LAUSD celebrates third year of academic growth, braces for a challenging school year

Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Mariana Dale, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · July 21, 2026 · 2 min read

The Marshall High School Jazz Band opened the 2026 Los Angeles Unified Opening of Schools event. (Mariana Dale / LAist) Students within the Los Angeles Unified School District showed improvements on state reading, math and science standardized tests for a third consecutive year, district authorit...

Why this matters in The Los Angeles

As the Los Angeles Unified School District marks its third consecutive year of academic growth, the progress is a testament to the district's resilience in the face of adversity. The fact that test scores have exceeded pre-pandemic levels is particularly noteworthy, given the significant disruptions caused by the pandemic. However, the district's celebration is tempered by the challenges that lie ahead, including declining enrollment and proposed budget cuts. These factors will likely have a disproportionate impact on certain neighborhoods, where schools are often a lifeline for the community. The district's ability to navigate these challenges will be crucial in maintaining the momentum of academic growth, particularly in areas where resources are already scarce. As the new superintendent, Andrés Chait, sets the tone for his leadership, his emphasis on a "back-to-basics" approach will be closely watched by educators and community members alike, who are eager to see how he will balance the district's fiscal realities with the need to support its most vulnerable students.

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Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

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Category: schools · Published: July 21, 2026 · Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · Reading time: 2 min

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Summary created by	The Los Angeles Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Mariana Dale, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 21, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 21, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

LAUSD celebrates third year of academic growth, braces for a challenging school year

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