California's K-12 students have demonstrated the most significant academic improvements in years, with newly released state test scores showing gains across nearly every student group, grade level, and subject. The results from the Smarter Balanced standardized tests suggest a strong recovery from the academic challenges of the pandemic era.
Key Takeaways
- Standardized test scores in English, math, and science increased for nearly all student groups in California.
- Proficiency in English Language Arts rose to 48.8%, while math proficiency reached 37%, both up by 1.8 percentage points.
- Science scores saw a 2-percentage-point jump to 32.7%, the largest increase in a decade.
- Despite the gains, scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, and the achievement gap between low-income and wealthier students has widened.
- Officials attribute the improvements to major state investments in mental health, community schools, and expanded learning programs.
Statewide Improvements Signal Post-Pandemic Recovery
New data from the California Department of Education reveals a positive trend in student academic performance. For the 2024-25 school year, student proficiency rates on the Smarter Balanced tests saw a notable increase. In English Language Arts (ELA), 48.8% of students met or exceeded state standards, an improvement of 1.8 percentage points over the previous year.
Similarly, math scores climbed by 1.8 percentage points, with 37% of students achieving proficiency. These gains are particularly significant when compared to the academic stagnation that followed school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw ELA scores drop by a full point and math scores fall by nearly six points.
By the Numbers: Test Score Gains
- English Language Arts (ELA): 48.8% proficiency (+1.8 points)
- Mathematics: 37% proficiency (+1.8 points)
- Science: 32.7% proficiency (+2.0 points)
Science Scores Reach a New Milestone
The most substantial improvement was observed in science, where proficiency rates jumped by 2 percentage points to 32.7%. This marks the largest single-year increase since California introduced its new science standards a decade ago. The Next Generation Science Standards, which emphasize hands-on projects and interactive learning, had seen a slow rollout, and scores had remained largely flat until this year.
The Role of Strategic State Investments
Education officials and policy experts credit the widespread improvements to a series of large-scale state initiatives launched in recent years. These programs, many funded by one-time federal and state grants, were designed to address the comprehensive needs of students beyond traditional academics.
Key State Initiatives Driving Improvement
Several multi-billion dollar programs are believed to be contributing to the rise in test scores:
- Community Schools: A $4.1 billion effort to integrate mental health, medical, and social services directly into school campuses.
- Youth Mental Health: A $4.7 billion investment to expand mental health support for students both in and out of school.
- Expanded Learning: Increased funding for summer and after-school programs to provide additional academic support.
- Curriculum and Early Education: The statewide rollout of transitional kindergarten for all 4-year-olds and a shift toward phonics-based reading instruction.
- Universal School Meals: A program ensuring all students have access to free meals, addressing food insecurity as a barrier to learning.
"This is good news, we love to see this kind of improvement," said Lupita Cortez Alcalá, executive director of Policy Analysis for California Education. "It shows that the state’s investments in student mental health and other initiatives are working."
However, the long-term sustainability of these programs is a concern. Much of the initial funding came from federal relief packages that have since expired or are at risk. While Governor Gavin Newsom has maintained most state-level funding, future budget constraints could impact these initiatives.
Persistent Challenges and Widening Gaps
Despite the positive overall trend, the data also highlights ongoing challenges. Student performance has not yet fully returned to the levels seen before the pandemic. ELA scores are still nearly three percentage points below pre-pandemic figures, and math scores lag by almost 2.5 percentage points.
Furthermore, the achievement gap between students from different economic backgrounds has grown. While the performance gap between Black and Latino students and their white and Asian peers narrowed slightly, the disparity between low-income students and their wealthier counterparts widened across all subjects. According to state data, nearly 63% of California's students are classified as low-income.
"While it’s certainly encouraging to see overall increases in test scores, it’s unacceptable that the achievement gap has widened," stated Jessica Sawko, education director at Children Now. "The persistent and widening gap must be addressed as a matter of urgency."
Sawko emphasized the need for greater accountability in how schools use the extra funding they receive to support low-income students. Additionally, results for English learners on the English Language Proficiency Assessment remained largely unchanged from the previous year.
District-Level Success Stories
Several school districts reported exceptional gains, outperforming the state averages. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the state's largest district, saw what it described as its biggest test score increases ever. ELA scores in LAUSD jumped by nearly 3.5 percentage points, and math scores rose by almost 4 points.
Compton Unified, located in Los Angeles County, also posted some of the most impressive results in the state. The district's ELA scores soared by 8 percentage points, and math scores increased by 6.5 points, placing its students well above the state average in terms of growth.
Superintendent Darin Brawley attributed Compton's success to a focused strategy. "I’m very, very pleased with our scores, but I’m not surprised," Brawley said. He explained that the district uses regular assessments to identify students needing extra help and has invested heavily in tutoring and aligning its curriculum with state standards.
These district-level results suggest that targeted interventions and a data-driven approach can lead to significant academic progress, providing a potential model for other districts aiming to close achievement gaps and accelerate student learning.