Emerson Middle

Emerson Middle is a public middle school serving grades 6 through 8 in Bakersfield, California. Located at 801 Fourth Street, the school enrolls 809 students with a student-teacher ratio of 21.9 to 1, supported by 37 full-time equivalent teachers. Academically, Emerson is working with significant challenges.

The school ranks in the 22nd percentile statewide and carries a MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10. Proficiency levels are notably low across core subjects, with 23% of students meeting or exceeding proficiency standards in ELA and reading, while just 6% demonstrate proficiency in math. These figures reflect areas where the school is focusing on student development and growth.

As a large city school, Emerson serves the Bakersfield community and faces the diverse needs typical of an urban middle school setting. For families considering enrollment, it's important to understand the current academic performance and to discuss directly with school leadership what support systems and improvement initiatives are in place to help students succeed.

While current test scores at Emerson Middle are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

The student-teacher ratio at Emerson Middle is 21.9:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.