McFarland Junior High

Summary:

McFarland Junior High is a public middle school serving grades 7-8 in the McFarland Unified School District, with 542 students located in Mc Farland, CA. Unfortunately, the school has consistently been ranked in the bottom quartile of California middle schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger over the past several years.

Some key areas of concern for McFarland Junior High include significantly higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to the state average, as well as very low student performance on standardized tests. In 2023-2024, only 26.39% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, and just 17.24% were proficient or better in math, well below state averages. The school also struggles to support the academic achievement of various student subgroups, such as students with disabilities, English Learners, and Hispanic students, who all perform significantly below their peers statewide. These challenges are likely exacerbated by the school's high percentage of students from low-income families, with 88.56% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Comparing McFarland Junior High to nearby schools, such as Freedom Middle, Norris Middle, and La Vina Middle, highlights the potential for improvement, as these schools generally outperform McFarland Junior High on academic measures. However, the school's declining performance over time, with its statewide ranking dropping from 1,753 out of 2,379 California middle schools in 2012-2013 to 2,147 out of 2,777 in 2023-2024, suggests the need for significant interventions to address the systemic issues and provide a more equitable educational experience for all students.


Detail:

Public 7-8

 405 Mast Ave.
       Mc Farland, CA  93250-1125


(661) 792-3340

District: McFarland Unified

SchoolDigger Rank:
2147th of 2,777 California Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $149,521 Help


Students who attend McFarland Junior High usually attend:

High:    McFarland High School Early College

Feeder schools for McFarland Junior High:

Elementary:    Browning Road STEAM Academy
    Kern Avenue Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  20.4 Help
Number of students:  521

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
98.5%
Asian:
0.8%
Two or more races:
0.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  89.3% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details McFarland Junior High ranks worse than 77.3% of middle schools in California. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.42. (See more...)
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: Hispanic (98.5%), Asian (0.8%), two or more races (0.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 89.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at McFarland Junior High is 20.4. (See more...)
Help
Compare McFarland Junior High employs 25.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at McFarland Junior High is $149,521.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

McFarland Junior High:

SchoolDigger ranks McFarland Junior High 2147th of 2777 California public middle schools. (See McFarland Junior High in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Migrant students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:


McFarland Unified:

SchoolDigger ranks McFarland Unified 1254th of 1568 California school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for McFarland Junior High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at McFarland Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 9.29 1687th 1769 4.6%
2005 12.70 1617th 1777 9.0%
2006 20.69 1467th 1804 18.7%
2007 19.58 1652nd 1999 17.4%
2008 16.42 1763rd 2005 12.1%
2009 22.46 1677th 2063 18.7%
2010 26.12 1693rd 2179 22.3%
2011 23.33 1819th 2236 18.6%
2012 31.32 1599th 2259 29.2%
2013 28.77 1753rd 2379 26.3%
2015 21.17 1977th 2477 20.2%
2016 17.13 2134th 2497 14.5%
2017 18.57 2087th 2508 16.8%
2018 21.25 1956th 2480 21.1%
2019 21.04 2139th 2715 21.2%
2021 13.70 830th 894 7.2%
2022 23.27 2074th 2740 24.3%
2023 20.51 2243rd 2802 20.0%
2024 22.42 2147th 2777 22.7%
See the entire list of California Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at McFarland Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.41 1135th 1364 16.8%
2019 34.71 884th 1442 38.7%
2021 31.67 300th 363 17.4%
2022 27.36 1361st 1540 11.6%
2023 34.32 1017th 1529 33.5%
2024 32.62 1096th 1477 25.8%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at McFarland Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 17.04 1529th 1538 0.6%
2024 21.54 1405th 1550 9.4%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at McFarland Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.82 1702nd 2230 23.7%
2019 26.26 1826th 2369 22.9%
2021 20.90 634th 721 12.1%
2022 31.06 1655th 2458 32.7%
2023 26.29 1914th 2549 24.9%
2024 29.44 1804th 2575 29.9%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Migrant students at McFarland Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 40.03 59th 94 37.2%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Migrant Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at McFarland Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 38.67 196th 336 41.7%
2023 31.58 229th 321 28.7%
2024 31.09 274th 394 30.5%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at McFarland Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.75 1744th 2262 22.9%
2019 23.33 1848th 2380 22.4%
2021 12.45 705th 738 4.5%
2022 24.74 1846th 2509 26.4%
2023 21.75 2020th 2547 20.7%
2024 19.28 2116th 2546 16.9%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at McFarland Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.87 1289th 1369 5.8%
2019 32.07 969th 1491 35.0%
2021 31.05 252nd 354 28.8%
2022 39.31 783rd 1531 48.9%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at McFarland Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 19.09 1895th 2273 16.6%
2019 18.34 2048th 2407 14.9%
2021 16.37 695th 763 8.9%
2022 22.12 1974th 2527 21.9%
2023 20.01 2101st 2558 17.9%
2024 25.32 1856th 2547 27.1%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at McFarland Junior High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools CA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.66 1516th 2072 26.8%
2019 27.99 1610th 2213 27.2%
2022 33.08 1521st 2359 35.5%
2023 26.86 1768th 2391 26.1%
2024 30.44 1628th 2383 31.7%
See the entire list of Best California Middle Schools for Hispanic 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.

