Location: Mcfarland, CA
Are you a student or parent at Mcfarland High School? Want to understand how to get the most out of high school?
We've written the best guide to Mcfarland High available. Here we'll cover:
- Breakdowns of student ethnicity, gender, and family income
- How safe Mcfarland High is to attend
- SAT/ACT/AP scores earned by Mcfarland High students
- Which AP/IB classes you can take at Mcfarland High
- Every sports team you can join at Mcfarland High
Let's get started!
Basic Information
Mcfarland High School is a public school, supporting grades 9 to 12 . It's located in Mcfarland, CA in Kern County.
Based on its location, Mcfarland High is classified as a school in a town fringe area, or more than 10 miles from an urbanized area. Here's the location on a map:
Contact Information
Mailing address:
Mcfarland High School259 W. Sherwood Ave. Mcfarland, CA 93250-1519
Phone number: 6617923126
Mcfarland High School homepage: http://www.mcfarlandusd.com/mhs/
Principal: Brian BellEmail the principal: [email protected]
Student Demographics
Student Enrollment
The total enrollment at Mcfarland High School is 799 students, making it a somewhat large high school, in the top half of all California high schools by size.
As a mid-sized high school, Mcfarland High strikes the balance between size and comfort. There will be enough students to provide a diversity of experiences, like clubs and sports, for you to join. But it'll be small enough that you'll likely get to know most people in your class.
Growth in Student Body Size
Is Mcfarland High School growing or shrinking? This will help you see trends in where the school is headed.
From our calculations, the enrollment at Mcfarland High has increased over the past few years. We calculate this by comparing enrollment in grades 9 to 12.
| Male Students | Female Students | All Students | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th grade | 121 | 109 | 230 |
| 10th grade | 95 | 101 | 196 |
| 11th grade | 94 | 104 | 198 |
| 12th grade | 79 | 93 | 172 |
As you can see in the table above, the freshman class is 58 students larger than the senior class. This suggests that the school is growing in size and taking on more students.
There are a few reasons this could be happening. The city of Mcfarland could be growing in population, thus sending more students into Mcfarland High. Alternatively, Mcfarland High could be relaxing its student policies and taking in more students.
Gender Split
Are there more boys or girls at Mcfarland High School?
From our statistics, Mcfarland High has a 49:51 split between male and female students in the high school grades.
Mcfarland High has a balanced male-female ratio that's largely representative of the general population in Kern County. Since the student body is roughly half and half, it should feel like there are equal numbers of boys and girls in your classes.
This usually means that Mcfarland High doesn't strongly select for either males or females, unlike other schools that have a large majority of males or females.
Ethnicity Breakdown
What's the racial diversity at Mcfarland High School? Does one ethnicity make up most of the student body, or is it fairly balanced?
From our statistics, Mcfarland High has a very homogenous student body, with over 90% of students identifying as one ethnicity. This is especially extreme - fewer than 10% of California schools show as little racial diversity as Mcfarland High does. When attending class, you'll be surrounded by students of the same ethnicity.
The majority of students at Mcfarland High are Hispanic. In California, Hispanic students make up the majority of all students at 51.5%, and are thus the most common ethnicity. Predominantly Hispanic schools are the most common type of homogenous school, and Mcfarland High fits within this category.
| Percentage | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.0% | 0 |
| Asian | 1.1% | 9 |
| Hispanic | 97.6% | 780 |
| Black | 0.5% | 4 |
| White | 0.7% | 6 |
| Hawaiian Native/Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 0 |
| Two or more races | 0.0% | 0 |
High schools usually reflect the population in the surrounding area, so the ethnicities of students likely resembles those of Mcfarland. If you'd like to see how other nearby schools look in diversity, just google "[name of school] prepscholar" to find our guide to that specific school.
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
School Safety
How safe is Mcfarland High School to attend? Can you expect a lot of conflict as a student here?
To study this, we look at disciplinary data for two types of incidents at Mcfarland High: referrals to law enforcement (when incidents are reported to police), and arrests.
These are the most serious disciplinary actions available to school administration and are more severe than suspensions or expulsions. Suspensions are often discretionary and can be given just for being disruptive in class. In contrast, law enforcement referrals and arrests often indicate incidents that put the safety of other Mcfarland High students at risk.
In the school year of 2011-2012, there were 0 referrals to law enforcement, and 0 school-related arrests. This is out of a total enrollment of 774 students.
