Best Schools in Lake Isabella, California
4 schools · 2 Elementary · 1 Middle · 1 High
Choosing a school in Lake Isabella?
Use this page to compare every school in Lake Isabella by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Kern Valley High
High · Kern High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Woodrow Wallace Middle
Middle · Kernville Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Kernville Elementary
Elementary · Kernville Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lake Isabella for 2026 are Kern Valley High (6.0/10), Woodrow Wallace Middle (5.3/10), and Kernville Elementary (5.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 4 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
4
in this city
Avg Score
4.9
out of 10
Median Home
$203,500
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
4
in this city
Avg Score
4.9
out of 10
Median Home
$203,500
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +0.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lake Isabella schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lake Isabella
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (4 of 4). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kern Valley High | 6.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Woodrow Wallace Middle | 5.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Kernville Elementary | 5.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Woodrow W. Wallace Elementary | 3.2 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 4.9/10
- Median household income
- $28,535
- Median home value
- $203,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 10%
- Owner-occupied homes
- 70%
0% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Of occupied housing units
How Lake Isabella compares
California rank
#559 of 597
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.4
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$29k
29% of California median
Schools in this city
4
About Schools in Lake Isabella, California
Lake Isabella, California is home to 4 schools, including 4 public schools. The city's schools span 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.
With an average rating of 4.9 out of 10, schools in Lake Isabella show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Lake Isabella is Kern Valley High with a composite score of 6.0/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Lake Isabella is served by 2 school districts: Kern High, Kernville Union Elementary. These districts collectively serve 43,895 students.
Lake Isabella's community shows 10% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $28,535. The poverty rate in the area is 29.5%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.1 |
| 2 | 405 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.2 |
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 274 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 484 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
Schools in Lake Isabella
Lake Isabella, California · 4 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$28,535
Median Home Value
$203,500
Median Rent
$1,129/mo
Population
5,622
College Educated
10%
Homeownership
70%
Poverty Rate
29.5%
Community Profile
Lake Isabella has a median household income of $28,535. It is a community where 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $203,500, with a median rent of $1,129/month. The area has a poverty rate of 29.5%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 2
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 1
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Lake Isabella, California
How many schools are in Lake Isabella, California?
Lake Isabella has 4 schools, including 4 public and 0 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lake Isabella, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lake Isabella is 4.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Lake Isabella, California?
The top-ranked school in Lake Isabella on MySchoolScout is Kern Valley High with a composite score of 6.0/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lake Isabella, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lake Isabella on MySchoolScout is Kernville Elementary with a composite score of 5.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Lake Isabella, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Lake Isabella on MySchoolScout is Woodrow Wallace Middle with a composite score of 5.3/10.
What is the best high school in Lake Isabella, California?
The top-ranked high school in Lake Isabella on MySchoolScout is Kern Valley High with a composite score of 6.0/10.
How many school districts serve Lake Isabella, California?
Lake Isabella is served by 2 school districts: Kern High, Kernville Union Elementary.
What is the education level in Lake Isabella, California?
According to Census data, 10% of adults in Lake Isabella have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lake Isabella, California?
The median household income in Lake Isabella is approximately $28,535 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lake Isabella, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lake Isabella is 19.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lake Isabella, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.