Los Angeles Unified students topped California's statewide math proficiency rate for the first time. Nearly four in 10 scored proficient or advanced on the latest state assessment.

The district's 39.8% math proficiency rate cleared the state's 38.4%, according to results LAUSD announced Thursday, Oct. 15. The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) has been administered since the 2014-15 school year, and LAUSD had never before hit that mark.

The scores cap a third straight year of improvement across all three tested subjects: English Language Arts (ELA), math, and science. LAUSD's year-over-year gains outpaced statewide growth in each one.

Math proficiency rose 3 percentage points districtwide, compared with 1 point statewide. Science proficiency climbed 4.8 points, versus 3.3 statewide. ELA proficiency grew 1.9 points, more than four times the statewide gain of 0.45 points.

Every student group improved in math.

The district said English Learners made particularly strong progress, and Black students recorded gains across every category. LAUSD enrolls about 497,100 students, including roughly 81,300 English Learners, according to California Department of Education data for the 2025-26 school year.

Superintendent Andrés E. Chait said the results should push the district to keep raising expectations. "Our responsibility is to make sure every student has access to excellent teaching, meaningful academic support, and the opportunities they need to thrive," Chait said in a statement.

Board Member Nick Melvoin said the district is "now outpacing the state in all three subjects" but that achievement "is still not where it needs to be, particularly for some of our most vulnerable students." Melvoin said the district needs to use research and data to guide its investments.

Board President Scott M. Schmerelson, a former educator, highlighted specific schools in his Board District 3. He said Henry Middle School reached new academic highs in English, math, and science, and Hazeltine Avenue Elementary continued to make strong gains in English and math.

Board Vice President Dr. Rocío Rivas pointed to gains at Garvanza Elementary and Sunrise Elementary in Board District 2. Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill cited Washington Preparatory High School's math gains and Charnock Road Elementary's performance across all three subjects in Board District 1.

The district acknowledged that significant work remains to bring every student to proficiency.