To put this into perspective, most California schools (59% of them) reported 0 law enforcement referrals and arrests.
Compare this school with other high schools in the same school district, using the following table:
Mcfarland Unified School District Safety
| School Name | Total Referred | Total Arrests | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcfarland Independent | 0 | 0 | 57 |
| San Joaquin High (continuation) | 0 | 0 | 63 |
Academic Performance
Now we get to a major aspect of assessing a high school: academic performance. How good of an education will you get at Mcfarland High School? Will you be competitive for college? Will you have access to advanced classes?
We've compiled everything we could find about Mcfarland High's academics here.
Graduation Rate
To start off, an important benchmark of academic achievement is graduation rate. For all students who start high school at Mcfarland High, the state of California wants as many students to graduate as possible, since a high school diploma can mean a big difference in getting a job.
At Mcfarland High, 87% (of 233) Mcfarland High students graduated within four years of starting high school.
Here's how this stacks up to other schools. The California state government has defined 90% as a target rate. The state average is around 80-85%.
Mcfarland High is in the 61st percentile of all public high schools in California for graduation rate. This is above average. Generally, a graduation rate of above 90% is considered good and well above average, and below 75% is well below average.
Note: This data comes from a few years back, but the trends are likely to stay the same, since schools don't get significantly better or worse within a short period of time.
Standardized Testing
Next, we'll look at another major piece of high school academics: standardized testing performance for Mcfarland High School students. These are tests that are administered to large populations of students for comparison purposes.
Let’s start by taking a look at the data for nationally administered standardized tests.
SAT Scores
As you probably know, the SAT is a critical test used for college admissions. The higher the score you get, the better your academic performance compared to students nationwide, and the easier it is to get into top colleges.
We did in-depth research and found the average Mcfarland High School SAT scores.
The average composite SAT score is a 1230 out of 2400, compared to a national average of 1500. Each year, roughly 153 at Mcfarland High take the SAT.
This is a very low SAT score, putting Mcfarland High in the bottom 25% of all California schools, and well below the national average. Only 13% of SAT takers here score above the national average. Unfortunately, this suggests that most students attending Mcfarland High are not high-achieving, and may find it difficult to be admitted to a good college.
Note, however, that an average is just an average - you still have the potential to rise above expectations. If you work hard and earn an SAT score well above Mcfarland High's average, you'll have a great shot at entering a good college.
Here's a breakdown of SAT scores by section:
Average SAT Scores (2013-2014)
| Source | Critical Reading | Math | Writing | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mcfarland High | 407 | 419 | 407 | 1230 |
| California | 498 | 510 | 496 | 1504 |
| United States | 495 | 511 | 484 | 1490 |
Note that the SAT has since changed to a 1600 scale, but the trends above for your high school are likely to continue. Just use this guide to convert between the old 2400 scale and the new 1600 scale.
To learn more about SAT percentile rankings, read our guide on what SAT percentiles really mean.
How good is 1230 as an SAT score? Find out with our complete 1230 SAT score guide, including which colleges you can get into with a 1230 or any other SAT score!
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
ACT Scores
In California, the ACT is less popular than the SAT. Fewer students take the ACT, and typically these students are more motivated and academically prepared for college. Therefore, it's harder to compare Mcfarland High School ACT scores with the rest of the country.
At Mcfarland High, the average ACT composite score was 18, compared to the nationwide average of 20. Each year, roughly 22 out of 796 total students take the ACT.
This is below average performance, putting Mcfarland High in the bottom 50% of California high schools. Most students who take the ACT are below the national average.
Since the ACT tests what you learn in school, this is a pretty strong indicator that you'll get an average or below average education at Mcfarland High.
Here are the average English, Math, Reading, and Science scores for Mcfarland High compared to California and the US:
Average ACT Scores
| Source | English | Math | Reading | Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mcfarland High | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
| California | 21.8 | 22.8 | 22.3 | 21.7 |
| United States | 20.3 | 20.9 | 21.3 | 20.8 |
Scores provided are for the 2013-14 school year.
Find out more about percentile rankings and the ACT in this article.
Every individual is different. What counts as a good ACT score for you? Learn more with this article!
Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses that are an additional academic challenge may give Mcfarland High School students credit for college.
Here's what we're looking for: high average AP test scores as well as high AP passing rates.
AP Scores
Every year, roughly 166 students in grades 9-12 at Mcfarland High take 358 AP exams. It's important to understand how students score on the AP - earning a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP test means passing the test and often earning college credit.