McFarland Junior High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: California Department of Education

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Enrollment information for McFarland Junior High

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 72 0 5 398 0 n/a n/a 0 475
1989 69 0 5 412 0 n/a n/a 0 486
1990 60 0 4 408 0 n/a n/a 0 472
1991 56 1 7 422 0 n/a n/a 0 486
1992 65 2 4 434 0 n/a n/a 0 505
1993 56 1 7 454 0 n/a n/a 0 518
1994 60 3 4 445 0 n/a n/a 0 512
1995 60 2 4 507 0 n/a n/a 0 573
1996 60 2 4 507 0 n/a n/a 0 573
1997 43 0 2 351 0 n/a n/a 0 396
1998 29 0 2 370 0 n/a n/a 0 401
1999 36 2 2 545 0 n/a n/a 0 585
2000 36 1 1 527 0 n/a n/a 0 565
2001 23 2 2 559 2 n/a n/a 0 588
2002 22 4 1 602 0 n/a n/a 0 629
2003 22 4 1 602 0 n/a n/a 0 629
2004 19 4 0 602 1 n/a n/a 39 665
2005 23 3 3 687 6 n/a n/a 0 722
2006 24 5 9 720 6 n/a n/a 0 764
2007 28 5 6 716 4 n/a n/a 0 759
2008 15 4 3 689 n/a n/a n/a 0 711
2009 13 4 3 695 1 0 2 0 718
2010 11 2 2 689 2 0 0 0 706
2011 6 4 2 676 1 0 0 0 689
2012 8 3 2 663 0 0 1 0 677
2013 10 2 2 700 1 0 0 0 715
2014 5 0 5 712 0 1 0 0 723
2015 3 1 6 751 0 1 0 0 762
2016 4 1 5 786 0 0 0 0 796
2017 7 4 4 781 0 0 0 0 796
2018 6 6 8 802 0 0 0 0 822
2019 6 3 8 784 0 0 0 0 801
2020 2 1 7 497 0 0 0 0 507
2021 3 0 3 530 0 0 0 0 536
2022 8 3 3 533 0 0 1 0 548
2023 3 1 4 528 0 0 6 0 542
2024 0 0 4 513 0 0 4 0 521

