New rankings show Bakersfield's top-rated and most-improved public high schools

New rankings show Bakersfield's top-rated and most-improved public high schoolsPhoto: Unsplash
Hoodline
Published on August 20, 2019

How do the public high 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.

West High School's overall rating improved the most among similar schools in Bakersfield, rising from a C+ to a B-, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 1200 New Stine Road, enrolls 2,058 students. West High School serves a diverse population: 66% of students identify as Hispanic, 13% identify as white and 13% identify as black. Niche gave the school mixed grades: C+ on an A-D scale for academics, B for administration and C+ for clubs and activities.

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, 14% of West High School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 48% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 21% in math and 48% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 82% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 16% more than the city average.

While some public high schools in Bakersfield are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:

  • Stockdale High School, with an overall rating of A.
  • Liberty High School, with an A- rating overall.
  • Centennial High School, rated A- overall.

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