California students’ academic achievements continue rising under the Newsom administration

Other data points of interest in the 2026 California assessment and dashboard results include:

⭐️Black or African American students outpaced the state’s average gains in ELA, mathematics, and science, with positive ELA score trends across almost every tested grade and performance that exceeded the statewide average.

⭐️Hispanic or Latino students also outpaced statewide gains in ELA and mathematics, with positive mathematics score trends across all grades.

⭐️Socioeconomically disadvantaged students made gains across all three subjects, including larger-than-average improvements in ELA and mathematics.

⭐️Students who were homeless also made gains across grades, with particularly great improvements in mathematics.

⭐️Chronic absenteeism and suspension rates declined.

“Today’s results tell a story of continued progress, but also of the work that remains ahead,” said Linda Darling-Hammond, President of the California State Board of Education. “We are encouraged to see students making gains across all three major assessments and especially encouraged by the progress of Black students, Latino students, socioeconomically disadvantaged students, and homeless youth. These results reflect the dedication of California’s educators and students, as well as the impact of sustained investments in learning recovery, literacy and mathematics, community schools, expanded learning and whole-child supports. Our responsibility now is to build on this momentum and ensure that progress reaches every student and every community.”

Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California has made significant investments in student learning and supports in recent years, including literacy and mathematics coaching, tutoring, expanded learning opportunities, community schools, universal transitional kindergarten and other programs designed to support academic success and address barriers to learning. Through Governor Newsom’s investments, many schools and districts across the state are demonstrating particularly strong improvement.

In the Downey Unified School District, the rate of students demonstrating proficient or advanced grade-level knowledge and skills in ELA increased by 2.1 percentage points, in math by 2.8 percentage points, and in science by 4.7 percentage points. According to Superintendent Roger Brossmer, EdD, the gains Downey Unified is seeing in student assessment results and on the Dashboard are the result of years of focused, consistent work across the district. Aligning graduation requirements with A–G expectations and prioritizing college- and career-ready students required increasing rigor and strengthening instruction from the early grades up. The district has invested in inclusive special education practices, expanded career technical education, and expanded learning opportunities, and used Local Control and Accountability Plan dollars and other resources like the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant and community schools funding to provide students and families with the academic, social–emotional, and basic-needs supports they need. None of this happens without exceptional teachers and administrators, strong labor partnerships, engaged families, a stable school board, and a supportive community. Brossmer is proud of the progress, but he is not satisfied — he knows improving student outcomes is a long-term commitment and intends to stay the course and continue working to give every Downey Unified student the opportunity to succeed.

In the Exeter Unified School District, the rate of students demonstrating proficient or advanced grade-level knowledge and skills in ELA increased by 4.6 percentage points, in math by 2.3 percentage points, and in science by 3.6 percentage points. According to Superintendent Melanie Dorough, EdD, the gains Exeter Unified is seeing in student assessment results and on the Dashboard result from having great people focused on the right work and great students who want to do well. They use assessment data to understand where each student is and what they need to grow, while also building teachers’ capacity to respond to that information. Exeter invested in professional learning and made sure teachers had the support and confidence to teach effectively. The team has also placed a strong focus on phonics and the science of reading, particularly in grades K–2, and used its Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant resources to put reading support and instructional aides alongside teachers in the classroom. Their goal is to create an environment where everyone — from the youngest students to teachers, administrators, and families — feels supported, productive, and successful. The results speak for themselves: big increases in college and career readiness, a solid decrease in chronic absenteeism, and a strong graduation rate.

In the Union Elementary School District, the percentage of students demonstrating proficient or advanced grade-level knowledge and skills in ELA increased by 1.5 percentage points, in math by 2.0 percentage points, and in science by 4.0 percentage points. According to Superintendent Carrie Andrews, PhD, Union Elementary School District’s achievement gains reflect a focused, data-driven approach to meeting every student’s needs while fostering a strong sense of belonging, safety, and connection. Teachers regularly analyze state and local assessment data to guide instruction, supported by strong core instruction, early literacy strategies, consistent interventions in English language arts and mathematics, English language development, and individualized tutoring. The district uses state funding to strengthen teacher coaching and support for English learners and students with disabilities, expand mental health and counseling services, and provide before- and after-school academic support and hands-on STEAM learning. Equally important, Union Elementary School District prioritizes student engagement and wellness through student leadership, relationship-building, and proactive efforts to remove barriers to attendance, including connecting families with transportation, food, clothing, and other essential resources. By combining targeted academic supports with a commitment to student well-being and belonging, the district is creating the conditions for stronger achievement, improved attendance, and continued progress on California School Dashboard measures.

The results released today include data for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), and the 2026 California School Dashboard, a key component of California’s school accountability system a key component of California’s school accountability system that provides a broader view of student and school performance beyond assessment scores.

Under the Newsom administration, California has dramatically increased investments in TK-12 public education, focusing on accelerating learning and prioritizing equity, and has fundamentally transformed the promise of public education in the state. Recently, Governor Newsom increased funding for K-12 special education by $2.4 billion — a 43% increase from the year prior — and, through the 2026 Budget Act, provided $151.4 billion in total TK-12 education funding—the highest funding ever for California students,

Under Governor Newsom’s transformational education framework, California now provides students and families with:

A whole new grade level through expanded universal education beginning at age four through transitional kindergarten
Free before- and after-school and summer programs to more than 1 million elementary school students, with nine hours of developmentally appropriate academic and enrichment activities each school day and six weeks each summer.
Literacy coaches in the highest-need schools as part of the comprehensive Golden State Literacy Plan, which includes ensuring that all California students in grades K-2 are screened for reading difficulties to better assess the need for supports for long-term success
Two FREE school meals for every child: breakfast and lunch, regardless of family income. A first in the nation achievement!

The state’s $4 billion Community Schools Initiative, which has reached one of every four schools, is another cornerstone of this transformation. Rigorous research shows that schools participating in this initiative—those that provide comprehensive supports for students and families—show greater gains in English language arts and mathematics achievement, along with lower chronic absenteeism and suspension rates, than similar schools without such supports. The 2026 Budget Act includes $1 billion in ongoing funding for existing community schools and expands the model to 3,700 additional school sites that have large concentrations of students from low-income families, English learners, and youth in foster care.

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