The Education Week Research Center has given California a C- on educational quality in its annual Quality Counts report. The report grades all states on a 100-point scale that includes the chance for success, school finance and K-12 achievement. This year, the nation averaged a “C” grade, achieving a score of 74.2. This reflects minimal change from the year before, when the nation received a score of 74.4.
California finished lower than the national standard, scoring 69.9 points overall (a “C-” grade) and placing it 42nd out of the 50 states. However, California had a lot of company, as the majority of states (34) fell wit
hin the “C-” and “C+” range. The state also earned lower grades than the national average across subcategories, earning a “C” in the Chance-for-Success, a “D+” in School Finance and a “D+” in K-12 Achievement. California’s performance was on par with 2016, similar to the nation as a whole, though it achieved 41st place which is a slightly higher ranking last year.
California has ground to make up in order to meet, and certainly to exceed, the national average on these metrics. In particular, the state needs to boost its K-12 Achievement, including the status, change and equity of reading and math performance, graduation rates and AP exam results. In addition, a low grade overall in School Finance suggests that school spending patterns across the state should also be addressed.
Click here to learn more about the report.