Innovative and Impactful Schools Announced
The Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) has announced Kern County’s 2020 and 2021 Innovative and Impactful Schools (I2S), recognizing more than two dozen individual campuses for their strategies that have proven successful in helping close the achievement gap and improving school climate. Specifically, the 2020 and 2021 recognitions honored schools for student performance in English Language Arts and Math and for reducing suspensions and chronic absence rates. Schools share their promising practices for the benefit of all students countywide
“In the spirit of continuous improvement and collaboration, schools honored with the I2S designation agree to share their knowledge, experiences, and expertise with others to help enhance the education of all students throughout Kern County,” said Dr. Robin Shive, KCSOS Director of District Collaboration & Innovation. “The idea is not only to identify and celebrate the schools that have created a systemic approach to improving student outcomes but to also share those best practices with other school leaders so we can all learn and grow together.”
The I2S initiative works on a 3-year cycle (2020-2022) based on three pillars of success. The first year in a cycle is related to a specific aspect of academics (2020), the second year focuses on student engagement (2021), and the third year is centered on college and career readiness (2022). New focus areas and performance indicators within the pillars of success are determined every three years.
The 2020 and 2021 focus areas, indicators, and honorees are as follows.
Cycle 1
Academics (2020)
Performance or growth in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics
Schools with the highest average 3-year test scores in ELA and Math and schools with the most growth over three years in ELA and Math were invited to apply.
American Elementary School, Freedom Middle School, and Rosedale Middle School
Rosedale Union Elementary School District
Cesar Chavez Elementary School, Downtown Elementary School, and Franklin Elementary School
Bakersfield City School District
Ronald Reagan Elementary School, Stockdale Elementary School, and Warren Junior High School
Panama Buena Vista Union School District
W.A. Kendrick Elementary School
Greenfield Union School District
Fruitvale Junior High School
Fruitvale School District
Norris Middle School and Veteran’s Elementary School
Norris Union School District
Burroughs High School
Sierra Sands Union School District
Robert Kennedy High School, Delano High School, and Cesar E. Chavez High School
Delano Joint Union High School District
Frazier Mt. High School
Frazier Mt. School District
Liberty High School and Stockdale High School
Kern High School District
Midway Elementary School
Midway School Elementary School District
McKittrick Elementary School
McKittrick Elementary School District
Cycle 2
Student Engagement (2021)
Suspension and Chronic Absenteeism Rates
Schools with three-year declining percentages of chronic absenteeism and/or suspension rates were invited to apply.
A.M. Thomas Middle School
Lost Hills Union School District
Liberty High School
Kern High School District
Buena Vista High School
Taft Union School District
Sierra Vista Elementary School
Arvin Union School District
Morningside Elementary School
Delano Elementary School District
Bessie Owens Middle School
Bakersfield City School District
Wasco High School
Wasco High School District
Morningside Elementary School and Princeton Street Elementary School
Delano Elementary School District