2026.10.16_FINAL_ImmediateRelease_PressRelease_CADashBoard_CAASPP_ELAC_results.pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
James Canning, 313-580-2845, Jcanning@sandi.net
Miguel Covarrubias, 619-316-4625, mcovarrubias@sandi.net
San Diego Unified Students Graduating & Prepared for College and Careers
at Higher Rates than Eight Other Large Urban California School Districts
94.1% is highest graduation rate for San Diego Unified has earned since the inception of the California Schools Dashboard
SD Unified students show great growth in 5 of the 7 original state performance indicators and receive a “high” performance rating under the new Science Dashboard.
SD Unified has launched comprehensive literacy supports this school year and will launch a new Transitional Kindergarten - 5th grade literacy curriculum for the 2027-28 school year.
SAN DIEGO (OCTOBER 16, 2026) – San Diego Unified School District students continue to demonstrate strong and sustained progress with multiple years of rising graduation rates; increasing college and career preparedness; ascending mathematics proficiency; and declining chronic absenteeism and suspensions.
San Diego Unified’s upward trend across multiple performance areas was released on October 15 by the California Department of Education (CDE) as part of its release of the California School Dashboard, which also includes the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).
The 2026 report shows positive improvement in 5 of the 7 original areas measured and a very strong, or “high,” showing in the new state Science Dashboard. See specifics below.
- Graduation Rate: 94.1%, up 3.8 percent points from 90.3% the previous year.
- College/Career Indicator: 71.8% of graduates are prepared, up 4.7 percent points from the 67.1% the previous year.
- Chronic Absenteeism: 16.6%, down 2.4 percent points from 19% the previous year.
- Suspension rate: 1.9%, down 0.2 percent points from 2.1% the previous year.
- Mathematics: -17.9 Distance from Proficiency points, up 1.3 points from -19.1. IDistrict officials thought proficiency might not improve as it did because a new math curriculum was introduced for Transitional Kindergarten - 5th grade, but student proficiency did continue to improve.
San Diego Unified Students Graduate at Higher Rates, Prepared Better for College & Careers
Among nine large urban districts, San Diego Unified school graduated more students and prepared them better for college and careers, according to the data released by the California Department of Education.
District |
Graduation 2025 → 2026 |
Change (points) |
CCI Prepared 2025 → 2026 |
Change (points) |
San Diego |
90.3 → 94.1 |
+3.8 |
67.1 → 71.8 |
+4.7 |
Fresno |
90.8 → 91.7 |
+0.8 |
54.5 → 63.4 |
+8.8 |
Long Beach |
87.4 → 91.4 |
+4.0 |
59.5 → 62.0 |
+2.5 |
San Jose |
92.2 → 92.6 |
+0.4 |
58.9 → 59.8 |
+0.9 |
San Francisco |
84.9 → 84.4 |
−0.5 |
60.1 → 59.2 |
−0.9 |
Los Angeles |
86.5 → 87.6 |
+1.1 |
55.5 → 55.7 |
+0.2 |
Santa Ana |
91.6 → 90.3 |
−1.3 |
50.3 → 51.2 |
+0.9 |
Sacramento City |
88.1 → 89.8 |
+1.7 |
43.7 → 45.0 |
+1.3 |
Oakland |
75.1 → 77.1 |
+2.0 |
44.1 → 43.2 |
−0.9 |
Source: the same official embargoed Dashboard files. Changes are CDE-supplied percentage points and are not recomputed from rounded rates. The selected peers are a comparison group, not all California urban districts. Public release is scheduled for October 15, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific.
“One of our primary goals as a school district is to graduate students who are prepared to enter college and careers, and the state performance indicators demonstrate that year-after-year more and more of our students are ready and capable to pursue a choice filled life after high school,” said Superintendent Fabi Bagula, Ph.D., San Diego Unified School District. “We are proud to be outperforming other large urban school districts in these areas, and these results reflect the hard work of our students, educators, staff, families, and community partners.”
“Even though we are making meaningful progress in preparing students for future success, and showing progress in math, science and reducing chronic absenteeism, we must continue to strive for continuous improvement” Superintendent Bagula continued. “We still have a lot of work in these areas. For literacy we are focused on meeting our Board-adopted goals and yearly targets and ensuring our teachers are prepared to implement the science of reading. Our work is not done until all of our students are achieving in all areas.”
Strengthening Math Achievement
San Diego Unified has prioritized mathematics and problem-solving as one of its four Student Achievement Goals, establishing a more consistent approach to math instruction across schools and grade levels. During the 2025-26 school year, San Diego Unified rolled out its new Transitional Kindergarten - 5th Grade Eureka Math Curriculum.
Key strategies supporting this year 1.3 proficiency point improvement have included:
- Clear districtwide focus: Establishing mathematics and problem-solving as district priorities, creating greater consistency in teaching and learning across schools.
- High-quality, aligned curriculum: Implementing common instructional materials, including Eureka Math 2 in elementary schools and Amplify Desmos Math in middle schools, to strengthen alignment across classrooms and grade levels.
- Monitoring student progress: Use fall i-Ready math assessments to establish a baseline and measure student growth throughout the school year.
- Investment in teacher learning and leadership: Providing professional learning, supporting teacher leaders and strengthening Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to promote collaboration and effective instructional practices.
- Emphasis on student thinking and problem-solving: Creating more opportunities for students to reason, discuss mathematical ideas, build models and explain their thinking rather than focusing solely on procedures.
Focused Response on Improving Literacy
According to the latest state results, English Language Learner Progress, and English Language Arts Distance from proficiency declined compared to the previous year.
Indicator |
Prior year in 2026 preview |
2026 CDE preview |
CDE change |
Status |
Change level |
2026 CDE color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ELA, Distance from Proficiency |
12.4 |
5.8 |
-6.7 |
Medium |
Declined |
Yellow |
English Learner Progress |
46.2% |
44.2% |
-2.0 |
Low |
Declined |
Orange |
To improve the student-focused literacy outcomes, the efforts now underway include:
- JUST WRITE/¡A ESCRIBIR!: A student and family initiative launched last month to build K-12 writing stamina, confidence and the ability to develop and communicate ideas.
- Family Resources: DIBELS and Lectura guides that explain the different reading skills a child is developing and provide simple, fun activities families can practice together at home for just a few minutes at a time.
- Improve Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists School Support Model: Redesigned evidence-based literacy instruction being provided to educators through monthly data analysis, literacy walkthroughs, and “Plan Do Study Act” activities with principals and literacy coaches.
- Secondary Foundational Literacy Professional Learning: A literacy and Special Education partnership to provide professional learning on age-respectful, evidence-based foundational literacy practices that preserve access to grade-level learning.
- Using student data to guide instruction: Work directly with schools to analyze literacy data, establish student growth targets and identify where students need stronger classroom instruction, targeted intervention or additional academic challenge. Use K–2 literacy screening data to inform instructional planning in grades three and four so students continue receiving targeted support as reading and writing become more complex. Increase support for English Learners, students with disabilities and students performing well below standard, while continuing to challenge and accelerate learning for students who are meeting or exceeding standards.
- Strengthening the districtwide approach to literacy: Establish consistent instructional expectations, professional learning and coaching, targeted interventions and dedicated literacy time.
This year, San Diego Unified is also preparing to launch a new Literacy Curriculum during the 2027-28 school year.
Visit SanDiegoUnified.org to learn more about the second largest school district in the State of California.
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James Canning (He/Him) Mobile: 313-580-2845 4100 Normal Street
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