Department Home

As part of the District Plan to Improve Student Achievement, the Academic Pentathlon has been implemented to challenge students and recognize academic excellence among students of all achievement levels. Established as an academic club on campus, the team preparation period is approximately three (3) months with the final team selected about a month before the competition. The special blend of education and competition offered by the Academic Pentathlon enables Pentathletes to:

• Improve research, study, and test-taking skills
• Enjoy camaraderie and support from teammates and coach
• Enhance communication and interpersonal skills
• Grow in appreciation for academic endeavor
• Have fun while learning
• Develop self-discipline and endurance
• Gain a greater level of self-esteem
• Take pride in academic achievements
• Develop critical thinking skills

Goals of the Academic Pentathlon

• To maximize the individual learning potential of students through the motivation of competitive challenge
• To provide schools with a vehicle to focus on and reward the academic efforts and achievements of their students
• To stimulate the interaction of schools, communities, and industry in support of the academic endeavor

Benefits of the Academic Pentathlon

• Provides recognition for academic achievement
• Motivates participation of all students
• Emphasizes cooperation to maximize learning
• Improves school/community interaction
• Valuable long-term benefits

The Bakersfield City Ballet presents a Ethereal Visions Youth Dance Production (YDP) each year for all District 6th Graders attending elementary schools to watch at The Historic Fox Theater in downtown Bakersfield.  This abbreviated dance performance showcased a contemporary repertoire piece and an innovative new work.  Ethereal Visions YDP included:

• A “peak behind the curtain”; on arrival attendees saw the dancers warming up onstage and preparing for the show
• A brief explanation of contemporary dance
• A note from the choreographer(s) of how they were inspired to create their piece
• An introduction to appropriate theatre etiquette
• A spectacular display of virtuosity and compelling story-telling through movement
• A quick meet and greet with company members as attendees leave the theatre

The BCSD Art Gallery provides an outstanding opportunity to display the exceptional talents of the students in the Bakersfield City School District. Since 1996, the gallery in the Education Center has encouraged and reinforced quality art instruction in the classroom.

The BCSD Art Gallery encourages students to share their work and visual arts experiences with peers and adults. Employees of the Education Center benefit from the vivid and colorful expressions that adorn the halls. Visitors are immediately drawn to the student works which stir memories of how vitally important the arts are to our community and the education of our children.

The art in the gallery is changed three times each year. Sixty-six pieces are displayed each time. Following the exhibit, the artworks are returned to the students at their schools. The artworks mounted in copper, gold, and silver picture frames are part of the growing permanent collection displayed throughout the building.

In addition to the BCSD Art Gallery, PreK-8 student artists also participate in the Bakersfield Museum of Art and the Kern County Fair Youth Art Exhibits.

Please visit the links below to see our latest Art Gallery Submissions!

• Fall Art Gallery 2024
• Spring Art Gallery 2024

The Bakersfield Symphony Young People's Concerts invite students from the Bakersfield City School district to attend an concert over a two-day period in the winter. Students are treated to a variety of selections including Tchaikovsky's Serenade For Strings, Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, and music from the movie Harry Potter composed by John Williams.

More information to come!

The Bakersfield City School District's Elementary Festival Concert provides extended learning for the finest young musicians at the District's elementary schools.  Students participate in Honor Orchestra, Festival Chorus, and the Third Grade Song Flute Ensemble.  The culminating event each year is the Elementary Festival Concert, held at Mechanics Bank Convention Center each May.

In 1963, the Henry Greve Speech Contest was established in memory of Henry Greve, a Kern County speech therapist who was killed in an auto accident.  A member of Bakersfield Toastmasters Club #270, Henry Greve is remembered for organizing the Junior Toastmasters Clubs in Kern County. The Junior Toastmasters gained worldwide recognition when Reader’s Digest publicized their work.

More information to come!

The Bakersfield City School District held its annual Choir Sharing Festival on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at the Fox Theatre. This event brings together over 500 choir students from throughout the district to share the music they have been working on since the beginning of the school year. Each ensemble performs one piece, then receives a clinic from a high school, college, and/or university level choral music educator. 

This year, the students were thrilled to receive a clinics from Mrs. Julie Dana, former Director of Choral Activities at Fresno City College and current President of the Western Division of the American Choral Directors Association. Mrs. Dana engaged the students in various vocal and kinesthetic exercises that allowed them to better their musicianship and vocal technique. The day proved to be an excellent learning day for all, and the students walked away with concepts they could apply to their learning for the remainder of the school year. Above all, they also discovered a newfound enthusiasm for singing and how it changes lives for the better. 

The Visual and Performing Arts Department would like to thank the Fox Theatre, California Keyboards, BCSD's communications team, and BCSD's warehouse team for all working together to create this annual experience for our choir students.

The Bakersfield City School District's Junior High/Middle School Honor Concert brings together the finest young musicians at the District's junior high and middle schools.  Students work under the direction of guest conductors and perform each April at Mechanics Band Convention Center.

The 2024 edition of our honor concert was one of the most exciting productions to date! Along with our traditional slate of band, choir, and orchestra offerings, this year's event featured works of art from throughout BCSD art classes as well as a pre-concert performance from the Modern Band program at Curran Middle School! Please enjoy the photos at the gallery below!

