Banta Elementary, Tracy CA - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Banta Elementary

Banta Elementary is a small K-8 school in Tracy serving a largely Hispanic and economically disadvantaged student population. The school enrolls a mix of grades from kindergarten through eighth grade, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly across the grade band. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the families served. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller numbers of white, Asian, and multiracial students.

The school's state assessment results in math and English language arts show consistent challenges. In English language arts, proficiency is highest in the middle grades (sixth grade performing at roughly the midpoint of the school's range) but dips significantly at both ends of the grade band. Math proficiency is notably low across all tested grades, with particularly weak results in the lower elementary and eighth-grade cohorts. Science proficiency, measured in grades five and eight, falls in a similar range. Across all subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency level places it in the bottom quartile among districts in San Joaquin County.

Banta Elementary is part of Banta Unified School District, a K-12 district created in 2020 when voters converted the former K-8 district into a unified system. That conversion allowed the district to open a high school to serve the River Islands community, and as of mid-2026, River Islands High School transitioned from charter to direct district operation. For families at Banta Elementary, this means the district now offers a complete K-12 pathway, with students able to continue through a comprehensive high school within the same district.

Tracy itself is a mixed-character city functioning as a commuter community. The historic downtown near Lincoln Park is walkable and anchors civic life, but most of the broader residential fabric is car-dependent. The city has experienced substantial growth through large master-planned communities, particularly Tracy Hills on the southwest side. Employment is dominated by logistics, distribution, and warehousing operations tied to the city's strategic location near major highways and the Port of Stockton. Housing costs have moderated from their peak, with the market cooling in recent years. The area offers Central Valley affordability with access to the Bay Area via transit, which appeals to commuting families.

A parent considering Banta Elementary should understand that the school is working with a student population facing significant economic challenges and that state test results indicate considerable unmet proficiency needs in core academics. The school's size is small, which can offer both closer community feel and potential limitations in program breadth. Because this is an elementary-through-middle school, state testing provides the main available academic picture. A parent may want to look into current interventions the school is undertaking to address proficiency gaps, as well as the classroom-level supports and instructional approaches in place.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 311%

School 11% · District 11%

▼ 32 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 46%

School 6% · District 6%

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

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 14%

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 617%

School 17% · District 17%

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 722%

School 22% · District 22%

▼ 8 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 85%

School 5% · District 5%

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

English language arts

Grade 311%

School 11% · District 11%

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

Grade 431%

School 31% · District 31%

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

Grade 521%

School 21% · District 21%

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 642%

School 42% · District 42%

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 728%

School 28% · District 28%

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 821%

School 21% · District 21%

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

Science

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 14%

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 811%

School 11% · District 11%

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

This schoolBanta Unified, 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.