San Diego's Math Problem: Time to Face the Numbers

San Diego Unified School District has a math problem. It's not new, but it's getting worse. A recent report from UCSD showed that 1 in 12 admitted students needed remedial math courses. That's a huge jump from 2020 to 2025. The report suggests that high school grades might be too high, especially after the pandemic and the end of standardized tests. The district's math scores are low. Only 45% of students meet state standards. That's a bit better than before, but not much has changed in nearly 10 years. Meanwhile, the district boasts a 90% graduation rate. But what does that rate mean if students aren't really ready for college? The problem starts early. It's not just about high school or college. It's about elementary school and beyond. The district needs to do things differently. Here's how: First, the district must be honest about the data. It's great to celebrate success, but the district must also admit where it's falling short. It needs to share specific plans for improvement and hold itself accountable.Second, grading needs to be consistent. The district approved standards-based grading in 2021, but it's not being used the same way everywhere. The district should either drop the policy or make sure all teachers use it correctly. Third, the district needs to help students before they fail. It focuses a lot on students with Ds and Fs, but it should also pay attention to students with Cs. These students need support before they fall further behind. Finally, the district needs to use the right curriculum. It recently introduced a new math curriculum for grades K-5, but it needs to do the same for grades 6-12. The curriculum should be the same across all grade levels to help students learn better. The UCSD report is a wake-up call. The district needs to act now to improve math education. It's time to face the numbers and make a change.