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Average

#5998 of 9,539 schools in CA

William Penn Elementary

Elementary School · Bakersfield City

2201 San Emidio St., Bakersfield, CA 93304

Enrollment

255

Student-Teacher

18.2:1

Score

5.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

California schools

#5,998 of 9,539

In Bakersfield

#82 of 145

public schools

In district

#18 of 44

Bakersfield City

School environment

8.0 / 10

Excellent

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William Penn Elementary

5.7/10

Elementary School in Bakersfield · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St. Francis

Nearby

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Bakersfield High

5.1/10

0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About William Penn Elementary

William Penn Elementary is a public elementary school in Bakersfield, CA, part of Bakersfield City. William Penn Elementary serves approximately 255 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio. William Penn Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #5,998 of 9,539 schools in CA.

Structured state assessment records for William Penn Elementary show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.7 · Average
  • District avg 5.5
  • CA avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

42% of students at William Penn Elementary were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.1Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data12
Annual Change-1.7 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics5.2Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency19.2% (2024 CAASPP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency23.3% (2024 CAASPP)
Math vs. State Avg-26.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-19.5 pts
Overall Proficiency21% (2024 CAASPP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)19% (model expectation from 2024 CAASPP)
vs. Expected+2.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile34th
Resources & Environment8.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$19,155
Chronic Absenteeism41.6%

William Penn Elementary — Students at William Penn Elementary score 21% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 19%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

98.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores CA CAASPP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 32.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
39.4% (2024 CAASPP)
ELA Proficiency 35.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2024)
School
State
45.3% (2024 CAASPP)

Based on 30 test records from CA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
52%
ELA
32%
2010
Math
52%
ELA
37%
2011
Math
62%
ELA
42%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
27%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
27%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
32%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
32%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
15%
ELA
28%
2024
Math
18.5%
ELA
22.8%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.1/10.

How William Penn Elementary Compares

See how William Penn Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.7/10
37th percentile in CA
Academic
5.2/10
Average
Growth
5.1/10
Average
Environment
8.0/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
98%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
14 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
41.6%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

2201 San Emidio St., Bakersfield, CA 93304

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering William Penn Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Downtown Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 1.1 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Munsey Elementary (rated 6.8/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Roosevelt Elementary (rated 6.4/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Bakersfield, see our Bakersfield schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.6 mi
School Distance Rating
St. Francis Bakersfield 0.3 mi
Bakersfield High Bakersfield 0.4 mi 5.1
Franklin Elementary Bakersfield 0.6 mi 5.7
Roosevelt Elementary Bakersfield 0.6 mi 6.4
Kern County Special Education Bakersfield 0.9 mi 4.0
Kern County Community Bakersfield 0.9 mi 5.7
Kern County Juvenile Court Bakersfield 0.9 mi 5.8
Rafer Johnson Bakersfield 0.8 mi 6.4
AGAPELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Bakersfield 0.9 mi 4.0
Downtown Elementary Bakersfield 1.1 mi 8.2
Emerson Middle Bakersfield 1.1 mi 5.0
Caroline Harris Elementary Bakersfield 1.1 mi 4.2
McKinley Elementary Bakersfield 1.2 mi 5.2
Vista Continuation High Bakersfield 1.2 mi 4.3
Evergreen Elementary Bakersfield 1.5 mi 4.3
Munsey Elementary Bakersfield 1.5 mi 6.8
Sequoia Jr. High Bakersfield 1.5 mi 4.8
STOCKDALE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Bakersfield 1.5 mi 6.0
Valley Oaks Charter Bakersfield 1.9 mi 7.4
Oppimista School Bakersfield 1.6 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 93304 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$51,627

Median Home Value

$228,800

Median Rent

$1,141/mo

Population

51,457

College Educated

11.1%

Homeownership

43.5%

Avg Commute

23 min

Poverty Rate

27.4%

Median Age

29.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Aragon Avenue Elementary Los Angeles, CA 5.7
Bandini Street Elementary San Pedro, CA 5.7
Ben Painter Elementary San Jose, CA 5.7
Biggs Elementary Biggs, CA 5.7
COASTLINE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Alameda, CA 5.7
Calvert Charter for Enriched Studies Woodland Hills, CA 5.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about William Penn Elementary

What grades does William Penn Elementary serve?

William Penn Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend William Penn Elementary?

William Penn Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 255 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at William Penn Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at William Penn Elementary is 18.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does William Penn Elementary rank in CA?

William Penn Elementary ranks #5,998 of 9,539 schools in CA.

What is William Penn Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

William Penn Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 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 William Penn Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, William Penn Elementary has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024) and 36% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2024).

Is William Penn Elementary a charter school?

No, William Penn Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is William Penn Elementary a Title I school?

No, William Penn Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for William Penn Elementary?

98.4% of students at William Penn 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
60 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
42 Some Transit
Bike Score
57 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
255
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Free/Reduced Lunch
98.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Kern County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
41.6%

District

Bakersfield City
District Enrollment
28,761
Schools in District
45
Per-Pupil Spending
$19,155
District Rank
#18 of 44

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