California's public schools are finally seeing some encouraging signs, but the state's education system is still wrestling with stubborn inequalities that hit Latino and Black students hardest. The latest data from the California Department of Education shows that 49.3% of students met or exceeded English standards—a modest 0.5-point uptick from last year. Math scores also inched up, with 38.4% of students meeting expectations, a 1.1-point gain. Science saw the biggest jump, rising 3.3 points to 36% proficiency.
Yet these gains are far from enough. Overall performance remains about 2 points below 2019 levels, meaning it could take another four years to fully recover from the pandemic's disruptions. For a state that prides itself on innovation and opportunity, that's a slow climb—and one that leaves more than 60% of students behind state benchmarks in every subject.
A familiar gap, a persistent challenge
The numbers also reveal a deeply entrenched divide. While Black students made notable strides—outpacing statewide averages in English, math, and science—their proficiency rates still lag far behind: just 33.7% in English, 21.5% in math, and 20.5% in science. That's a gap of 28 to 49 percentage points compared to their white and Asian peers. Latino students face similar challenges, with proficiency rates that remain stubbornly low despite incremental improvements.
Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education, acknowledged the progress but stressed that much more needs to be done. "We're seeing movement, but the pace is not nearly fast enough," she said. "We need to double down on what works—especially for our most vulnerable students."
Advocacy groups like EdTrust-West warn that opportunity gaps continue to penalize young people, particularly those from low-income families and communities of color. The exodus of young Californians to other states only adds urgency to the need for better schools.
Chronic absenteeism and the road ahead
One bright spot: chronic absenteeism dropped by 1.1 points to 18.3%, though it remains well above the 10.8% baseline from 2016-17. Schools are using automated attendance tracking and district-level interventions to keep kids in class, but the problem is far from solved.
In districts like Compton Unified and Los Angeles Unified, intensive instructional programs have pushed math proficiency above state averages. These local successes show that targeted investments can work—but they also highlight the unevenness of resources across the state.
Robin Lake, director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, put it bluntly: "Now is the time for California to act with urgency and determination. The system simply is failing the majority of California children."
Funding debates and political battles
The state spends roughly $150 billion annually on public education, yet millions of students still struggle to reach grade-level proficiency. Governor Gavin Newsom credits recent gains to investments in transitional kindergarten and community schools, which provide extra support in high-need neighborhoods. But critics argue that more money alone won't close the gap.
Political candidates are already sparring over education policy. Chino Valley Unified board president Sonja Shaw and San Diego Unified board member Richard Barrera represent opposing visions for how to fix the system. Meanwhile, the state's infrastructure challenges—from crumbling highways to climate-related disasters—compete for attention and funding.
For Latino families, the stakes are personal. Education remains the surest path to opportunity, but the system is still failing too many of our children. As the state grapples with these issues, the question isn't just about test scores—it's about whether California can live up to its promise as a land of opportunity for all.