The average score of all AP exams taken at Mcfarland High is 1.6 out of 5.
Compared to schools across California, this score puts Mcfarland High at below average performance. On AP tests, the passing score is considered a 3, and unfortunately the number of students who don't pass is greater than the number of do. This performance places Mcfarland High School in the bottom 25 % of schools for AP tests.
This isn't all bad news for you, though. It's still good that Mcfarland High offers AP classes so you have the opportunity to take courses at a college level. Your school might be new to offering AP courses, and typically teachers get better at preparing students for AP tests over time. Finally, as you'll see below, there are still students who earn a passing grade of 3 or above - and with hard work, you can be one of them.
We have specific data on how many students got a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (out of 5) on AP exams in the chart below:
AP Test-Taking Statistics
Another way to gauge the quality of a school's AP program is to see how many AP students actually took AP exams at Mcfarland High School. If a lot of students enroll in AP courses but don't actually take the AP tests, it can be a sign that students don't feel adequately prepared to take the test, or the school isn't encouraging students to take the exams enough.
At Mcfarland High, there is a total enrollment of 132 in AP courses (a student taking more than one AP course counts more than once).
Of AP-taking students, 122 took AP tests for ALL AP courses. 4 students took AP tests for SOME AP Courses, and 9 took AP courses but took NO tests.
This is good test participation. Most AP students at Mcfarland High School take the AP test for every one of their AP courses, outnumbering the students who take some or no AP exams. This is a good sign that students feel confident enough to take tests for all AP courses available to them, which reflects well on the teachers and course material. Mcfarland High can continue to improve by reducing the number of students who take AP exams for some or none of their courses, but it's in a good state.
Note: The most recent data we have available is from 2012, so the statistics may have changed since then. Most likely, however, the trends are likely to continue - above average schools are likely to stay above average, and below average schools are likely to stay below average.
AP Passing Rates
For AP students at Mcfarland High School who take the exam, it's important to know how they do. Here we have specific data on how many students got a passing grade (a 3 or above) on all, some, or none of the AP exams that they took.
Of all AP test takers, 8 students passed every AP test they took, which is a fantastic job. 8 students passed some but not all AP exams, and 110 students didn't pass ANY AP exam they took.
Unfortunately, this is poor performance compared to other high schools. At Mcfarland High School, the majority of AP students fail ALL of the AP exams they take. This usually means that they're not adequately prepared for the national AP exam at the end of the year.
This isn't necessarily the school's fault. AP courses may be too advanced for the typical student at Mcfarland High, and it's still a good thing that AP courses are offered at all. Furthermore, it's possible that a majority of the AP exams taken by students at Mcfarland High are on the more difficult side.
However, if you're a student at Mcfarland High, this is a warning that you'll have to go above and beyond the typical student to pass your AP exams. This may entail self-studying, figuring out who the better AP teachers are and trying to get into their classes, and working hard.
To find out the passing rates for specific AP courses at Mcfarland High School, you'll have to talk to your guidance counselor (who can then help you find that information). For instance, one AP Calculus teacher may have an above-90% passing rate, while another might only have a 50% passing rate. If you can, you'll want to take the class with the teacher who has more students get a 3 or above on the AP exam.
Find out more about the average score for each AP subject here.
State Tests
As of 2014, eleventh graders attending Mcfarland High School must take standardized tests in English/Language Arts and Math as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). These align with the new Common Core standards and are called the "Smarter Balanced" tests.
If Mcfarland High students meet or exceed state standards, they're academically prepared to graduate high school and go to college. Specifically, we care about the percentage of students who meet or exceed state standards. The larger this number, the higher the preparation of students at Mcfarland High.
English/Language Arts
At Mcfarland High School, 41% of students meet or exceed state standards in English/Language Arts.
This is considered below average and puts Mcfarland High in the bottom 50% of all high schools in California for English/Language Arts. The majority of Mcfarland High students do not pass state standards, and only a small percentage pass.
This specific percentage isn't much cause for concern - because the Common Core is new, the pass rate at Mcfarland High will likely rise over time. But it still reflects Mcfarland High's below average standing among California high schools.
English/Language Arts Test Results (2015)
Read more about what’s measured in each ELA area score here.
Math
The other major test taken for state assessments is Math. Across the state, Math performance is generally lower than English/Language Arts performance, so it's natural for this number to be lower.
