By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Lathrop High: State of Sparta
lathrop story 5 pix
Students enrolled in the be.next 3-D Gaming Academy learn the ins and outs of computer hardware.

The year 2008 was historic in more ways than one. America had nominated its first African-American president, Barack Obama. Oil hit $100 per barrel for the first time.

Stock markets around the world plunged amidst the fears of a recession in the United States.

While maybe not as significant as some of the national headlines, Manteca Unified opened their fifth comprehensive high school, Lathrop High – the Spartan Nation was born.

For the community of Lathrop, the opening of its own high school was as important as any national news. Prior to the opening of LHS, students who attended elementary school in Lathrop would have to attend high school at one of the other three local high schools, Sierra, Weston Ranch or East Union. Now, Lathrop had a high school of its own.

Historically, Sparta was distinctive in ancient Greece for its social system and constitution, which completely focused on training and superiority.

The Spartans were dedicated to the ideal that its entire citizenry pursue excellence in all they do.

The ideals of Sparta are being embodied in the citizenry of Lathrop High.

Like Sparta, LHS is a community. We are community that is pursuing excellence in our training and education.

As part of the greater Manteca Unified School District, Lathrop High offers a full course catalog of college prep, A – G courses. You may ask yourself, “Why is it important to complete A-G courses?”

While their new keyboards and mice sit idly behind them, these be.next students explore computer hardware. They students learn what parts are inside a computer, what they do, and even how to test if something isn’t working right.

Today’s educational landscape is very different. Fifty years ago, a person could get a decent paying job right out of high school.

Thirty years ago, more and more employers wanted employees to have a bachelor’s degree because they wanted an educated work force.

Today, more than ever, a college degree is critical to getting a job.

With all the advances in technology and industry, companies are looking for the best, well educated workforce as possible.

Today, students in high schools and colleges are not just competing for a potential job against their fellow classmates, but with students from other countries.

What that means for students in both elementary and secondary schools is that they can’t just think about a high school diploma, they need to be focused on a career ready education or a college education.

be.next students use liquid-cooled, state of the art computers to enable the intensive graphics processing that is key to the 3D game design.

To better prepare students to meet the demands of the career ready work force, in addition to the many courses and programs already offered at the high school, LHS has opened a new 3D Game Design Academy.

Kenneth Scott Myers, the teacher who created the be.next academy, explains, “Designing a computer game requires storytelling, programming mathematics, art, and even historical lessons. So, I spent several years refining the curriculum of what would eventually become one of the first of its type approved by the UC system a as a college preparatory elective.”

The academy matches state of the art technology and innovative on-line and one-on-one instruction which will enable students be career ready in the new digital marketplace.

While LHS is the newest comprehensive high school in Manteca Unified, the future of the Spartan Nation is limitless.

Because our students learn how to learn on their own, our students will not just be ready to meet the challenges of the future, they will be the leaders of our future.