Making The Grade

Written by Bakersfield Magazine

Kern County is bursting at the seams with schools. With 48 public school districts, the largest high school district in California, and a number of private schools, local education is kind of a big deal.

But it’s not just a big deal because we have such a large population. It’s because education is a vital component of a thriving community. In order for our children to become successful adults, they need to receive a well-rounded education. Thankfully, in our area, parents have the choice of sending their children to the public school in their district or investing in a private school of their choosing.

So here is a look at the benefits of the primary and secondary education available in Kern County in both a public and private setting.

Kern County Public School System

The public school system of Kern County boasts a number of highly-achieving primary schools, including five elementary schools that won the 2010 California Distinguished School Award and one that received the award in 2011.

“We’re really pleased,” said Kern County Superintendent of Schools Christine Lizardi Frazier, when considering that half of the counties in the state had no recipients of the award.

Three of our schools won the Title 1 Academic Achievement Award from the California Department of Education which honors schools that overcome challenges and disadvantages to achieve academic success. One of those schools is also up for the most coveted and honorable award from the national level, the Blue Ribbon award. The Blue Ribbon has been awarded previously to seven of our local public schools.

The benefit of diversity in Kern County public schools is undeniable.

“We serve all kids,” said Frazier. “No matter what background they come from, we try to meet their needs.”

Frazier explained that kids who go to our public schools aren’t just getting a scholastic education, they are, “getting a social education,” and “they work with, collaborate, and understand people that are different than themselves.”

But, ultimately, what school a child attends comes down to the area they live in and the wishes of Mom and Dad.

“I’m a fan of parental choice,” said Frazier about choosing between public and private school educations. She added that a student can always return to a public school [after a private school] and believes that availability is the cornerstone of American education.

At the high school level, vocational education programs are unique to the public school system and allow for students to learn about specialized occupations before graduating. Frazier explained with pride that in the National History Day and We the People competitions, the schools from Kern County have repeatedly carved a place in the top five with many past winners at the national level. Academic Decathlon is also a strong point for Kern County in academic competition; Frazier is especially proud of the success in such a diverse competition.

For more than 117 years, Kern High School District (KHSD) has made excellence in public high school a tradition. With over 38,000 students, the KHSD is the biggest 9-12 district in the state. The district’s score on the state’s Academic Performance Index has improved every year for the last six years, and according to the KHSD website, KHSD Superintendent Don Carter expects to see more improvement this year, and credits having one of the finest district teaching staffs in the state.

When considering sending your child to public school, consider the high schools as they are the last and most influential stop before college.

“Kern High School District schools have been awarded the prestigious Distinguished School Award fifteen times since the program was instituted in 1986,” said KHSD Public Information Officer John Teves.

Diverse programming can be found at the public high school level as well and at no cost.

“The District’s programs and services include those for Special Education students. About ten percent of the KHSD’s nearly 40,000 students are enrolled in a Special Education program,” added Teves.

He also explained that, “the KHSD provides a variety of programs in which students can find success in high school including the traditional comprehensive campus, as well as alternative education programs such as continuation schools, home study, and online programs.”

Private School

While the public education in Kern County is diverse, residents also have the option to send their children to one of many specially-focused, quality private schools.

Private schools offer a unique education and many student benefits. With a little research, parents may find a local private school that suits their child. Whether it be for a religious reason, or wanting a more focused curriculum, often parents who choose private education have found the values and academic expectations they want their child to be educated with are the focus of a certain school.

Because many private schools are faith-based, that factor is often the reason parents will choose a private school for their child.

“Parents that choose our schools are looking for a comprehensive education that prepares them for a life that is also centered on values that come from a faith perspective,” explained Richard Sexton, Superintendent of the Catholic Schools Office of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Fresno, which encompasses our local Catholic grade schools. He added, “The educational quality is there; we have very high expectations of our students. Parents are willing to make the investment because they believe in the product.”

Bakersfield Christian High School President Dan Cole agreed.

“Parents are highly invested,” he said, adding that in his experience, “parental involvement increases the student performance.”

Cole believes that there is an organizational identity because, “private schools exist for a distinct mission.”

When deciding to go private, parents will often weigh the financial investment to the main benefits of private school education. Here are some of the pros of private school:

They focus on specific topics and often have smaller class sizes.

Private schools often have better books and supplies (funded by families/parents), including more access to up-to-date computers.

Curriculum can be more challenging.

Now, these positives do not necessarily apply to every private school in America but are evident in some of our local, private educational institutions.

“I like the smaller atmosphere and controlled setting. And the structure within the schools prepares the kids for their academic future,” said Joti Culbertson, owner of Kaur Boutique, who has sent her four children to local private Catholic schools.

“The parents get to know each other better so there is also a family atmosphere that we really appreciate,” explained Culbertson. She also added that at private schools, “it’s their way or the highway,” and, in her experience, the students are held accountable for their actions and face real consequences. “It’s preparation for being a conscientious adult,” she said.

Because they do not receive tax revenue, private school curriculum is not limited by the bureaucratic practices and regulations of the government. This independence, if used responsibly, can allow for specialized programs and advanced curriculum including the religious perspectives the school promotes. According to Greatschools.org, private schools, “can choose whatever curriculum and assessment model they wish. This freedom to design their own curriculum or avoid standardized tests can result in higher standards for students.”

“For many courses there is an obvious similarity and overlap in content with the public school system,” Cole explained. “The difference is in the perspective. A Christian school presents all subjects as deeply interconnected.”

Students of local private schools have many opportunities to join in on the interscholastic community in Kern County. All of the scholastic competitions that are offered by the public school system are available to private school students, as well. Private school students have excelled in representing Kern County at the state and national level in We the People, the California State Science Fair, History Field Day, and many more. And in 2008, the first private school from Bakersfield achieved the elite Blue Ribbon Award.

While public or private schooling is often a difficult debate for parents, locally, we have highly-achieving schools in both sectors that present unique and diverse learning environments for children in Kern County. Whether seeking a specialized faith-based school, or a cultural learning environment, local parents and students have a world of options. So while it is important which school you want your child to attend, it’s more important that you and your child have discussed the importance of education and you’re both working hard for that diploma.

Article appeared in our 28-2 Issue - June 2011