ERP Releases List of 2025 California Honor Roll Schools

The annual ERP Honor Roll recognized 1,834 of California’s highest performing schools and 158 school districts.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Upon today’s release of California’s 2025 Smarter Balanced test scores, Educational Results Partnership (ERP) has analyzed the data and announced the 2025 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 eleventh year that ERP has completed the Honor Roll list, which recognizes top performing 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 1,834 schools and 158 school districts in California made the Honor Roll. This is approximately 21percent of all schools and districts in the state. The full list of Honor Roll schools and districts is now posted at: www.honorrollschools.com

“Business leaders are proud to recognize high performing schools that are equipping students with the fundamental skills that matter most to employers,” said Dan Kinney, ERP’s Board Chair. “Even as the world and the workforce rapidly change, these schools are helping students build strong foundations in critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving—skills that will always be essential in any economy.”

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 2023-2025 was used to conduct the analysis. To learn more about the methodology used to determine Honor Roll schools and districts, click here.

“Many educators across California are already delivering rigorous instruction that equips students with the fundamentals they need to succeed in the workforce and in life,” said ERP’s Chief Executive Officer James Lanich, Ph.D. “The Honor Roll recognizes that work—identifying schools in a diversity of ZIP codes where students of all backgrounds are mastering the core academic skills that will help them thrive in a rapidly changing world of work.”

“While headlines often focus on how many students are still performing below pre-pandemic levels, we believe data should be used to shine a light on and replicate success—not just dwell on undesirable results,” said Alex Barrios, President of Educational Results Partnership. “Across California, we know which schools and systems are achieving strong results for students of all backgrounds. As an employer-led organization, we understand that lasting improvement starts by listening to the educators on the front lines of this success—and then studying what is working and scaling it.”

The 2025 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.

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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