New Statewide Data Shows Continued Progress for California Students: Assessment Scores Rise Across English, Math, and Science; Graduation Reaches High of 87.9 Percent

California's Department of Education released statewide results for the 2025–26 school year, and for the first time it published test scores and California School Dashboard data together. State officials report gains in English language arts, math and science, and fewer students at the lowest score level in all three subjects: 29 percent in English, 38.2 percent in math and 13.5 percent in science. Science showed the largest improvement, with Proficient or Advanced rising 3.3 percentage points. Eighth grade had the strongest score trends in English and math, though overall growth in those two subjects was more modest than the year before.

Other reported figures: the four-year graduation rate reached 87.9 percent, the highest in a decade. Students counted as prepared for college and careers rose to 55 percent, chronic absenteeism fell to 18.3 percent, and the suspension rate fell to 2.8 percent, the third straight yearly decline. The release also notes that enrollment dropped to about 5.73 million students, roughly 8 percent lower than ten years ago, while the number of students with disabilities grew about 25 percent to more than 850,000.

The governor, the state superintendent and the State Board of Education president each credited sustained investments, and the state superintendent said more work remains on academic outcomes. The release also describes strategies used in three districts, Downey Unified, Exeter Unified and Union Elementary, that posted larger gains. The state says it is studying such local results to share promising approaches.