 54%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lake Isabella in?

Two districts: Kernville 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 Lake Isabella kids go to high school?

Kern Valley High, with 516 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Lake Isabella’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 Lake Isabella spend per student?

$19,073 in Kern High School District and $23,261 in Kernville Union Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lake Isabella families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lake Isabella → They have their own page.

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.