Mojave River Academy - Silver Mountain, Barstow CA

Original Research by School Decision on Mojave River Academy - Silver Mountain

Mojave River Academy - Silver Mountain is a tuition-free public charter school serving kindergarten through grade twelve in Barstow, operating as an independent-study program rather than a traditional classroom-based school. Students receive one-on-one weekly instruction at a resource center and work through a personalized curriculum at home between those sessions. The program provides meals and materials at no cost to families.

The school's enrollment spans a full K-12 range, with the student body concentrated in the upper grades, particularly in the high school years. A substantial share of students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, and the student population is predominantly Hispanic, with sizable African American and white enrollment as well. No data on English learner or special education enrollment rates was available.

Academic performance across state assessments in mathematics, English language arts, and science is notably low. In math, proficiency rates range from near zero to low single digits across tested grades three through eight. English language arts shows slightly stronger performance in some grades, with rates in the low to mid-range in grades four and five, but proficiency in grade three is zero and remains under one-fifth in most upper grades. Science proficiency is similarly modest. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places this school in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts in San Bernardino County. Only one year of assessment data is available, so trend information is not present.

A graduation rate for this school was not reported and may not be available for an independent-study charter; parents may want to inquire directly with the school about completion and diploma outcomes for high school students.

The school's independent-study model is a core instructional approach, not a recent change. What has shifted is the program's recent consolidation and rebranding as a single unified K-12 charter across multiple Southern California resource centers, marketed to families as a consistent curriculum and a continuous graduation pathway with no need to transition schools between elementary, middle, and high school. This structure contrasts sharply with traditional neighborhood schools and may appeal to families seeking flexible, home-based learning with weekly touchpoints rather than daily classroom attendance.

Barstow itself is a Mojave Desert crossroads city between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, with an economy anchored by rail, logistics, and the military. Housing values are well below the state benchmark, and rents are modest by state standards. The city is car-dependent and walkability is limited, though downtown retains historical Route 66 character and some civic anchors. A major rail and warehouse facility under development is expected to drive economic and housing growth beginning in late 2026, though housing starts have been largely flat in recent years.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

80-84%Cohort of 104 students · Class of 2021

The federal source publishes a banded range instead of an exact rate when the graduating cohort is small enough that an exact number could risk identifying individual students.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

2,394 schools plotted. 142 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 311%

School 11% · district not reported

▼ 32 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

Grade 44%

School 4% · district not reported

▼ 34 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 50%

School 0% · district not reported

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 66%

School 6% · district not reported

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 70%

School 0% · district not reported

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 84%

School 4% · district not reported

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 30%

School 0% · district not reported

▼ 41 pts below state median · ▼ 33 pts below county median

Grade 415%

School 15% · district not reported

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 522%

School 22% · district not reported

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 614%

School 14% · district not reported

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 711%

School 11% · district not reported

▼ 35 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 817%

School 17% · district not reported

▼ 28 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Science

Grade 511%

School 11% · district not reported

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Grade 84%

School 4% · district not reported

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

This schoolDistrict average, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.