California Students See Gains in 2026 Test Scores

Statewide assessment results show modest proficiency improvements as schools continue to recover from pandemic-era setbacks.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Secondary Education

California Students See Gains in 2026 Test Scores

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California released student test scores for the 2026 academic year, revealing modest growth in English, math, and science proficiency. Despite these gains, overall performance across the state remains below 2019 prepandemic levels.

Why it matters

The release highlights the ongoing academic recovery process in California schools while underscoring persistent achievement gaps. These figures offer a benchmark for evaluating the effectiveness of state-level educational interventions implemented in recent years.

English proficiency rose by 0.5 percentage points to 49.3%, while math and science scores increased by 1.1 and 3.3 percentage points respectively. The state reports a chronic absenteeism rate of 18.3%.

The players

Compton Unified

This school district reported student test scores that outperformed state averages in both math and English.

Los Angeles Unified

As one of the largest districts in the nation, it achieved math and English proficiency scores above the California state average.

The details

While performance improved for Black students across all tested subjects, significant achievement gaps between them and white or Asian students persist, ranging from 28 to 49 percentage points. Notably, districts like Compton Unified and Los Angeles Unified reported test scores that exceeded statewide averages in core subjects.

2016-17: Chronic absenteeism rate was 10.8 percent.
2019: Prepandemic student testing occurred.
2026: Current state test scores released.
2027: Math scores projected to reach prepandemic levels.
2030: English scores projected to surpass prepandemic levels.

Culture Shift

The 2026 data reflects the broader societal challenge of reversing the educational decline caused by the 2019 prepandemic student testing baseline. This trajectory marks a slow, measurable recovery as districts navigate persistent absenteeism and long-term achievement gaps.

Parents and students may notice renewed district focus on addressing chronic absenteeism as schools work to reach 2027 and 2030 proficiency targets. Families can review local district performance to understand how their specific schools compare to statewide benchmarks.

The takeaway

The latest data confirms that while California is on an upward trajectory, closing the proficiency gap remains a long-term goal. Students and families should continue to prioritize consistent school attendance to support the projected gains in core subject performance.