Nearly 900 of California’s brightest young minds gathered at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks on April 12–13 for the 2025 California Science & Engineering Fair, the state’s premier science competition for students in grades 6 through 12. Among the 881 participants representing 351 schools, several Kern County students stood out for their innovative research and scientific curiosity.
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Four Kern County elementary schools have been recognized as 2025 California Distinguished Schools, earning one of the state’s highest honors for public schools. The distinction celebrates schools demonstrating outstanding academic achievement and significant progress in closing performance gaps among student groups.
California teachers: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Thousands of free, standards-aligned lessons are now available on CA Educators Together — built by educators, for educators. Whether you’re looking to supplement your curriculum or save time without sacrificing quality, this Kern-led platform is here to support you.
Families filled the McFarland High School campus with laughter, music, and pride on Saturday for the 3rd annual Migrant Family Day—a celebration that honors the learning, culture, and resilience of students in the Migrant Education Program and their families.
Young children engaged all their senses today in the inaugural Sensory Storytime event. Organized by the Community Connection for Child Care, in partnership with Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), Sensory Storytime is designed to engage kids from an early age through a series of fun, creative activities that let children express themselves and tap into their imaginations.
Career Technical Education (CTE) students at Valley Oaks Charter School (VOCS) presented their signature pieces Thursday evening at the school’s annual Senior Showcase. The event allowed the CTE Capstone students to express themselves through show-stopping creative projects.
Nearly $42,000 in scholarships were awarded to 48 high-achieving seniors during the 46th Annual African American Graduation Awards in Bakersfield — a powerful evening of celebration, pride, and academic excellence.
In a day packed with energy, creativity, and inspiration, young girls from across Kern County got hands-on with science and engineering — and saw just how bright their futures in STEM can be.
Middle and high schoolers from across Kern County stepped into the spotlight at the Youth Against Commercial Tobacco Summit, learning to lead the charge against vaping and smoking through advocacy, education, and grit.
More than 3,400 middle and high school students from across Kern County gathered today at the Career Technical Education Center (CTEC) in Bakersfield for the annual Kern County Career & STEM Expo. Hosted by the Kern High School District (KHSD), the Kern Economic Development Foundation (KEDF), and Chevron—alongside several community partners—the event offered a hands-on look into the world of STEM and local career pathways.
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.
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.”
