California Test Scores Rise for a Third Straight Year
California students gained in English, math, and science in 2025-26, state data released October 15 show, while the graduation rate reached 87.9 percent, its highest level in a decade.
California test scores rose across English, math, and science during the 2025-26 school year, according to statewide data released by the California Department of Education on October 15. The share of students scoring Proficient and Advanced increased by 0.5 percentage points in English language arts, to 49.3 percent, by 1.1 points in math, to 38.4 percent, and by 3.3 points in science, to 36.0 percent. The statewide four-year graduation rate reached 87.9 percent, its highest level in the past decade. State leaders said the results show continued progress, and for the first time the state released assessment results and California School Dashboard data together, giving families a fuller picture of school performance.
The gains are modest, and state officials and analysts note that progress has slowed after larger rebounds in the first years back to in-person learning. The share of students at the lowest performance level fell in all three subjects, which educators see as an encouraging sign. At the same time, a majority of students are still not proficient in math or science, and fewer than half are proficient in English.
Reading California test scores with care
California test scores should be read alongside attendance, graduation, and readiness data, not in isolation. Chronic absenteeism fell to 18.3 percent statewide, down nearly twelve points from its pandemic peak, which helps explain part of the academic progress. When students attend more regularly, teachers can build skills in sequence and spot gaps earlier. Los Angeles Unified, the state largest district, reported record highs in English, math, and science for a third straight year, with 48.33 percent of students meeting or exceeding the state standard in English and 39.74 percent in math. Its graduation rate rose to an all-time high of 87.6 percent.
The results also show wide gaps between student groups, and state analysts caution against celebrating averages alone. Schools serving students from low-income families, English learners, and students with disabilities still face steep hurdles. The task ahead is to turn small statewide gains into steady growth for those groups, through tutoring, strong reading and math instruction, and support for attendance. California has now posted three straight years of gains, a record worth noting, but the work is far from finished.
