Youth Empowering Success (YES!) marked its monumental 10th annual conference recently, bringing together foster youth, educators, and community leaders across Kern County for a day of growth, empowerment, and connection. Held at Bakersfield College, this year’s event focused on the journey of YES! throughout the years.
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With the snip of ceremonial scissors and a powerful vision for the future, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), in partnership with Chevron, officially launched The STEAM Yard today — a one-of-a-kind hands-on learning center designed to ignite curiosity and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, artists, and innovators.
Even before the CREATE U.S. Open Robotics Competition in Council Bluffs, Iowa, last week, a robotics team from Downtown School had already made history. Not only are the Downtown Dragons the first team from the Bakersfield City School District (BCSD) to be invited to the national competition, but they’re also breaking barriers as an all-girls team. Their journey has taken them to new heights, placing them in the top 20 in their division and top 115 in the skills division.
Nearly 30 migrant students from across Kern County went head-to-head Saturday in the region’s first-ever speech and debate competition explicitly geared toward them. After several months of planning, preparing, and practice, middle and high school students from McFarland, Arvin, and Fairfax school districts gave their prepared and extemporaneous speeches, and participated in debate in both English and Spanish categories.
After decades of dreaming, Greenfield Union School District has unveiled its very first gymnasium — and it’s more than just a place to play. “The Nest,” a stunning, eagle-inspired facility, officially opened Friday with a community-wide celebration, marking a historic moment for the school and district. With room for 1,900 people, championship-ready courts, and a design that soars, this state-of-the-art gym is set to change the game for Greenfield students — rain or shine.
The 2025 California Academic Decathlon State Competition was held in a combination of formats this year: two online events and one in-person event. Across all competitions, local high school students from Stockdale, Arvin, and Frontier High Schools brought home an impressive collection of medals.
Four Kern County elementary schools have been named 2025 California Distinguished Schools, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced this week. The annual program recognizes top-performing public schools across the state for excellence in closing achievement gaps and demonstrating exceptional student performance.
School bus drivers showed off their skills this weekend in the annual School Bus Road-eo, hosted by the California Association of School Transportation Officials (CASTO) Chapter 12. Drivers from Kern and surrounding counties gathered early Saturday morning at Minter Field Airport District in Shafter to participate in a written test and an obstacle course, testing their ability to negotiate difficult situations they might encounter while transporting children to and from school.
The Kern County Fairgrounds were bustling with excitement this week for the 41st annual Farm Day in the City. Hosted by the Kern County Farm Bureau, the event continues a long tradition of educating the next generation about the origins of their food and the significance of agriculture. About 5,000 students from all over the county came to the Kern County Fairgrounds for the two-day event, eager to explore the hands-on exhibits and demonstrations highlighting the importance of farming and ranching in Kern County.
Kern County middle and junior high school students gave rousing speeches in the 70th annual Henry Greve Speech Contest Thursday evening. The competing students had between four-and-a-half and seven minutes to persuade the judges with their speech on the topic: “The Influences of Media on Today’s Youth.”
For years, the KCSOS AmeriCorps Mentoring Program has provided invaluable support to Kern County students through dedicated mentors who go beyond academics to address the whole child. From tackling chronic absenteeism to building meaningful connections, mentors like Samantha Lopez and Candice Magaña are making a real impact—both in students’ lives and their own. Discover how AmeriCorps is shaping futures and building stronger communities.
Five years after the COVID-19 shutdown, Kern County schools look very different. What started as a temporary closure became a turning point, reshaping education through digital learning, mental health support, and new student interventions. How did schools adapt, and what changes are here to stay?
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced this week that 83 schools have been designated as a Purple Star School in 2025, bringing the total number of California schools recognized with this honor to 179 since the program’s inception in 2023. This includes four schools in Kern County:
Nearly 1,400 middle and high school students found their spark Thursday at the 25th Annual Leaders in Life Youth Conference, created by teens for teens. Known as one of California’s premier youth leadership events, Leaders in Life celebrated a legacy of over two decades of empowering young people from Kern County.
After months of research, experiments, and hard work, about 600 4th through 12th grade students showcased their projects at Kern County’s 37th annual Regional Science Fair. The event, which took place at the Dignity Health Convention Center Tuesday, was a chance for students who had risen through the ranks of their schools and districts to compete at the county level.
A heartwarming new program made its debut at Mountain View Middle School in the Lamont Elementary School District (LESD), offering students a unique opportunity to experience the benefits of animal companionship. The Paws-to-Share initiative officially launched Friday, March 7, bringing therapy animals to campus to provide emotional support and stress relief.
Every year in early March, classrooms, libraries, and communities across the nation come alive with the magic of books as they celebrate Read Across America. Established in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA), Read Across America is a nationwide movement designed to inspire a love for reading among children. The weeklong event coincides with the birthday of the beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss on March 2 and serves as a cornerstone of National Reading Month in March.
Schools across Kern County are receiving Calming Corner kits—designed to help students manage stress and reset—thanks to a countywide initiative supporting emotional well-being in the classroom.
What if cities were designed for play? Kendrick Elementary students tackled this challenge in a hands-on LEGO Build the Change workshop, using creativity to make urban spaces more fun. Their imaginative designs—like interactive fountains and talking trash cans—will be featured in an animated film and global curriculum.
Students from schools across Kern County competed today in the 42nd annual Kern County History Day. Individuals or groups with the highest scores in each category are now eligible to […]
