Very Good
#2678 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 28% in state
Bessie E. Owens Elementary
Elementary School · Bakersfield City · Bakersfield, CA
A Bakersfield City elementary school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
815 Potomac Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93307
- Math 26% vs CA 38% (2024)
- Reading 33% vs CA 45% (2024)
- 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Bessie E. Owens Elementary score 30% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 13 points since 2018, to 30% in 2024, across a 16-year record (2009–2024).
Show all 12 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 34% (multi-year average, 2009-2024) · reading/ELA 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
Based on 32 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
93.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Bessie E. Owens Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 63Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 39Some Transit
- Bike 55Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,028/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Bakersfield), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$52,572
Median home value
$238,400
Median rent
$1,195/mo
College educated
7%
Homeownership
46.9%
Poverty rate
24.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 93307; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Lady of Guadalupe SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | PK–8 | 0.3 mi | 181 | Compare → |
| Fremont ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.3 | K–6 | 0.6 mi | 714 | Compare → |
| Mckinley ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | K–6 | 0.9 mi | 619 | Compare → |
| Agapeland Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 4.0private | PK–4 | 1.2 mi | 55 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Bakersfield City
- Schools in district
- 45
- Rank in district
- #5 of 44
- District spending per student
- $19,155NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 33.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Bessie E. Owens Elementary is listed in Bakersfield City; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Bessie E. Owens Elementary
Bessie E. Owens Elementary is a public elementary school in Bakersfield, CA, part of Bakersfield City, serving approximately 900 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #2,678 of 9,539 schools in CA.
State assessment records show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Bessie E. Owens Elementary
What grades does Bessie E. Owens Elementary serve?
Bessie E. Owens Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Bessie E. Owens Elementary?
Bessie E. Owens Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 900 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bessie E. Owens Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bessie E. Owens Elementary is 21.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Bessie E. Owens Elementary rank in CA?
Bessie E. Owens Elementary ranks #2,678 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Bessie E. Owens Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Bessie E. Owens Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Bessie E. Owens Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Bessie E. Owens Elementary has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).
Is Bessie E. Owens Elementary a charter school?
No, Bessie E. Owens Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Bessie E. Owens Elementary a Title I school?
No, Bessie E. Owens Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Bessie E. Owens Elementary?
93.2% of students at Bessie E. Owens Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 6th
- Enrollment
- 900
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 42
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Kern County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 41.3%
- Phone
- (661) 631-5420
- Area population (ZIP 93307)
- 88,233
- Area average commute
- 23.6 min
- Area median age
- 27.6
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 93307; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2024; directory SY 2023–24
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