California

Facts at a Glance

NAEP Mathematics 2011 percent proficient
Use the Education Counts Database to find more detailed state information, ranks, comparisons across states, national statistics and more.
Governor:	Jerry Brown
State Superintendent of Public Instruction:	Tom Torlakson
Quality Counts state grade:	C
Pre-K-12 enrollment:	6,216,977
Number of school districts:	1,036
Number of public schools:	10,124
Number of public school teachers:	260,806
Unadjusted education spending per student:	$9,300
Percent minority students:	73.4%
Percent of students eligible for free/reduced price lunch:	53.0%
Percent of students with disabilities:	10.5%
Percent of English-language learners:	28.3%
4th grade math:	33.8%
8th grade math:	25.3%
NAEP Reading 2011 percent proficient
4th grade reading:	24.6%
8th grade reading:	23.7%

Sources & Notes

Latest News

Bill promotes violence-awareness in Calif. schools

May 17, 2013 - AP

Calif. Struggles to Assess Teacher-Training Programs

After students leave schools of education, and after years of reforms, Calif. institutions often have no way of ascertaining if their programs produced strong teachers.

May 17, 2013 - Education Week

Do New Exams Produce Better Teachers? States Act While Educators Debate

Some educators say evidence is lacking on whether new performance assessments are creating better teachers, according to this article from Education Week content partner The Hechinger Report.

May 17, 2013 - Education Week

Brown takes restrained view of Calif. spending

May 15, 2013 - AP

Teacher lawsuit in California bucks union fees

May 1, 2013 - AP

California educators sued over English instruction

April 24, 2013 - AP

Calif. families want chance at 9/11 scholarships

April 24, 2013 - AP

Education Advocate Michelle Rhee Fends Off Accusations

This week, Michelle Rhee fended off accusations that she failed to pursue evidence of cheating when she ran the District of Columbia school system.

April 19, 2013 - McClatchy-Tribune