Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Kern High

California · Public School District
24
Schools
41,794
Students
$19,267
Per-Pupil Spend
+34% nat'l
75.0%
Free Lunch Rate
+23pp vs nat'l
90.5%
Graduation Rate
+4.0pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Kern High is a public school district in California serving 41,794 students across 24 schools. It includes 24 high school, among them 1 charter school. Its graduation rate of 90.5% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $19,267 is above average for a US public school district. 75% 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.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (24)
High Schools24 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Arvin High09–122,786
Bakersfield High09–123,004
Centennial High09–122,175
Central Valley High (Continuation)09–1289
East Bakersfield High09–122,421
Foothill High09–122,045
Frontier High09–122,072
Golden Valley High09–122,533
Highland High09–122,599
Independence High09–122,394
Kern Valley High09–12466
Kern Workforce 2000 AcademyCharter09–12571
Liberty High09–122,358
Mira Monte High09–122,293
North High09–122,214
Nueva Continuation High09–12109
Ridgeview High09–122,688
Shafter High09–121,651
South High09–122,176
Stockdale High09–122,298
Tierra Del Sol Continuation High09–12273
Vista Continuation High09–12242
Vista West Continuation High09–12312
West High09–122,025
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$19,267+34% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
63%
25%
State
63.4%
Local (property tax)
24.9%
Federal
11.6%

State funding accounts for 63% 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
24
Schools
41,794
Students
75%
Free Lunch
$19K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate90.5%
Opportunity Score43/100
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
90.5% graduation rate — 4.0 points above the national average of 86.5%.
High per-student investment
Spends $19,267 per pupil — 34% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 24 schools including 1 charter school, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
75% 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 Kern High?
Kern High has 24 public schools, serving a total of 41,794 students.
What is the graduation rate for Kern High?
The graduation rate is 90.5%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Kern High spend per student?
Kern High spends $19,267 per pupil — 34% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Kern High?
75% of students in Kern High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Kern High?
Yes — 1 of the 24 schools in Kern High is a charter school.
What grade levels does Kern High serve?
Kern High serves grades 9 through 12, covering high school level.
What is the opportunity score for Kern High?
The median opportunity score across schools in Kern High 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.