Student Scores Improve Slightly While San Francisco Absences Climb

October 15, 2026 - 17:08

The California Department of Education released a wide range of student data today, covering math and English scores, graduation and dropout rates, and chronic absenteeism numbers. The figures paint a mixed picture for schools across the state.

Math and English test scores showed small gains compared with the previous year, a sign that academic recovery efforts may be slowly paying off. Graduation rates held mostly steady, and dropout numbers did not shift much overall.

The more troubling trend comes from San Francisco, where chronic absenteeism is rising. That means more students are missing at least 10 percent of the school year, whether for excused or unexcused reasons. Missing that much class time can make it harder for students to keep up with lessons, pass courses, and stay on track to graduate.

District officials say they are looking at ways to address the problem, including outreach to families and support for students who face barriers to attending school regularly. The data will likely fuel ongoing debates about how to spend limited education funding and where to focus intervention efforts in the coming year.