News Summary
California student test scores have seen modest improvements in recent assessments, but still lag behind pre-pandemic levels. While 48.8% of students scored proficient in English Language Arts, and 37.3% in math, these figures remain lower than those recorded before the pandemic. State officials are encouraged by these increases, with gains noted particularly in districts like Compton and Los Angeles. Ongoing challenges, however, include significant achievement gaps among racial and socio-economically disadvantaged groups, despite new funding and initiatives aimed at educational recovery.
California student test scores have shown modest gains in recent assessments, but results still fall short of pre-pandemic levels. In spring 2025, 48.8% of students scored as “proficient” or “advanced” in English Language Arts, marking a 1.8 percentage point increase from spring 2024. However, this remains 2.1 percentage points lower than in the 2018-19 school year, the last academic year before the pandemic disrupted education nationwide. In mathematics, 37.3% of students achieved proficient or advanced status, also an increase of 1.8 percentage points from the previous year, yet 2.4 percentage points below pre-pandemic figures.
State officials have described the latest results as representing “modest increases at a higher rate than the year prior,” indicating a build-up of progress moving forward. Schools in Compton and Los Angeles have reported notable surges in performance, with some districts now outpacing pre-pandemic scores.
District Performance Highlights
Los Angeles Unified School District, for instance, reached 46.5% proficiency in English Language Arts and 36.8% in math for the latest assessment period. Similarly, Compton Unified School District has reported English proficiency rates at 51% and math at 41.1%, both exceeding state averages. These advancements reflect a strengthening performance across various educational levels for the second year running, as highlighted by Los Angeles schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
Pandemic Impact and Educational Legislation
The COVID-19 pandemic markedly hindered student achievement, resulting from prolonged campus closures and socio-economic hardships faced by families. However, increased funding both from state and federal levels has been crucial in addressing these challenges and aiding recovery efforts in the education sector. New legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, particularly AB 1454, mandates the adoption of curricula focused on evidence-based reading instruction, emphasizing phonics and comprehension skills essential for young learners. This initiative aims to combat previous shortcomings, as studies indicated that fewer than 2% of California districts had been implementing effective phonics programs.
Significant investments in literacy resources are also underway, with the state allocating $200 million in the 2025-26 budget for professional development for educators in literacy instruction.
Ongoing Challenges and Achievement Gaps
Despite these improvements, a substantial number of students remain below proficiency benchmarks, with approximately half to two-thirds not achieving proficiency in either English Language Arts or math. The achievement gap continues to be a concern, notably among various racial and ethnic groups, with socioeconomically disadvantaged students scoring roughly 10 percentage points lower than county averages.
Additions to curriculum development and support systems are crucial as many areas, including Napa and Sonoma counties, show slight educational gains but still lag behind state averages. Initiatives targeting literacy skills are being employed to address foundational deficiencies affecting academic progress among younger students.
Broad Trends in State Education
Recent statewide testing has indicated a general uptrend of modest gains in English Language Arts, math, and science, though all still trail behind pre-pandemic benchmarks. The results show considerable variability among districts, with many schools serving primarily low-income families reporting significant growth.
Furthermore, California’s educational legislation is poised to tackle wider issues, including the regulation of ultraprocessed foods in K-12 schools, set to be effective by 2035. Nonetheless, persistent concerns uncover issues concerning the pace of educational recovery and equity, especially for students from low-income and minority backgrounds. Governor Newsom has emphasized the crucial need to enhance funding levels and improve educational outcomes in the wake of federal cuts to educational resources.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times: California Test Scores Show Progress
- Sac Observer: California Students Improve Test Scores
- Press Democrat: Test Scores for Napa & Sonoma Students
- Mercury News: California Students Make Test Score Gains
- Google Search: California Students Test Scores
- Wikipedia: Education in California
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