Excellent
#1361 of 9,539 schools in CA
Top 14% in state
Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy
Elementary School · Antioch Unified · Antioch, CA
An Antioch Unified elementary school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.
4730 Sterling Hills Dr., Antioch, CA 94531
- Math 22% vs CA 37% (2024)
- Reading 24% vs CA 46% (2024)
- 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy score 21% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 27%).
2024 CAASPP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. CA average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 6 points since 2022, reaching 23% in 2024, across a 3-year record (2022–2024).
Show all 2 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 20% (multi-year average, 2022-2024) · reading/ELA 24% (multi-year average, 2022-2024)
Based on 16 test records from CA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
83.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the San Francisco Bay Area map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 34Car-Dependent
- Transit 28Some Transit
- Bike 56Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,815/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Antioch), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$123,428
Median home value
$660,200
Median rent
$3,063/mo
College educated
31.6%
Homeownership
72.3%
Poverty rate
7.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 94531; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack London ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | K–6 | 0.5 mi | 462 | Compare → |
| Carmen Dragon ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | K–6 | 0.8 mi | 446 | Compare → |
| Diablo Vista ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.2 | K–5 | 0.8 mi | 499 | Compare → |
| Hilltop Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | K–8 | 0.8 mi | 136 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Antioch Unified
- Schools in district
- 25
- Rank in district
- #1 of 25
- District spending per student
- $17,933NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 15.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy is listed in Antioch Unified; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy
Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy is a public elementary school in Antioch, CA, part of Antioch Unified, serving approximately 291 students in grades Kindergarten-8th with a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,361 of 9,539 schools in CA. State assessment records show 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2022-2024) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2022-2024).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy
What grades does Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy serve?
Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.
How many students attend Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy?
Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy has an enrollment of approximately 291 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy rank in CA?
Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy ranks #1,361 of 9,539 schools in CA.
What is Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy has 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2022-2024) and 24% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2022-2024).
Is Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy a charter school?
No, Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy a Title I school?
No, Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy?
83.5% of students at Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 8th
- Enrollment
- 291
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Contra Costa County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.2%
- Phone
- (925) 779-7640
- Area population (ZIP 94531)
- 44,746
- Area average commute
- 46.5 min
- Area median age
- 38.9
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2024 CAASPP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2024 CAASPP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 94531; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2022-2024; directory SY 2023–24
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Public Schools in California 2026: Top-Ranked Elementary, Middle & High Schoolsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best Schools in Los Angeles, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best Schools in San Diego, CA — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.