LAUSD Parents Criticize District's Celebration of 'Dismal' Test Scores Amid Budget Woes
While LAUSD officials highlighted slight academic gains, parents argue the district is failing to address widespread student deficiencies and financial instability.
Parents have voiced strong criticism towards the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for celebrating minor improvements in student test scores, arguing that the district continues to fall short of meeting basic academic standards for a majority of students. The sentiment emerged following an event where LAUSD officials discussed recent state test results, which, despite showing a slight uptick, still indicate that over 60% of students are not proficient in math and more than half are struggling with reading.
According to data from the California Department of Education for the 2025-26 Smarter Balanced tests, 48.3% of LAUSD students met or exceeded state standards in English language arts, and 39.7% achieved this in math. While these figures represent modest increases from the previous year and slightly surpass pre-pandemic levels, the overall performance remains a point of concern for many.
LAUSD Superintendent Andrés E. Chait defended the district's efforts, stating, "Behind every data point is a student whose future we are working to strengthen. These results encourage us to keep raising expectations, learning from what works, and ensuring that every school is equipped to help every child succeed." He noted that the district's math proficiency rate slightly exceeded the statewide average.
However, the district's focus on academic performance comes as it faces significant financial challenges. On October 6, a state watchdog agency identified LAUSD as being at "high risk" of insolvency. The district's current budget plan includes approximately $3.6 billion in cuts over three years, potentially leading to around 6,000 layoffs, which is more than 10% of its workforce.
Parents like Diana Guillen expressed frustration with the district's approach, stating that LAUSD appears to be spending money without holding staff accountable for student outcomes. She criticized the effectiveness of training sessions and the perceived lack of teacher accountability, particularly in relation to the United Teachers Los Angeles union contract. Guillen also noted the reliance on virtual training that may not ensure active participation.
Maria Luisa Palma, executive director of Oleada, Inc., echoed these concerns, arguing that the district's positive messaging can create a "false sense of complacency" among parents, especially those from low-income and non-English-speaking backgrounds. She suggested that grade inflation further masks students' academic struggles.
Sonia Reiter, a parent with two high school students in the district, expressed similar sentiments, stating that parents often don't realize the extent of their children's academic deficiencies until it's too late. She criticized the district for celebrating marginal gains as "historic" without providing a clear picture of student performance.
In comparison to LAUSD, other large Southern California school districts demonstrated higher proficiency rates. Irvine Unified reported 74.3% proficiency in English and 70.7% in math. Poway Unified and Capistrano Unified also exceeded 60% proficiency in both subjects. San Diego Unified reported 53.9% in English and 45.9% in math, while Long Beach Unified achieved 51.1% in English and 39.9% in math, slightly outperforming LAUSD in English and nearly matching it in math.