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Kern Valley High

Summary:

Kern Valley High School is a public high school located in Lake Isabella, California, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 466 students. The school is part of the Kern High School District, which is ranked 895 out of 1,568 school districts in California and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Kern Valley High School performs below the state and district averages, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts (51.79%) and Mathematics (7.27%) for 11th-grade students lower than the Kern High District (49.72% and 16.73%) and the state of California (55.73% and 27.9%). The school's graduation rate has fluctuated in recent years, ranging from 76.6% in 2022-2023 to 90.3% in 2020-2021, while its dropout rate has varied from 7.8% to 14%. Additionally, the school has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 20.9% in 2017-2018 to 53.5% in 2021-2022.

However, Kern Valley High School has a relative strength in its performance for students with special needs, ranking 461 out of 1,534 California high schools in this category. The school serves a predominantly Hispanic (55.8%) and White (37.6%) student population, with a high percentage (71.67%) of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Addressing the root causes of the school's challenges, particularly chronic absenteeism, should be a key focus for the school and district to improve student outcomes.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 3340 Erskine Creek Rd.
       Lake Isabella, CA  93240-9609

(760) 379-2611

District: Kern High

SchoolDigger Rank:
1349th of 2,323 California High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,634 Help


Feeder schools for Kern Valley High:

Elementary:    Kernville Elementary
    South Fork Elementary
    Woodrow W. Wallace Elementary
Middle:    Woodrow Wallace Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  16.6 Help
Number of students:  484

Racial breakdown:

White:
69.8%
Hispanic:
20.5%
Two or more races:
6.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  78.1% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Kern Valley High ranks worse than 58.1% of high schools in California. It also ranks 14th among 24 ranked high schools in the Kern High School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 32.62. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Kern Valley High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (69.8%), Hispanic (20.5%), two or more races (6.4%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 78.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kern Valley High is 16.6, which is the 7th best among 24 high schools in the Kern High School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Kern Valley High employs 29.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kern Valley High is $16,634, which is the highest among 24 high schools in the Kern High School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Kern Valley High:

SchoolDigger ranks Kern Valley High 1349th of 2323 California public high schools. (See Kern Valley High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Kern High:

SchoolDigger ranks Kern High 895th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Kern Valley High?

Rank History for Kern Valley High

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Rank History for all students at Kern Valley High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 46.63 564th 1653 65.9%
2005 61.10 392nd 1901 79.4%
2006 62.47 416th 1968 78.9%
2007 59.73 464th 2063 77.5%
2008 55.80 554th 2117 73.8%
2009 50.63 728th 2238 67.5%
2010 50.88 736th 2281 67.7%
2011 50.47 788th 2367 66.7%
2012 40.09 1049th 2354 55.4%
2013 45.27 920th 2426 62.1%
2015 52.78 920th 1994 53.9%
2016 45.04 1105th 2039 45.8%
2017 41.76 1214th 2021 39.9%
2018 32.80 1338th 2017 33.7%
2019 34.48 1347th 2133 36.8%
2022 38.10 1230th 2123 42.1%
2023 21.73 1650th 2348 29.7%
2024 32.62 1349th 2323 41.9%
See the entire list of California High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Kern Valley High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 16.29 1510th 1547 2.4%
2024 52.09 461st 1534 69.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Kern Valley High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.63 1242nd 1862 33.3%
2019 38.32 1200th 1937 38.0%
2022 36.57 1210th 1943 37.7%
2023 19.39 1676th 2247 25.4%
2024 38.27 1193rd 2235 46.6%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Kern Valley High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.29 1258th 1760 28.5%
2019 28.23 1308th 1833 28.6%
2022 40.39 1040th 1858 44.0%
2023 15.42 1712th 2118 19.2%
2024 32.68 1286th 2098 38.7%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Kern Valley High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 30.86 683rd 1052 35.1%
2019 40.32 549th 1117 50.9%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at Kern Valley High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.86 1255th 1834 31.6%
2019 34.47 1188th 1880 36.8%
2022 31.98 1251st 1916 34.7%
2023 28.34 1377th 2207 37.6%
2024 30.66 1302nd 2172 40.1%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Kern Valley High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 65.84 570th 1742 67.3%
2019 65.45 527th 1814 70.9%
2022 42.76 1025th 1861 44.9%
2023 18.78 1628th 2142 24.0%
2024 29.85 1375th 2125 35.3%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Kern Valley High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.86 1042nd 1173 11.2%
2019 13.25 1059th 1222 13.3%
2022 19.77 988th 1204 17.9%
2023 8.30 1270th 1434 11.4%
2024 17.62 1104th 1406 21.5%
See the entire list of Best California High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: California Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Kern Valley High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Kern Valley High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 534 2 5 23 20 n/a n/a 0 584
1989 550 1 6 19 14 n/a n/a 0 590
1990 512 0 7 20 25 n/a n/a 0 564
1991 488 0 6 18 36 n/a n/a 0 548
1992 477 2 7 18 46 n/a n/a 0 550
1993 498 1 6 27 35 n/a n/a 0 567
1994 556 2 6 27 25 n/a n/a 0 616
1995 542 2 5 41 37 n/a n/a 0 627
1996 542 2 5 41 37 n/a n/a 0 627
1997 534 3 6 34 32 n/a n/a 0 609
1998 571 4 7 36 25 n/a n/a 0 643
1999 597 3 4 38 31 n/a n/a 0 673
2000 588 5 9 39 29 n/a n/a 0 670
2001 575 3 14 41 18 n/a n/a 0 651
2002 546 3 19 45 17 n/a n/a 0 630
2003 546 3 19 45 17 n/a n/a 0 630
2004 572 4 15 50 14 n/a n/a 0 655
2005 588 4 17 56 17 n/a n/a 0 682
2006 625 8 15 56 14 n/a n/a 0 718
2007 600 5 17 49 13 n/a n/a 9 693
2008 551 3 23 58 16 n/a n/a 0 651
2009 522 4 9 62 26 1 13 0 637
2010 473 5 8 69 28 1 18 0 602
2011 421 8 7 68 37 0 21 0 562
2012 404 10 3 64 30 1 19 0 531
2013 369 7 4 51 18 1 26 0 476
2014 366 8 2 51 20 3 17 0 467
2015 375 5 3 54 14 1 17 0 469
2016 358 7 4 57 17 0 20 0 463
2017 338 4 4 61 11 0 15 0 433
2018 344 5 6 61 9 1 8 0 434
2019 357 4 4 80 12 0 23 0 480
2020 345 4 3 85 10 0 24 0 471
2021 317 2 5 89 12 0 26 0 451
2022 316 2 2 106 12 0 34 0 472
2023 320 6 5 99 10 0 26 0 466
2024 338 5 2 99 9 0 31 0 484

