California’s test scores — rising but still below prepandemic levels — demonstrate that the state’s schools have more work to do, according to Sonja Shaw and Richard Barrera, candidates for California’s superintendent of public instruction.

California’s graduation rates reached a decade high of 87.9%, but Shaw said that those high numbers of mask problems that show up in test scores.

“California’s graduation requirements are embarrassing, and our students are paying the price,” Shaw said, in a statement posted on Instagram. “More than half of California students are not proficient in reading at grade level, yet state leaders continue to celebrate high graduation rates as if they tell the whole story. They don’t.”

In English language arts, 49.3% of students’ scores proficient or advanced, according to standardized test results released Thursday.

“A diploma should represent achievement, not simply completion. This is a failure of leadership,” Shaw wrote. “Our students deserve better. We must raise expectations, restore academic rigor, and ensure every graduate is prepared for college, career, or technical training.”

Shaw did not discuss metrics in Chino Valley Unified, where she is board president. In English language arts, 63.12% of students scored proficient or advanced, a percentage point higher from the prior year. In math, 51% of students scored proficient or advanced, a gain of 1.21 percentage points.

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Barrera said that California needs to improve on some metrics that indicate the “learning loss that occurred during Covid lingers,” while also trumpeting the work at San Diego Unified, where he is board president.

“California’s students continue to make progress in all educational categories and I am especially pleased that San Diego students continue to outpace most of their peers,” Barrera said in a statement to EdSource.

He said he is particularly proud of San Diego Unified’s 94% graduation rate, as well as their college and career readiness rate of 72%, which he said outperforms other large school districts.

“This is a result of our career pathways programs that enable students to have many choices after graduation, as well as our dual college and high school enrollment program,” Barrera said.

But he acknowledged the test scores highlighted weakness in the state.

“Today’s numbers also show us that there is still work to be done to ensure that every student is proficient,” he said.

In San Diego Unified, 45.85% of students scored proficient or advanced in math, up 0.55 percentage points from a year prior. In English language arts, 53.9% of students scored proficient or advanced scores, which was 0.32 percentage points lower than a year prior. The district recently implemented a program to identify the youngest students at greatest risk for falling behind in literacy, so they can receive the individualized support, Barrera said.

“We expect to see the results of these efforts reflected in test scores in the near future,” he said.

By: Emma Gallegos