California Governor Gavin Newsom is celebrating improvements in student test scores across the state, but not everyone is convinced that the results are worth celebrating. Critics are questioning whether the reported gains reflect meaningful academic progress or changes to education standards, with some arguing that California’s schools still have significant problems to address.
The governor shared the news on the social media platform X, and highlighted his administration’s investments in public education since taking office in 2019. However, his announcement quickly attracted criticism from social media users who questioned the state’s academic performance, the effectiveness of education spending, and whether California’s schools still have significant problems to address.
Newsom announced that California’s K-12 test scores for the 2025-2026 school year showed continued improvement, describing the results as evidence of progress across the state’s public schools. He also visited Stauffer Middle School in Downey to highlight the improvements and recognize the work being done by educators and students.
The governor credited his administration’s education investments with helping schools recover and improve student outcomes. In the post, he writes, “Since 2019, I’ve made historic investments in education — because every student deserves the opportunity to succeed.“
Despite the positive announcement, critics raised concerns about whether improved scores necessarily mean California students are meeting appropriate academic expectations. Some questioned whether educational standards had been lowered, although the comments did not provide evidence that changes to testing requirements were responsible for the reported gains.
Others pointed to broader concerns about student proficiency in mathematics and reading, arguing that improvement alone does not mean California’s education system is performing well. The distinction between rising test scores and the percentage of students meeting grade-level expectations has become a central part of the discussion surrounding Newsom’s announcement.
Comments and Reactions to Gavin Newsom’s Education Announcement
Several critics under the X post questioned the legitimacy of the improvements, suggesting that changes to academic standards could make the results appear more impressive than they actually are. One commenter even wrote, “When you dumb down standards, that isn’t a flex!” while another argued, “When standards are lowered of course it will make it look like scores are up.“
Other commenters questioned whether California’s education spending was producing satisfactory results, with one person sarcastically writing, “Nice return on wasting taxpayers money! “75% of 8th graders not proficient in math and 71% of 4th graders not proficient in reading.”
Some responses moved beyond education to criticize Newsom’s broader record as governor, including the state’s cost of living, homelessness, and utility expenses. “Ask any parent who is active in the schools. They know the truth,” one commenter wrote, reflecting the skepticism surrounding Newsom’s claim.
As the post continues to gain attention, more and more Californians are sharing their opinions and frustrations in the comments below the post. While Newsom has highlighted the rising test scores as a sign of progress, critics remain unconvinced, questioning whether the improvements reflect genuine academic gains or changes to educational standards. For many, the real test will be whether students are actually better prepared for the future.
