What share of students in California are proficient in math?

In 2024, 25% of eighth graders in California public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (23rd lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 28% in reading, compared with 29% and 30% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in California, United States: official figures

87.0% of public high school students in California graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); joint 22nd highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

87.0%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

212

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

269

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$20,791

FY2024

Public school enrollment

5,924,113

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

38.1%

2024

Is the graduation rate in California rising?

The four-year graduation rate in California was 87.0% in 2021-22, compared with 79% in 2011-12 and 84.5% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in California?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in California was 84.6% for economically disadvantaged students, 73.8% for students with disabilities and 71.8% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in California?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in California was 78.6% for Black, 84.7% for Hispanic and 90.6% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in California score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in California averaged 212 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 15th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 216 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 29% scored at or above Proficient and 44% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in California score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in California averaged 254 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 259 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 28% scored at or above Proficient and 37% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in California score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in California averaged 233 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 12th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 235 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 35% scored at or above Proficient and 30% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in California score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in California averaged 269 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 276 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 25% scored at or above Proficient and 46% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does California spend per student?

Public school systems in California spent $20,791 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 14th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in California going up?

Current spending per pupil in California rose from $14,034 in fiscal 2019 to $20,791 in fiscal 2024, up 48.1% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 10.6%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does California spend school money on?

Of the $20,791 spent per pupil in California in fiscal 2024, $11,959 went on instruction and $8,031 on support services; salaries and wages came to $11,293 per pupil and employee benefits $5,357.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in California come from?

Public school systems in California received $138.5 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 11.6% from the federal government, 53.4% from the state and 35.0% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does California spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in California was $130.7 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $112.2 billion was current spending and $14.5 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $101.0 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in California?

5,924,113 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in California in fall 2023, down 5.2% on fall 2019 (6,249,005) and down 6.2% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in California?

Public schools in California had 271,586 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 21.8 pupils per teacher, 3rd most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; California in fall 2019: 23.0).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in California have a college degree?

38.1% of adults aged 25 and over in California, about 10,437,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 16th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.9 percentage points on 2021 (36.2%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in California have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 14.9% of adults 25 and over in California had a graduate or professional degree and 7.8% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in California did not finish high school?

84.8% of adults 25 and over in California had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 15.2% without one; that share is the highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How California compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

California ranks 22 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
19	Florida	87.3%
20	Illinois	87.3%
21	Nebraska	87.1%
22	California	87.0%
23	Pennsylvania	87.0%
24	New York	86.7%
25	North Carolina	86.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

California ranks 7 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
4	Arkansas	85.4%
5	West Virginia	85.3%
6	Indiana	85.2%
7	California	84.6%
8	Tennessee	83.6%
9	Florida	83.2%
10	Massachusetts	83.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

California ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
34	Nevada	213
35	Kansas	213
36	Vermont	213
37	California	212
38	Texas	212
39	Missouri	212
40	Nebraska	212

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

California ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
35	Arkansas	255
36	Kansas	255
37	Maine	255
38	California	254
39	Arizona	254
40	South Carolina	254
41	Florida	253

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

California ranks 40 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
37	Vermont	235
38	New York	234
39	Maryland	234
40	California	233
41	Oklahoma	233
42	Nevada	233
43	Maine	233

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

California ranks 34 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
31	Missouri	270
32	Hawaii	270
33	Rhode Island	270
34	California	269
35	Texas	269
36	Georgia	269
37	Mississippi	269

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

California ranks 29 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
26	New York	26.2%
27	Rhode Island	26.0%
28	Arizona	25.8%
29	California	25.3%
30	Maryland	24.7%
31	Maine	24.5%
32	Kentucky	24.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

California ranks 12 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
9	Delaware	44.6%
10	Maine	44.5%
11	Arkansas	43.8%
12	California	43.7%
13	Texas	42.9%
14	Alabama	42.4%
15	Nebraska	42.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

California ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
11	Illinois	$21,776
12	Pennsylvania	$21,091
13	Alaska	$21,004
14	California	$20,791
15	Wyoming	$20,521
16	Maryland	$20,208
17	Maine	$19,962

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

California ranks 3 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
1	New Mexico	+73.6%
2	Nevada	+58.5%
3	California	+48.1%
4	Hawaii	+48.0%
5	Oregon	+45.2%
6	Colorado	+44.2%
7	Michigan	+43.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

California ranks 34 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
31	Kentucky	37.0%
32	Wisconsin	36.0%
33	West Virginia	35.6%
34	California	35.0%
35	Arizona	34.7%
36	Indiana	32.7%
37	Mississippi	32.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

California ranks 3 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
1	Arizona	22.8
2	Utah	22.2
3	California	21.8
4	Nevada	21.0
5	Oregon	18.7
6	Florida	18.3
7	Alaska	18.3

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

California ranks 42 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
39	Illinois	-5.0%
40	Kentucky	-5.0%
41	Vermont	-5.0%
42	California	-5.2%
43	Colorado	-5.2%
44	Rhode Island	-5.2%
45	New York	-5.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

California ranks 16 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
13	Illinois	39.2%
14	Utah	39.1%
15	Rhode Island	39.0%
16	California	38.1%
17	Oregon	37.8%
18	Hawaii	37.8%
19	North Carolina	37.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

California ranks 1 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
1	California	15.2%
2	Texas	13.3%
3	Nevada	12.3%
4	New Mexico	12.1%
5	New York	12.0%
6	Mississippi	12.0%
7	Louisiana	11.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on California: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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