Diablo Vista Elementary, Antioch CA

Original Research by School Decision on Diablo Vista Elementary

Diablo Vista Elementary is a small to mid-sized elementary school in Antioch serving kindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits in a neighborhood undergoing residential development, on Prewett Ranch Drive in the southeastern part of the city where newer subdivisions have grown over recent years.

The student body reflects Antioch's demographic composition: a substantial share of students are Hispanic, with significant numbers of Black, Asian, and white students. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need in the school population. Data on enrollment in special education programs and English learner services was not available, so a parent may want to reach out to the school directly about these support systems.

State test results from spring 2025 show students performing below where the state aims. In grade three, roughly four in ten students met proficiency in English language arts and math. Performance declined in grades four and five. In fourth grade, roughly one in five students reached proficiency in math; in fifth grade, one in four. English language arts proficiency in fourth grade was around three in ten students, rising to roughly four in ten in fifth grade. In fifth grade science, roughly three in ten students achieved proficiency. Across all tested grades and subjects, the school's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint compared to other elementary schools in Contra Costa County. This is a lower outcome than families would typically see in higher-performing districts in the region.

The school's performance reflects broader challenges within Antioch Unified. The district faced a significant budget crisis in 2026, with preliminary layoff notices affecting teachers, paraeducators who support special education, custodians, and school psychologists. The county downgraded the district's budget certification to "negative" in 2026, a shift away from years of positive certification, signaling that financial pressures may constrain school resources. The district also passed Measure B in 2024, a school facilities bond that raised property taxes to modernize aging buildings and upgrade systems; families who own property in the district now carry that long-term tax obligation.

Antioch itself is a large Contra Costa County city that has grown substantially over recent decades as residents moved east from pricier Bay Area centers. The city is predominantly residential with newer subdivisions spreading south and east, though it retains a historic downtown (Rivertown) along the San Joaquin River with local shops and cultural anchors. The area is car-dependent outside the downtown core, with walkability concentrated in Rivertown. Recent growth has focused on Lone Tree Way and downtown corridors. Housing values in the area are moderate compared to coastal Bay Area communities, but affordability remains tight for many residents, particularly renters and lower-income families who spend a high share of income on housing.

Families considering Diablo Vista should weigh the school's below-midpoint test results alongside the fiscal instability within the district and understand what support systems exist for students who need them. The school serves a diverse, economically varied community in a growing part of Antioch, and families may want to discuss with the school directly how it is managing the staffing and budget challenges the district faces.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 343%

School 43% · District 21% · ▲ 22 pts above district

even with state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 418%

School 18% · District 19%

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

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 14% · ▲ 8 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 344%

School 44% · District 22% · ▲ 23 pts above district

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 430%

School 30% · District 24% · ▲ 6 pts above district

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

Grade 543%

School 43% · District 30% · ▲ 13 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 529%

School 29% · District 16% · ▲ 13 pts above district

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

This schoolAntioch 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income41%Higher-income56%15 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income31%Higher-income30%1 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income38%Higher-income61%23 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income38%Higher-income61%23 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income16%Higher-income22%6 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income15%Higher-income47%33 pp gap