At Mcfarland High School, 16% of students meet or exceed state standards in Math. This is considered well below average and puts Mcfarland High in the bottom 25% of all high schools in California. The vast majority of Mcfarland High students don't meet state standards, and only a small percentage pass.
Math Test Results (2015)
Read more about what’s measured in each Math area score, go here.
Academic Offerings
In addition to the standard high school curriculum, many high schools like Mcfarland High School offer advanced coursework as part of the Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
Brief Intro to AP/IB
AP and IB courses are designed at the difficulty level of college introductory classes. There are several important benefits to taking advanced coursework at Mcfarland High. First, taking more advanced classes shows colleges that you're committed to challenging yourself academically, and that you're one of the more advanced students at Mcfarland High. Taking AP/IB classes also raises your weighted GPA and makes you a stronger college applicant.
Furthermore, many colleges will accept your Mcfarland High AP/IB coursework as college coursework. In some cases, you'll be able to skip introductory-level classes and move to more advanced classes. In other cases, you'll be able to avoid having to take required courses and might even be able to graduate earlier than the standard 4 years. Often this will require you to pass the AP test, getting a score of 3 or above.
So what advanced courses does Mcfarland High School offer?
AP Courses
Mcfarland High School offers AP courses in 12 subjects.
This is a reasonable number of AP subjects, putting Mcfarland High School in the top 50% of California schools that offer AP courses. You'll likely have access to some of the most popular math and humanities AP subjects, as well as a few others.
The total number of AP subjects is 38, so Mcfarland High is missing a large number of subjects, including some popular ones. If there are any AP courses you want to take that aren't being offered at Mcfarland High, ask your counselor for ideas on how to cover the gap.
Of course, keep in mind that quality matters even more than quantity - even if Mcfarland High doesn't offer every AP course under the sun, the classes might still be taught very well. You can see student performance in the AP score analysis section above.
The following AP courses were offered at Mcfarland High during 2015-2016:
| Course Title |
|---|
| Biology |
| Calculus AB |
| English Language and Composition |
| Spanish Language and Culture |
| Spanish Literature and Culture |
| Statistics |
| Studio Art: 2-D Design |
| Studio Art: 3-D Design |
| Studio Art: Drawing |
| United States Government and Politics |
| United States History |
| World History |
Sports Teams
Finally, we'll cover which sports teams are available at Mcfarland High School. Sports are an integral part of many students' high school experiences. The more sports that are available, and the more levels supported (Frosh, JV, Varsity), the more likely you'll be able to participate in a sport at Mcfarland High.
By the way, the Mcfarland High mascot is the Cougars. Go Cougars!
Mcfarland High School fields 17 teams for girls' sports. This is a high number that puts Mcfarland High in the top 25% of California schools that offer girls' sports. If you're a female, you'll have lots of options of sports and levels to try out for.
And now for the boys: Mcfarland High School fields 19 teams for boys' sports. This puts Mcfarland High in the top 50% of California schools that offer boys' sports. You won't get every sport and level possible here, but you'll have a decent number of options. If you participate in a sport that Mcfarland High doesn't offer, consider looking for a local non-school team that you can join.
| Boys Teams | Girls Teams |
|---|---|
| Basketball
Var
JV
Fr
|
Basketball
Var
JV
|
| Tennis
Var
JV
|
Tennis
Var
JV
|
| Football
Var
JV
Fr
|
|
| Wrestling
Var
|
|
| Volleyball
Var
|
Volleyball
Var
JV
Fr
|
| Baseball
Var
JV
Fr
|
|
| Softball
Var
JV
Fr
|
|
| Crosscountry
Var
JV
Fr
|
Crosscountry
Var
JV
Fr
|
| Soccer
Var
JV
|
Soccer
Var
JV
|
What’s Next?
Want to get more useful information about high school classes and preparing for colleges? Our blog has a ton of articles and advice on topics ranging from coursework and GPA to letters of recommendation, extracurriculars, and much more!
Ready to bulk up your schedule and maximize your college preparedness? Read all about the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.
Not quite in high school yet, but eager to get started? We've also got information for younger students interested in advanced learning opportunities, both in and out of school.
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Sources
The data on this page is drawn from a variety of sources, including (but not limited to):
- National Center for Educational Statistics CCD 2013-2014
- "Free or reduced price lunch: A proxy for poverty?", NCES Blog
- CRDC 2011-2012 school year data
- California Department of Education SAT, ACT, and AP Test Results
- California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System Results
- AP Course Ledger
- IBO.org