TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Nearly a quarter of Kern County's public schools were among the bottom in state Academic Performance Index rankings released late last week.

And only one campus -- out of 281 -- earned the highest possible ranking, a 10. That campus, however, is considered a "small school" whose data is less reliable since it has fewer than 100 students -- Pine Mountain Learning Center in El Tejon Unified School District.

Meanwhile, 61 Kern County schools received a 1 in the statewide rankings; 14 received a 9.

The California Department of Education data released Thursday ranks schools among campuses in the state and among "similar schools" -- which puts them in a category with 100 schools with similar characteristics.

It also released campus targets for API scores, calculated by using a combination of scores from standardized tests and other measures to determine progress. Schools are expected to meet and maintain the benchmark 800 score required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

There are 45 campuses here that have met that target, data show. Four school districts in Kern have had every campus meet benchmarks -- Fruitvale (five schools), McKittrick Elementary (one school), Norris (five schools), and Pond Union (one school).

In comparing local campuses with "similar schools," 11 campuses got the highest possible ranking; 14 schools got a 9 and 34 got a 1.

Overall, little has changed with the local data and rankings from last year, local school officials said. Some schools, however, made tremendous jumps in rankings, many of them Delano's elementary, middle and high schools.

State officials say the rankings are important because they allow parents, teachers, education advocates and others to know how their schools are performing. Now, the schools are looking toward this year's tests, and improving scores.

New API scores from tests are released in August. To see how your school ranked, go to www.cde.ca.gov.

Two McFarland High School seniors have received Region 8 AVID Scholarships.

Only two seniors from each of the four counties in AVID's Region 8 were chosen, a region that includes Kern, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, helps under-represented students prepare for college. The McFarland student winners are Alexandra Rodriguez and Andrea Castillo.

The two will receive letters from the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation informing them of their award, which ranges from $1,200 to $1,500.

"This is a huge honor for McFarland High students to receive both of the Region 8 scholarships," said McFarland High Principal Shirley Oesch.

Desert High School's class of 2011 -- with about 100 seniors -- has been offered more than $2 million in scholarships and grants, school officials there said.

Students on the Edwards Air Force Base campus have accumulated $2,135,368, a bulk of it via scholarships from appointments to U.S. service academies and ROTC. Some have been offered full-ride scholarships, merit-based scholarships and engineering scholarships.

Since the school started keeping records in 1995, seniors at Desert High have graduated with more than $19 million in scholarships and awards. Since 2001, students have had eight $1 million years. This year is the second time students have reached the $2 million mark, school officials said.

They credit students focusing on college early in their school career, supportive parents and dedicated faculty and staff.

Thirty-seven college-bound high school seniors were recognized Friday with scholarships for their outstanding academic achievement by Stewart and Lynda Resnick, owners of Paramount Agricultural Companies.

Since 1994, Paramount's College Bound scholarship program has recognized academic achievements of the children of employees. They've been awarded based on GPA and choice of college.

This year, the 37 seniors will get a total of $72,750. Kern County ones include: Alan Velez (Wasco Union), Alberto Rivera (Independence), Alejandro Jasso (Wasco Union), Ana Calderon (Wasco Union), Benjamin Persinger (Independence), Christobal Rocha (Wasco Union), Elden Ramos (Delano), Evelyn Garcia (Taft Union), Gloria Jasso (Wasco Union), Hayleigh Cutshall (Independence), Irbyn Borja (Delano), Janet Manuel (Delano), Jeremy Core (North), Kassandra Barba (Wasco Union), Laurie Calderon (Shafter), Leonardo Comparan (Wasco Union), Mariela Gamboa (Cesar E. Chavez), Sarah Baker (Bakersfield), Stephanie Saldivar (Wasco Union), Teresa Rafanan (Cesar E. Chavez), and Leticia Mandujano (Cesar E. Chavez).

Bright House Networks has awarded four local teachers $500 "future educator grants."

The winners will buy technology to help build and improve skills in math, history, phonics or reading. They are: Michelle Garner (Miller Elementary School), Jill Gyll (Bear Mountain Elementary), Pamela Powell (McAuliffe Elementary) and Michael Kennedy (Bethel Christian School).

The Bright Futures Educator Grant program, which launched this year and is expected to be ongoing, is aimed at assisting educators with new and innovative projects. Teachers must demonstrate their creative use of cable programming, websites, streaming video and broadband tools in developing learning opportunities for students.

More information: brighthouse.com/bakersfield/about/community.

Thorner Elementary sixth-grader Stephen Bush, Reagan Elementary fifth-grader Paityn Boyt, and Discovery Elementary fourth-grader Jessica Stump were named winners at the annual Bank of America Essay and Speech Contest May 5.

The three were the best at their grade levels in a finals field of 31 area top essayists and speakers. Each had three-to-five minutes to deliver their speech from an essay they wrote on "Traditional Libraries: Are They Still of Value in this Technological Age?"

About 400 Kern County elementary school students wrote classroom essays on the topic this year. Here are the top three, in order, for their grade category:

Fourth grade: Jessica Stump (Discovery Elementary), McKall Henrie (Thorner School), Mackenzee Balzer (Olive Drive Elementary)

Fifth grade: Paityn Boyt, (Reagan Elementary), Janelle Davis (Olive Drive Elementary), Will Alexander (Discovery Elementary)

Sixth grade: Stephen Bush, (Thorner Elementary), Ryan Crowley (Stockdale School), Julianna Morton (St. Francis Parish)

Kern County's 41st middle schools Mathematics Field Day will take place 9 to 11:30 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at Liberty High School, 925 Jewetta Ave.

About 800 students and 30 schools will participate in a problem-solving competition based on California math standards for grades six, seven, eight and Algebra 1.

Events, including leap frog and mad hatter, are open to the public. Other contests include power relay, circuit training and Sudoku.

The field day is coordinated by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, with sponsorship from California Math Council, Kern County Science Foundation and Liberty High.

Deadline to register for Cal State Bakersfield's sixth "Brains of Bakersfield" trivia contest and fundraiser is Saturday.

That contest will be at 7 p.m. May 21 in the Icardo Center. The event is based on the popular trivia game "Quiz Game," and features teams gathered around tables answering tough questions in a timed and fast-paced setting. It will benefit CSUB Roadrunner Soccer.

Entry fee is $300 per team, with a maximum of 10 people on a team. Winners receive a trophy. Dinner will be provided by Frugatti's Italian Eatery.

More information: 654-2428 or email stobin@csub.edu. Checks are payable to CSUB Men's Soccer, 9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311.

-- Jorge Barrientos, staff writer

For more education news, go to The Californian's updated education blog, The Grade, at www.bakersfield.com/thegrade or follow The Grade's Twitter at twitter.com/TBCTheGrade.