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Kern Valley High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 584 29.0 20.1 n/a
1989 590 30.1 19.6 n/a
1990 564 27.8 20.2 n/a
1991 548 28.5 19.2 n/a
1992 550 29.0 18.9 22.9
1993 567 24.2 23.4 27.2
1994 616 26.4 23.3 32.3
1995 627 25.7 24.4 33.8
1996 627 25.7 24.4 33.8
1997 609 27.0 22.6 22
1998 643 27.1 23.7 40
1999 673 29.2 23.0 39.4
2000 670 23.8 28.2 50
2001 651 33.2 19.6 41.9
2002 630 32.6 19.3 39.8
2003 630 32.6 19.3 39.8
2004 655 33.0 19.8 38.2
2005 682 33.2 20.5 41.8
2006 718 32.9 21.8 46.2
2007 693 34.8 19.9 45.3
2008 651 38.0 17.1 47.6
2009 637 30.6 17.4 52.4
2010 602 28.0 21.5 57.5
2011 562 n/a n/a 58.4
2012 531 25.5 20.8 n/a
2013 476 23.6 20.0 55.7
2014 467 21.0 22.2 60.2
2015 469 19.0 24.6 59.9
2016 463 21.0 22.0 65.4
2017 433 27.5 15.7 64
2018 434 27.5 15.7 66.1
2019 480 26.5 18.0 72.7
2020 471 n/a n/a 75.6
2021 451 26.9 16.7 70.5
2022 472 27.9 16.8 70.1
2023 466 27.3 17.0 71.7
2024 484 29.1 16.6 78.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Kern Valley High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 584 29.0 20.1 n/a
1989 590 30.1 19.6 n/a
1990 564 27.8 20.2 n/a
1991 548 28.5 19.2 n/a
1992 550 29.0 18.9 22.9
1993 567 24.2 23.4 27.2
1994 616 26.4 23.3 32.3
1995 627 25.7 24.4 33.8
1996 627 25.7 24.4 33.8
1997 609 27.0 22.6 22
1998 643 27.1 23.7 40
1999 673 29.2 23.0 39.4
2000 670 23.8 28.2 50
2001 651 33.2 19.6 41.9
2002 630 32.6 19.3 39.8
2003 630 32.6 19.3 39.8
2004 655 33.0 19.8 38.2
2005 682 33.2 20.5 41.8
2006 718 32.9 21.8 46.2
2007 693 34.8 19.9 45.3
2008 651 38.0 17.1 47.6
2009 637 30.6 17.4 52.4
2010 602 28.0 21.5 57.5
2011 562 n/a n/a 58.4
2012 531 25.5 20.8 n/a
2013 476 23.6 20.0 55.7
2014 467 21.0 22.2 60.2
2015 469 19.0 24.6 59.9
2016 463 21.0 22.0 65.4
2017 433 27.5 15.7 64
2018 434 27.5 15.7 66.1
2019 480 26.5 18.0 72.7
2020 471 n/a n/a 75.6
2021 451 26.9 16.7 70.5
2022 472 27.9 16.8 70.1
2023 466 27.3 17.0 71.7
2024 484 29.1 16.6 78.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Kern Valley High

Help

YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $16,634

Data source: California Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Kern Valley High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 1347th of 2133 High schoolsRanks 1650th of 2348 High schools
 7.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Kern Valley High)42.526.5
 15.9%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (Kern High)51.151
 0.2%
   11th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)57.355.4
 1.9%
11th Grade Mathematics (Kern Valley High)20.29.3
 10.9%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Kern High)2117
 4%
   11th Grade Mathematics (California)32.227.4
 4.9%
12th Grade Science (Kern Valley High)13.910.7
 3.2%
   12th Grade Science (Kern High)13.118.8
 5.7%
   12th Grade Science (California)25.626.9
 1.3%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students480466
 2.9%
African American46
 50%
American Indian1210
 16.7%
Asian45
 25%
Hispanic8099
 23.8%
Pacific Islander00
White357320
 10.4%
Two or More Races2326
 13%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients72.7%71.7%
 1%

Schools Near Kern Valley High








Frequently Asked Questions about Kern Valley High

Kern Valley High ranks 1349th of 2323 California high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Kern Valley High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Kernville Elementary
Elementary : South Fork Elementary
Elementary : Woodrow W. Wallace Elementary
Middle : Woodrow Wallace Middle

In the 2023-24 school year, 484 students attended Kern Valley High.

Students at Kern Valley High are 70% White, 20% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% American Indian, 1% African American.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the California Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.




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