Downtown Elementary tops most-improved Bakersfield public elementary-middle schools

Downtown Elementary tops most-improved Bakersfield public elementary-middle schoolsPhoto: Unsplash
Hoodline
Published on August 27, 2019

How do the public elementary-middle schools in Bakersfield stack up?

We analyzed newly released data from Niche.com — including comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews — to find out how schools in your area are performing and which have made the biggest leaps over the past year.

Downtown Elementary School's overall rating improved the most among similar schools in Bakersfield, rising from a B+ to an A-, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 2021 M St., enrolls 308 students. Downtown Elementary School serves a diverse population: 44% of students identify as Hispanic and 41% identify as white. Niche graded the school an A- for academics (on an A-D scale).

The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.

Academically, 62% of Downtown Elementary School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 77% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 29% in math and 37% in reading.

It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Greenfield Community saw its overall rating jump from a C- to a C. The school is located at 725 Capitola Drive and is much smaller, currently serving 19 students, of whom 63% identify as Hispanic and 32% identify as black.

Niche graded Greenfield Community a C- for academics on an A-D scale. The school's latest math proficiency was at 10%, and reading proficiency was 10%. Its upswing is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 84% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 18% more than the city average.

While some public elementary-middle schools in Bakersfield are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including General Shafter Elementary School, with an overall rating of B.

Want more of the latest intel on Bakersfield schools? Hoodline also analyzed the latest Niche ratings for the city's public high schools.


This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.