The data is sobering. Stats from No Child Left Behind show that two-thirds of eighth-graders entering the Kern High School district are not
proficient at grade level, meaning they are ill prepared for high school work.

"I was shocked that so many of our kids are not at grade level and that accounts for a lot of the problems the Kern High School district is experiencing with its test scores," said Ken Mettler, newly-elected trustee of the Kern High School district.

At some of the district's feeder schools, such as Sunset, Richland-Lerdo and Mountain View less than ten percent of its eighth graders are proficient at grade level. However, at some of the wealthier schools, such as Norris and Tevis Junior High, just a little more than half the students there are at grade level.

"Frankly, they need to do a better job," said Mettler. In light of what Mettler calls an "unacceptable" situation, he wants to hold a symposium with the district's feeder schools to see what measures can be taken to improve the situation.

One thing that schools need to do away with is social promotion, says Mettler. That's the practice of passing students on to the next grade level even if they are not prepared for it. Parents such as Vivian Alvary
agrees with Mettler on that point.

"It's not going to help them later on....they feel they're doing them a favor by passing them on to high school...but all they're doing is hurting them," said Alvary.