Joseph Widmer Jr. Elementary, Lathrop CA

Original Research by School Decision on Joseph Widmer Jr. Elementary

Joseph Widmer Jr. Elementary serves kindergarten through eighth grade in Lathrop, a rapidly growing residential and industrial community at the convergence of major freeways in San Joaquin County. The school enrolls students of diverse backgrounds: about half identify as Hispanic, a substantial share as Asian, and the remaining population as Black, White, or multiracial. About three out of five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a standard measure of economic need.

The school's most recent state test results in math and English language arts show proficiency rates well below the state midpoint. In math, results range from very low in fifth grade to somewhat higher in third and sixth grades, with an overall school proficiency rate in the low range. English results are relatively stronger, particularly in sixth through eighth grade, though all grades remain below where the state typically aims. Science proficiency in fifth and eighth grade is similarly low. These numbers reflect a school serving a student population with substantial economic and academic challenges.

Widmer sits within Manteca Unified, a district spanning about fifty-seven schools across San Joaquin County. The district faces rapid enrollment growth driven by large new residential developments, particularly the River Islands master-planned community in Lathrop. In response, Manteca Unified is constructing three new transitional-kindergarten-through-eighth-grade campuses by roughly 2027, including one in Lathrop, to absorb growth and relieve crowding. The district now serves an enrollment approaching thirty thousand students.

Families moving into Lathrop should understand the community's tax structure. The district operates under Measure A, a property-tax bond approved in 2020 to modernize aging campuses, adding recurring costs to property taxes over a multi-decade horizon. Many newer subdivisions in Lathrop also assess Mello-Roos Community Facilities District taxes on top of regular property and bond taxes; households paying those taxes receive priority enrollment at designated schools, while families in non-taxed subdivisions may face significant bus rides to assigned schools.

Lathrop itself is car-dependent with limited walkable street life and few restaurants or shops within walking distance, though the River Islands development under construction includes pedestrian trails. The city's major employers include Tesla's Northern California manufacturing and logistics facilities and older industrial anchors like fertilizer and glass production. Housing costs are moderate relative to California overall, though property values in the zip code have declined modestly over the past year. The city is expanding rapidly, with the retail and entertainment infrastructure still catching up to residential growth.

Joseph Widmer Jr. Elementary's academic performance suggests this is a school where students and families face substantial barriers to grade-level proficiency. Parents considering this school or relocating to Lathrop may want to understand what academic supports the school provides and whether targeted interventions are in place for students below grade level. The school serves a real community with real strengths, but the test data reflects a starting point that requires sustained attention.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 321%

School 21% · District 26% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 423%

School 23% · District 24% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 56%

School 6% · District 20% · ▼ 14 pts below district

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

Grade 624%

School 24% · District 22% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 713%

School 13% · District 21% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

Grade 820%

School 20% · District 22% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 323%

School 23% · District 26% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 428%

School 28% · District 27% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

Grade 527%

School 27% · District 35% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 639%

School 39% · District 32% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Grade 735%

School 35% · District 39% · ▼ 5 pts below district

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

Grade 834%

School 34% · District 40% · ▼ 7 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 20% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 819%

School 19% · District 19%

▼ 6 pts below state median · even with county median

Social studies

Grade 844%

School 44% · District 41% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

This schoolManteca 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-income20%Higher-income30%10 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income24%Higher-income35%11 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income25%Higher-income28%3 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income31%Higher-income55%24 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income30%Higher-income43%13 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income34%Higher-income32%2 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income20%Higher-income24%4 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income20%Higher-income29%8 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income6%Higher-income5%1 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income22%Higher-income29%8 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income9%Higher-income20%11 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income20%Higher-income21%1 pp gap