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Email BoardSouth High
1101 Planz Road, Bakersfield, CA 93304-6150
Summary
South High is underperforming.
Reading and math results average to the 40th percentile among comparable California schools.
Only 49.8% of students met California's reading standard, and it is quickly trending down.
Math is weaker: 12.8% of students met California's math standard, and it is trending down slightly.
Proficiency stats
| Current Reading Proficiency | 49.8% |
| Current Math Proficiency | 12.8% |
| Reading State Rank | 836/1,596 (48th percentile) |
| Math State Rank | 1,078/1,596 (32nd percentile) |
School information
| Student / Teacher Ratio | 24:1 |
| Student enrollment (2024–25) | 2,107 |
| Low-Income Students | 2,042 (96.9%) |
| English Learners | 236 (11.2%) |
| Admissions | Open enrollment |
|---|---|
| Charter school | No |
| Magnet school | No |
Test score trends
Reading fell 3.8 points from last year and fell 10.8 points over the full period. Math fell 4.0 points from last year and fell 1.6 points over the full period.
Reading Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
White and Hispanic or Latino students have the strongest results.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
49.8% of tested students meet the reading standard in the grade shown. Overall, the school’s reading results rank No. 836 of 1,596 among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 23.5-point reading income gap is wider than the 14.7-point gap at a typical California 9–12 school. It widened over the period shown.
English Learners vs English Native
6.7% of English learners meet the reading standard, compared with 48.0% of English-only students. The gap narrowed as English-learner results fell and English-only results fell.
Math Proficiency Scores
2026 state test results
Race and Ethnicity
White students have the strongest math results at about 15% proficiency. The other reported groups range from about 3% to 13%.
Distribution of Scores by Grade
12.8% of tested students meet the math standard in the grade shown. Overall, the school’s math results rank No. 1,078 of 1,596 among California schools in the same grade-level category.
Low-Income vs Non-Low-Income
The 24.2-point math income gap is wider than the 14.2-point gap at a typical California 9–12 school. It widened over the period shown.
English Learners vs English Native
0.0% of English learners meet the math standard, compared with 8.9% of English-only students. The gap held steady as English-learner results fell and English-only results fell.
How we compare income gaps
“Typical” means the median gap across 876 schools for reading and 882 for math. The comparison uses 2026 California 9–12 schools with at least 20 tested students in each income group and a reported low-income student population. Each school counts once. Its gap is non-low-income proficiency minus low-income proficiency, including negative gaps. California state test data
Understanding this school
How does South High compare within the district?
South High is No. 9 in reading and No. 14 in math proficiency among the 19 9–12 schools in Kern High with 2026 results.
Explore the district’s schoolsHow does South High rank in California?
South High ranks No. 836 of 1,596 in reading and No. 1,078 of 1,596 in math for 2026. These proficiency rankings compare California schools in the same grade-level category.
How do low-income students at South High compare within the district?
Low-income students here rank No. 9 in reading and No. 12 in math among 19 9–12 district schools with reportable 2026 results for this group. 49.2% meet the reading standard and 12.2% meet the math standard.
See results by student groupHow does South High compare with other schools in Bakersfield?
South High is No. 9 in reading and No. 13 in math proficiency among the 16 9–12 schools in Bakersfield with 2026 results.
Explore schools in BakersfieldHow does South High compare with other schools in Kern County?
South High is No. 18 in reading and No. 25 in math proficiency among the 33 9–12 schools in Kern County with 2026 results.
Explore schools in Kern CountyWhich schools should I compare?
Schools serving 9–12 in the same district.
| School | Math | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| South HighThis school | 12.8% | 49.8% |
| Bakersfield High | 17.9% | 40.2% |
| Centennial High | 37.8% | 64.6% |
CAASPP