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 McFarland Junior High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 475 23.0 20.6 n/a
1989 486 23.0 21.1 n/a
1990 472 21.7 21.7 n/a
1991 486 23.9 20.3 n/a
1992 505 24.3 20.7 87.7
1993 518 23.0 22.5 76.8
1994 512 25.0 20.5 87.9
1995 573 25.0 22.9 89.5
1996 573 25.0 22.9 89.5
1997 396 17.0 23.3 73.2
1998 401 17.0 23.6 87
1999 585 27.0 21.7 94.9
2000 565 30.0 18.8 90.4
2001 588 30.2 19.5 85.9
2002 629 29.6 21.3 80.4
2003 629 29.6 21.3 80.4
2004 665 30.3 21.9 88.3
2005 722 34.6 20.9 82
2006 764 36.6 20.9 92.9
2007 759 37.5 20.2 93.5
2008 711 38.2 18.6 97
2009 718 40.0 17.1 99.6
2010 706 36.0 19.6 88.8
2011 689 n/a n/a 99.6
2012 677 29.5 22.9 99.6
2013 715 32.7 21.8 96.2
2014 723 33.5 21.5 85.9
2015 762 32.0 23.8 90.6
2016 796 32.0 24.8 91.2
2017 796 33.1 24.0 87.7
2018 822 33.8 24.2 90.8
2019 801 35.5 22.5 91.1
2020 507 n/a n/a 93.7
2021 536 22.0 24.3 87.3
2022 548 23.0 23.8 88.5
2023 542 24.4 22.1 88.6
2024 521 25.5 20.4 89.3

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 McFarland Junior High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 475 23.0 20.6 n/a
1989 486 23.0 21.1 n/a
1990 472 21.7 21.7 n/a
1991 486 23.9 20.3 n/a
1992 505 24.3 20.7 87.7
1993 518 23.0 22.5 76.8
1994 512 25.0 20.5 87.9
1995 573 25.0 22.9 89.5
1996 573 25.0 22.9 89.5
1997 396 17.0 23.3 73.2
1998 401 17.0 23.6 87
1999 585 27.0 21.7 94.9
2000 565 30.0 18.8 90.4
2001 588 30.2 19.5 85.9
2002 629 29.6 21.3 80.4
2003 629 29.6 21.3 80.4
2004 665 30.3 21.9 88.3
2005 722 34.6 20.9 82
2006 764 36.6 20.9 92.9
2007 759 37.5 20.2 93.5
2008 711 38.2 18.6 97
2009 718 40.0 17.1 99.6
2010 706 36.0 19.6 88.8
2011 689 n/a n/a 99.6
2012 677 29.5 22.9 99.6
2013 715 32.7 21.8 96.2
2014 723 33.5 21.5 85.9
2015 762 32.0 23.8 90.6
2016 796 32.0 24.8 91.2
2017 796 33.1 24.0 87.7
2018 822 33.8 24.2 90.8
2019 801 35.5 22.5 91.1
2020 507 n/a n/a 93.7
2021 536 22.0 24.3 87.3
2022 548 23.0 23.8 88.5
2023 542 24.4 22.1 88.6
2024 521 25.5 20.4 89.3

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 McFarland Junior High

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2018 $149,521

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

Impact of COVID-19 on McFarland Junior 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 2139th of 2715 Middle schoolsRanks 2243rd of 2802 Middle schools
 1.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (McFarland Junior High)32.528.1
 4.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (McFarland Unified)32.528.1
 4.4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)51.447.4
 3.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (McFarland Junior High)2310.3
 12.8%
   7th Grade Mathematics (McFarland Unified)2310.3
 12.8%
   7th Grade Mathematics (California)37.933.2
 4.7%
8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (McFarland Junior High)30.324.3
 6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (McFarland Unified)30.324.3
 6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts/Literacy (California)49.445.7
 3.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (McFarland Junior High)25.318.8
 6.4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (McFarland Unified)25.318.8
 6.4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (California)36.629.9
 6.7%
8th Grade Science (McFarland Junior High)5.311.8
 6.4%
   8th Grade Science (McFarland Unified)5.311.8
 6.4%
   8th Grade Science (California)30.828.8
 2.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students801542
 32.3%
African American31
 66.7%
American Indian00
Asian84
 50%
Hispanic784528
 32.7%
Pacific Islander00
White63
 50%
Two or More Races06
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients91.1%88.6%
 2.6%


Schools Near McFarland Junior High









Frequently Asked Questions about McFarland Junior High

Students who attend McFarland Junior High usually go on to attend McFarland High School Early College

McFarland Junior High ranks in the bottom 22.7% of California middle schools.

Students at McFarland Junior High are 98% Hispanic.

In the 2023-24 school year, 521 students attended McFarland Junior High.


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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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