Governance Failure
Education Spending vs Results
Spending Doubled. Test Scores Dropped.
+107%
Per-Pupil Spending
$12.5K → $26K
$115B
Prop 98 Funding
up from $78B
29%
Reading Proficiency
4th graders
37th
National Ranking
in education
California more than doubled per-pupil education spending from $12,500 (2019) to $25,941 (2024). Prop 98 funding surged 47% to $115 billion. The result? NAEP test scores declined—4th grade reading dropped 3 points, 8th grade math dropped 2 points. Only 29% of 4th graders and 25% of 8th graders are proficient. California still ranks 37th nationally.
Source: NAEP & CA LAO