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Schools in Potomac Park · Kern High School District, Bakersfield City School District

Potomac Park’s public schools score below 77% of California districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Potomac Park’s districts is 14%, below the California average (33%). The grade covers the three public school districts serving Potomac Park, 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.

#814of 847 California townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From California state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% 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
33%
▼ 14 pts vs CA 47%
2021–22
Math proficiency
14%
▼ 19 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
22.5
CA 21.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
50,169 students on the public path
In brief

Potomac Park’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 269 California towns with household incomes within a quarter of Potomac Park’s, its schools beat 13%, lower than their 23% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 33% of tested students were proficient in reading and 14% in math, against 47% and 33% statewide; 95% 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 Bakersfield City $20,798, against $21,206 across California (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then 12 middle and 19 high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. See the path ↓

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 Potomac Park’s grade

C− Test scoresC Graduation

C−: better than 23% of California school districts, #814 of 847 California towns. Both inputs trail the California average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

California school districts we grade (1,872)Better than 23%
Lower resultsHigher results
California towns with similar household incomes (269)Better than 13%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 30,776 test results and a graduating class of 10,701 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Potomac Park’s students in the tested grades sat them (30,751 in math, 30,799 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–6Mt. Vernon ElementaryBakersfield City School DistrictNo scores
7–812 middle schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
9–1219 high schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A+

To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Three districts serve Potomac Park

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−
Bakersfield City School DistrictGrades K–8 · 44 schools · 28,365 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 20.4 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$20,798CA $21,206 · FY2024
D
Fairfax Elementary School DistrictGrades K–8 · 4 schools · 2,667 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 21.9 per teacher (CA 21.6)
$19,076CA $21,206 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below 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, Bakersfield City School District27%
State average 46.7% · 19468 students tested
Math · K–8, Bakersfield City School District13%
State average 33.1% · 19496 students tested
Reading · K–8, Fairfax Elementary School District26%
State average 46.7% · 1813 students tested
Math · K–8, Fairfax Elementary School District17%
State average 33.1% · 1810 students tested

Potomac Park vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Potomac ParkC−Bakersfield City K–8 · Fairfax Elementary K–8 · Kern High 9–12
BakersfieldCBakersfield City K–8 · Panama-Buena Vista K–8 · Kern High 9–12

Every school in Potomac Park

32 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 Potomac Parkby address
Mt. Vernon Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6 · Bakersfield
614 students19:1Rate it →
Also serving Potomac Parkin other towns
Downtown Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–8 · Bakersfield
317 students22:1Rate it →
Fairfax Junior High
Middle · Grades 5–8 · Bakersfield
609 students19:1Rate it →
Curran Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bakersfield
973 students21:1Rate it →
Walter Stiern Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bakersfield
891 students21:1Rate it →
Emerson Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bakersfield
813 students22:1Rate it →
Sierra Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bakersfield
731 students21:1Rate it →
Paul L. Cato Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bakersfield
694 students23:1Rate it →
Washington Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Bakersfield
639 students22:1Rate it →
Sequoia Jr. High
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Bakersfield
746 students22:1Rate it →
Chipman Junior High
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Bakersfield
708 students22:1Rate it →
Compton Junior High
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Bakersfield
586 students21:1Rate it →
Abraham Lincoln Jr. High
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Bakersfield
527 students20:1Rate it →
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 Potomac Park’s schools

Are Potomac Park’s schools good?

On California’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Potomac Park children attend score below 77% of California’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #814 of 847 California towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 13%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Potomac Park in?

Kern High School District, which runs grades 9–12 and enrolls 42,814 students in 25 schools (2024–25).

Where do Potomac Park 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 Potomac Park’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 Potomac Park spend per student?

$19,073 in Kern High School District, $20,798 in Bakersfield City School District and $19,076 in Fairfax Elementary School District (FY2024), against $21,206 across California. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

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What Potomac Park 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.