California Students Post Gains in Math, Science and English in 2025-26

New California test scores show most students don’t meet standards in math, English or science

California’s 2026 test scores follow a familiar trend: incremental improvement from the prior year, with the majority of students behind grade-level standards.

California students post gains in math, science and English in 2025-26

California students showed broad academic and attendance gains in 2025-26, with higher proficiency in English, math and science, a record-high 87.9 percent graduation rate, and improvements across several student groups and school districts, according to state data and officials.

California test scores reveal modest growth; education experts say it’s not enough

The newly released state testing results come from the latest Smarter Balanced Assessments in English and math and the California Science Test, which students took in spring 2026.

Most California kids can’t read well or do basic math, damning new test scores show

On Oct. 15, California released new test score data for students, showing that the majority of children score below average for their grade level in reading and math.

California Critics Question Gavin Newsom's Claims of Rising Student Test Scores: 'When You Dumb Down Standards, That Isn't a Flex!'

California Governor Gavin Newsom posted to X about test scores in the state being better than previous years, but critics are skeptical.