ERP ANNOUNCES 2026 LIST OF CALIFORNIA HONOR ROLL SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS

The annual ERP Honor Roll program recognized 2,080 of California’s highest performing schools and 168 school districts.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Upon release of the 2026 Smarter Balanced test scores, Educational Results Partnership (ERP) has announced the 2026 Honor Roll list of California’s top performing schools and districts. ERP is a non-profit organization that applies data science to accelerate student success, in partnership with state business leaders representing 28 chambers of commerce across the state. This is the twelfth year that ERP has completed the Honor Roll list, which recognizes top public schools, school districts and charter schools that have outperformed their peers in closing achievement gaps, particularly among higher-poverty and historically disadvantaged student populations.

This year 2,080 schools and 168 school districts in California made the Honor Roll. This represents 24 percent of all schools and 22 percent of districts in the state. The full list of Honor Roll schools is now posted at: www.honorrollschools.com 

“We cannot predict every career that will exist tomorrow, but we can recognize the schools doing an exceptional job of preparing students for whatever the future holds,” said Alex Barrios, President & CEO of Educational Results Partnership. “At a time of unprecedented technological change, the ability to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, and continue learning will be more valuable than ever. This year’s Honor Roll schools deserve recognition for providing the strong academic foundations and essential skills that open doors to opportunity and empower students to shape their own futures.”

The program is part of a national effort to engage business leaders in recognizing high-performing schools and educational systems and to promote the best practices that improve student outcomes. Honor Roll schools are recognized for demonstrating consistently higher levels of student achievement comprehensively across all student populations, improvement in academic achievement over time, and a reduction in achievement gaps among historically disadvantaged student populations. Smarter Balanced test score data made publicly available today by the California Department of Education for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) for the years 2024-2026 was used to conduct the analysis. Learn more about how Honor Roll schools and districts are identified by reading our methodology.

The 2026 California Honor Roll Schools list is supported by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence and co-presented in collaboration with chambers of commerce across the state including: California Chamber of Commerce’s Foundation for Commerce and Education, California Black Chamber of Commerce, CalAsian Chamber of Commerce, California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce, San Joaquin A+, Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce, Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, Inland Empire Chamber of Commerce, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, San Diego East County Regional Chamber of Commerce, North San Diego Chamber of Commerce, Porterville Chamber of Commerce, Modesto Chamber of Commerce, Fresno Chamber of Commerce, San Gabriel Regional Valley Chamber of Commerce, South County (San Diego) Chamber of Commerce, Redlands Chamber of Commerce, Fremont Chamber of Commerce, Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, Vista Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders across the state.

“While the release of academic performance data often draws attention to what isn’t working in education, our coalition of business leaders is focusing on what is working. We use these data to shine a light on schools achieving success with all students served, understand what drives their results, and explore how those successes can be replicated,” said Barrios.

About Educational Results Partnership

Educational Results Partnership (ERP) is a nonprofit organization that applies data science and predictive analytics to identify successful public education systems, practices, programs, and policies that deliver the best results for students. ERP has accumulated the nation’s largest database on student achievement from kindergarten into the labor market. In partnership with educators and employers, ERP charts the pathways that lead to academic success and living-wage jobs. ERP’s goal is to ensure that more students are equipped to enter the workforce with the skills today’s global economy demands. For more information visit: edresults.org  

About Campaign for Business and Education Excellence

The Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE) aims to improve economic mobility for the next generation of learners by matching talent to jobs and career opportunities. Aligning academic achievements with job market needs, the campaign engages employers while helping learners pursue careers matched to their existing skills and abilities. Learners across the United States can discover how their education opens doors to immediate career opportunities. For more information visit: edcampaign.org

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