River Islands Technology Academy Ii, Lathrop CA

Original Research by School Decision on River Islands Technology Academy Ii

River Islands Technology Academy II is a charter school in the fast-growing River Islands master-planned community near Lathrop, serving kindergarten through eighth grade. The school is part of a multi-campus charter system that now includes a newly opened high school and a second K-8 campus called EPIC Academy, all operating under a shared College Bound curriculum model within the district.

The school enrolls a diverse student population, with substantial representation from Asian and Hispanic families, reflecting the broader demographic makeup of the region. A notable share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is balanced across grade levels with roughly consistent cohort sizes from kindergarten through eighth grade.

On California's state assessments, the school's performance is uneven across subjects and grade levels. In English language arts, results range widely. Third and fourth graders show solid proficiency, and performance strengthens noticeably in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, with eighth grade reaching particularly strong results. Fifth grade, however, shows a marked dip. Math proficiency is generally below ELA, clustering in the upper-to-mid range for grades three, four, six, seven, and eight, but drops substantially in fifth grade across both subjects. Science proficiency, measured in fifth and eighth grades, trails both ELA and math significantly. Overall, the school's proficiency index places it in the top quartile among San Joaquin County school districts, a meaningful strength reflecting competitive standing in the county.

The pattern of stronger performance in earlier grades and some grade levels combined with weaker results in fifth grade and science may warrant a closer conversation with school leadership about instructional priorities and support structures in those areas. The school's "technology academy" designation in its name does not surface explicitly in the available data, so a parent may want to ask what that means in terms of curriculum, device access (the district does run a one-to-one device program), and emphasis.

The community context shapes the school's environment significantly. River Islands at Lathrop is a newly built, rapidly expanding suburban development with extensive planning around schools, parks, and trails. Unlike sprawling single-family suburbs, the community was designed with pedestrian and bike connectivity and amenities that let families move within the development without crossing major roads. Housing values have declined modestly from their recent peaks, and mortgage rates remain elevated. Families considering River Islands should know that homes carry a special Mello-Roos property tax that roughly doubles the tax burden compared to standard California rates, a recurring cost that does not decrease even if property values fall. For the district's newer families, this is an essential cost to understand upfront.

The school sits within a charter system at an inflection point. The opening of River Islands High School in the most recent school year means families can now stay within the River Islands system through twelfth grade for the first time, a significant structural change. Combined with EPIC Academy's recent opening to handle enrollment growth, the charter is actively expanding capacity as the master-planned community builds out its residential phases. That growth trajectory is relevant to families weighing enrollment stability and resource availability over time.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 359%

School 59% · district not reported

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Grade 459%

School 59% · district not reported

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

Grade 530%

School 30% · district not reported

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 662%

School 62% · district not reported

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 40 pts above county median

Grade 762%

School 62% · district not reported

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 40 pts above county median

Grade 860%

School 60% · district not reported

▲ 32 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 362%

School 62% · district not reported

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

Grade 464%

School 64% · district not reported

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 34 pts above county median

Grade 548%

School 48% · district not reported

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 671%

School 71% · district not reported

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above county median

Grade 778%

School 78% · district not reported

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 41 pts above county median

Grade 869%

School 69% · district not reported

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 30 pts above county median

Science

Grade 528%

School 28% · district not reported

even with state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 836%

School 36% · district not reported

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income47%Higher-income69%22 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income47%Higher-income75%28 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income24%Higher-income60%36 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income62%Higher-income75%14 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income70%Higher-income83%13 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income59%Higher-income77%18 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income37%Higher-income69%32 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income40%Higher-income71%31 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income19%Higher-income35%16 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income44%Higher-income70%26 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income49%Higher-income69%21 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income41%Higher-income74%33 pp gap