Less than half of California students meet English standards, math scores also low

A recent report highlighted that only 49.3% of California students met or exceeded English language arts standards during the 2025-26 school year, while just 38.4% met math standards, according to CityWatch LA.

The report described these figures not as mere disappointments but as an educational emergency, noting only slight improvements from the previous year: English proficiency rose by 0.5 percentage points and math by 1.1 percentage points.

Despite California spending approximately $134 billion on K-12 education in 2025-26—about $26,450 per student—the results remain unsatisfactory, especially for economically disadvantaged students. Around 61.1% of these students did not meet English standards and 72.6% fell short in math.

The report emphasized that this issue is not an attack on teachers, who often work under challenging conditions, but rather a call for accountability from decision-makers at the highest levels regarding the effectiveness of education spending.

The findings raise concerns about the future readiness of California's youth and the widening educational gaps affecting disadvantaged communities, underscoring the need for urgent attention and action in the state's education system.