Learning Loss Eases as Students Post Gains Though Pre-COVID Scores Remain Unmatched

California's K-12 students are showing notable academic recovery post-pandemic, as reflected in the latest state test scores released today. The Smarter Balanced assessments indicate substantial gains across virtually all student demographics and grade levels in every subject. Remarkably, the highest improvements are among the students who previously faced the greatest challenges. "This is uplifting news, and we commend this progress," commented Lupita Cortez Alcalá, executive director of Policy Analysis for California Education. Proficiency in English language arts reached 48.8%, while 37% of students attained proficiency in mathematics—both showing a 1.8 percentage-point rise compared to last year. Despite this, English language arts and math scores remain below pre-pandemic benchmarks, with the achievement gap between lower-income and wealthier students widening. Conversely, districts like Los Angeles Unified and Compton Unified reported impressive score improvements attributed to rigorous data tracking and a commitment to accountability in education.