Panama-Buena Vista Union School District
School District · Bakersfield, California
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
25
20 elem, 5 mid
Enrollment
19,369
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.8:1
Avg Rating
5.9
out of 10
Schools
25
20 elem, 5 mid
Enrollment
19,369
Student-Teacher Ratio
23.8:1
How this district compares
California rank
#479 of 713
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.4
below California avg
Per-pupil spending
$15,644
$2,003 vs California median
District size
19,369 students
Much larger than California median
The short answer
Panama-Buena Vista Union ranks #479 of 713 California districts by overall school rating. Panama-Buena Vista Union's schools with real test data average 5.9/10 across 25 schools. Its top-rated schools are Highgate Elementary (8.9/10), Stonecreek Junior High (8.5/10), and Stockdale Elementary (7.8/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.5/10 despite 80% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Panama-Buena Vista Union schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +10.0 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Panama-Buena Vista Union schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Panama-Buena Vista Union
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (25 of 25). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Highgate Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Stonecreek Junior High | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Stockdale Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Christa Mcauliffe Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Earl Warren Junior High | 7.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Douglas J. Miller Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | Dolores S. Whitley Tk-8 | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Sing Lum Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Buena Vista Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Fred L. Thompson Junior High | 6.2 / 10 |
See all 25 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Panama-Buena Vista Union
Panama-Buena Vista Union is a Bakersfield, California school district serving 25 schools.The district educates 19,369 students with a student-teacher ratio of 23.8:1. District-level spending was $15,644 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 5.9/10, Panama-Buena Vista Union demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Highgate Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.9/10.
In standardized testing, Panama-Buena Vista Union students show an average math proficiency of 36.8% and ELA proficiency of 47.9%.
The district includes 20 elementary schools, 5 middle schools.
District Map
Schools in Panama-Buena Vista Union, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Panama-Buena Vista Union with test data.
Schools in Panama-Buena Vista Union
25 schoolsElementary Schools20
District Details
- State
- California
- City
- Bakersfield
- Total Enrollment
- 19,369
- Teachers (FTE)
- 814
- District spending per student
- $15,644NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 18.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Panama-Buena Vista Union?
Panama-Buena Vista Union has 25 schools in total — 20 elementary, 5 middle. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Panama-Buena Vista Union?
The average composite rating for Panama-Buena Vista Union is 5.9/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Panama-Buena Vista Union?
Panama-Buena Vista Union's district-level spending was $15,644 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Panama-Buena Vista Union?
The average student-teacher ratio in Panama-Buena Vista Union is 23.8:1.
What is the top-rated school in Panama-Buena Vista Union?
Highgate Elementary is the highest-rated school in Panama-Buena Vista Union with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What are the test scores in Panama-Buena Vista Union?
Across schools in Panama-Buena Vista Union with test data, the average math proficiency is 36.8% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 47.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Panama-Buena Vista Union compare to other districts in California?
Panama-Buena Vista Union has an average school rating of 5.9/10 across 25 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in California by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.9/10
- Math Proficiency
- 36.8%
- ELA Proficiency
- 47.9%
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 rateOther School Districts in CA
Compare Panama-Buena Vista Union with neighboring districts in the state.
- Los Angeles Unified (785)
- San Diego Unified (175)
- San Francisco Unified (113)
- Fresno Unified (101)
- Long Beach Unified (82)
- Oakland Unified (82)
- San Bernardino City Unified (76)
- Sacramento City Unified (73)
- San Juan Unified (68)
- Elk Grove Unified (67)
- Garden Grove Unified (66)
- Capistrano Unified (59)
- Stockton Unified (54)
- West Contra Costa Unified (54)
- Corona-Norco Unified (53)
- Mt. Diablo Unified (52)
- Santa Ana Unified (52)
- Clovis Unified (50)
- Lodi Unified (49)
- Riverside Unified (49)
- Bakersfield City (45)
- Irvine Unified (45)
- Fontana Unified (44)
- Fremont Unified (44)
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.
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