The Bakersfield City School District Mariachi and Folklorico Festival brings together District students and the community to celebrate culturally-relevant music and dance with our community!  Students perform for nationally-recognized clinicians and receive instructional feedback on their learning. 

The BCSD Mariachi Program was originally established by the District in April of 1995. Folklorico programs have been established in recent years at several schools, primarily through a partnership with the After School Education & Safety (ASES) program. Mariachi and Folklorico students have performed for a wide variety of community organizations and events over the years.

In 2016, the District restructured the Mariachi Program to expand student access. The program at the time was just offered at one school site but was expanded to six sites by 2017, and then eight sites by 2018. The current Mariachi Program is implemented through a partnership between the Visual and Performing Arts Department and the District’s After School Program. Students in the program have been featured in local television news segments, radio broadcasts, and several newspaper articles.

The Mariachi and Folklorico curriculum provides the opportunity for students to learn the music, dance, and culture of the traditional Mariachi and Folklorico. Dance and music become the catalyst through which students learn individual and collaborative skills, and recognize themselves as members of a community and global society.

The Bakersfield City School District celebrates “Music in Our Schools Week” with music assemblies and a fun video at district elementary schools. The assemblies are led by BCSD’s traveling elementary instrumental music teachers. They perform a musical program that exposes students to a variety of musical styles, instruments, and curriculum correlations. One goal of the assemblies is to generate students' interest in enrolling in the district's award-winning music program. This year, the BCSD traveling elementary instrumental teachers toured all 33 elementary schools to get students ready to sign up for music!

Several instruments were featured during the performance, including band and orchestra instruments such as flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, percussion, violin, cello, and string bass. Mariachi instruments such as the vihuela, guitarron, and guitar were also featured in promotion of our growing mariachi programs across the district. 

This year’s performance also included a special musical feature from the Disney movie “Encanto.”  In addition, several students had the opportunity to pick a percussive instrument and play with the on-stage performers.

Elementary Instrumental Music Recruitment is underway at all sites!  All students may begin playing a musical instrument in Grades 4, 5, and 6. Click here for information on registering for the Elementary Instrumental Music Program.  All 3rd Graders will automatically learn to play recorder through our 3rd Grade General Music Program.

In December, all BCSD fifth graders attended the local Bakersfield production of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" at Mechanics Bank Theatre. With performances by the local Civic Dance Center along with a live orchestra, students got to experience the magic of attending one of the world's most iconic works of art.

The Bakersfield City School District Oral Language Festival is a competitive event where students in Grades 4-8 use their dramatic and speaking skills to present literary selections with spoken words. Students present serious and humorous interpretations as solos, in duos, and as verse choirs consisting of between three and six students. Students selected as winners at the district-level competition go on to compete at the county-level competition.

Goals of the Oral Language Festival
1. Develop an appreciation of good literature;
2. Provide a conduit for self-expression and creativity;
3. Develop student confidence in public speaking;
4. Assist students in developing non-verbal communication skills such as gesture and facial expression;
5. Provide students with camaraderie and support from team-mates and coach;
6. Make learning fun; and,
7. Enhance communication and interpersonal skills.

Beginning in the 2023/2024 school year BCSD is proud to offer arts integration programs for kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades at select schools. Plans are in place to eventually expand this program across the district. Check back soon for more updates on what is happening in our new Arts Integration Program!

More information to come!

More information to come!

BCSD Junior Highs and Middle Schools proudly demonstrated their support for our country's veterans at the Bakersfield Veterans Day Parade! This event, a testament to resilience and patriotism, features a spectacular display of musical performances by our talented bands.

Spearheaded by American Legion Post 26, the Veterans Day Parade brings together a diverse crowd of thousands, lining the streets with enthusiasm to honor and express gratitude to our veterans. The vibrant atmosphere is complemented by the patriotic adornment of red, white, and blue, as local families joined in the celebration of those who have selflessly served our nation.

The Veterans Day Parade stands as a poignant tribute to the valor and sacrifice of our veterans, fostering a sense of community and appreciation for those who have dedicated their lives to the service of our nation.

District music and visual arts faculty members collaborated to create a new Visual and Performing Arts Strategic Plan for 2017-2021. This plan has provided guidance to the work of all stakeholders as the District’s Visual and Performing Arts Department leads in public education through a collaborative and supportive learning community that ensures all students are inspired to achieve academic and artistic excellence and become life-long learners and production citizens.  Our new 2023-2027 Strategic Arts Plan continues our work to carefully and purposefully implement arts education for all District students.

• Strategic-Plan-2017-2021-Final
• Articulation Letter - Elem to JHMS - English_21
• Articulation Letter - Elem to JHMS - Spanish_21

• 2024/2025 BCSD Visual & Performing Arts Calendar

• Click here to view a full list of VAPA faculty.

• Click here to view the Elementary Instrumental Music Parent Guide

The Bakersfield City School District Visual and Performing Arts teachers participated in the 2024 Summer Institute at Steirn Middle School on August 1st and 2nd. During the two day session, teachers in the areas of Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, Visual Arts, Arts Innovations, and Arts Integration took part in a series of professional development sessions that engaged them in the latest methods of instruction and instructional planning in their fields. Teachers walked away from the weekend rejuvinated and ready for the 2024-2025 school year!