The Educational Results Partnership (ERP), a nonprofit organization that applies data science to accelerate student success, has released the 2025 Honor Roll list of California’s top performing schools, in partnership with state business leaders, including the California Foundation for Commerce and Education (CFCE).
The Honor Roll list 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 21% of all schools and 21% of all districts in the state.
The full list of Honor Roll schools is now posted at www.honorrollschools.com/lists.
Last year, about 17% of all schools and 14% of all districts in the state were on the Honor Roll.
National Effort
The program is part of a national effort to engage business leaders in recognizing successful 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.
Data made publicly available by the California Department of Education for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 was used to conduct the analysis. To learn more about the methodology used to determine Honor Roll schools and districts, click the California methodology button at this link.
California Competitiveness
“California’s long-term competitiveness depends on a school system that delivers for every student, in every ZIP code,” said CFCE President Luis Quiñonez. “When our schools succeed, our communities and our economy succeed. CFCE is proud to help recognize the classrooms that are preparing the next generation of Californians to thrive in a rapidly changing world of work.”
“Business leaders are proud to recognize high performing schools that are equipping students with the fundamental skills that matter most to employers,” said ERP Board Chair Dan Kinney. “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.”
“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 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.”
Chamber of Commerce Collaborators
The 2025 California Honor Roll Schools list is co-presented in collaboration with the California Foundation for Commerce and Education, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization — 501(c)(3) — affiliated with the California Chamber of Commerce.
Chambers of commerce joining business leaders across the state in co-presenting the list included the California Black, CalAsian, California Hispanic, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento Metro, Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, Silicon Valley Central, San Joaquin A+, Yorba Linda, Pleasanton, Santa Clarita Valley, Inland Empire, Pasadena, San Diego East County Regional, North San Diego, Porterville, Modesto, Fresno, San Gabriel Valley, South County (San Diego), Redlands, Fremont, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Beverly Hills, and Vista.
Longtime Partner
Another longtime ERP partner is the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE), which aims to improve economic mobility for the next generation of learners by matching talent to jobs and career opportunities. For more information, visit: edcampaign.org.
