For students in the McFarland community, the college journey begins in 8th grade. By the time they enter high school as 9th graders, each student will have completed a college application, and some will have already taken their first college courses through dual enrollment.
McFarland High School enrolls about 940 students each year. The high school counselors partner with Bakersfield College and local middle schools to work with all 8th graders to ensure that, by the time they get to 9th grade, every student has a completed college application on file. Their efforts also ensure that every incoming 9th grade student and their family has had the opportunity to learn about the dual enrollment pathways at McFarland, understand the benefits of each pathway, and explore how their college and career interest will be served by the pathways offered at their future high school.