Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 25 schools in district

Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy

4730 Sterling Hills Dr., Antioch, CA 94531Antioch Unified →
Federal DataAlternative Education SchoolGrades KG–08Non-Charter
431
Students
Total enrolled
$16,317
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 14% vs nat'l
16.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 6% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 431 students in grades KG–08 in Antioch, California.
14% above average funding
District spends $16,317 per pupil, 14% more than the national average of $14,347.
16.3 : 1 student-teacher ratio
This is near the national average of 15.4:1.
About This School

Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy is a mid-sized elementary in Antioch, California, serving grades KG–08 with 431 students. The district invests $16,317 per student — 14% above the national average of $14,347, with a 16.3:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 81% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Thomas Gaines Virtual Academy

431
Total Students
16.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
81%
Free Lunch
26
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution214 male · 217 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility81%
National avg 52% · 347 students
Student Composition
11%
10%
42%
27%
Asian11%
White10%
Hispanic / Latino42%
Black27%
Multiracial3%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander6%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 060285014525

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,317Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$16,317
State avg
$29,103
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,179
Student Support$3,100
Administration$1,958
Operations$2,448
Other$1,632
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $16,317 spent per student, an estimated $7,228 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
60%
29%
State government
60.0%
Local (property tax)
28.6%
Federal programs
11.4%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 81% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Orchard ParkMuir (John) ElementaryMarsh ElementaryLone Tree Elementary
+10 more
↓
Middle
Park MiddleDallas Ranch MiddleAntioch MiddleBlack Diamond Middle
↓
High School
Antioch HighDeer Valley HighDozier-Libbey Medical HighLive Oak High (Continuation)
+1 more
School Profile
TypeAlternative Education School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 08
Location—
CountyContra Costa County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictAntioch Unified →
Phone: (925)779-7460
NCES ID: 060285014525
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Antioch seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Antioch Unified
High
Antioch High
1,960 students · 09–12
● 40 opp81% FRL
High
Deer Valley High
1,851 students · 09–12
71% FRL
Mid
Park Middle
996 students · 06–08
● 40 opp85% FRL
Elem
Orchard Park
716 students · KG–08
● 38 opp67% FRL
Mid
Dallas Ranch Middle
710 students · 06–08
72% FRL
High
Dozier-Libbey Medical High
699 students · 09–12
73% FRL
Mid
Antioch Middle
660 students · 06–08
● 40 opp79% FRL
Elem
Muir (John) Elementary
650 students · KG–05
● 40 opp52% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
4730 Sterling Hills Dr., Antioch, CA 94531
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.