For over a decade, I’ve been deeply involved in San Diego Unified schools with my three kids. I’ve volunteered in classrooms, on school site councils, parent organizations and countless district committees. I strongly support public schools and know many teachers and school staff who work tirelessly to ensure all students succeed. But not all students are succeeding, particularly in math, as highlighted in a recent report from UCSD’s Senate-Administration Working Group on Admissions.
The report revealed that 1 in 12 admitted students were placed in remedial math courses because their math skills were below a middle school level. What’s more astounding is that this reflected a 30-fold increase from 2020 to 2025. The report suggests that high school grades, particularly after the pandemic and the elimination of standardized tests, may be dangerously inflated.
The report isn’t a surprise if you’ve been in San Diego Unified for any length of time. Recent California Smarter Balanced math test results for the district reported only 45% of students are meeting or exceeding the state standards. While this number represents modest gains over the past few years, the needle hasn’t moved much for nearly a decade.
Ironically, while half of our students don’t meet math state standards, San Diego Unified proudly announced a 90% graduation rate and its overall outperformance of other large urban districts. We’re telling the community that our kids are prepared, but are they? We allow students to pass courses, but do they truly understand the content? The district is the primary feeder for many local universities, including UCSD, but what does a high GPA do for students if they have to take remedial math courses to catch up?
What’s significant about this report is that it comes from educators, not parents who have spoken up over the years at board meetings and on campuses across San Diego Unified only to be disregarded. The reality is that the crisis began long before students even get to college. It begins as early as elementary school and follows students throughout their entire school experience.
We need to do things differently.
The gap between our K-12 outcomes and university expectations needs a collaborative response. Here’s how we can work together:
1. We must be honest about the data. Yes, it’s important to celebrate success. But San Diego Unified must also acknowledge the shortcomings and share the specifics about what research-based strategies will be utilized for improvement. A critical factor for success includes accountability measures. District and school leaders must work in partnership with students and families to implement and monitor solutions and honestly communicate the challenges and opportunities.
2. We must grade consistently. The district Board of Education approved standards-based grading in 2021. The purpose of standards-based grading is to provide students with multiple opportunities to develop mastery of a subject or concept and remove non-academic grading (e.g., extra credit for returning a form or bringing in classroom supplies). While this seems positive, standards-based grading is implemented inconsistently across the district and on individual campuses. San Diego Unified should either retract the policy or mandate that all teachers use it consistently and provide training.
3. We must catch students before it’s too late. The district puts a lot of resources into supporting students who are getting Ds and Fs, but we need to also pay attention to students who are barely getting Cs and support them before they fall further.
4. All grade levels must use appropriate curriculum. For many years, San Diego Unified did not have a comprehensive math curriculum that aligned with state standards. In fall 2025, a new math curriculum that aligned with state standards was implemented but only for grades K-5. We must act urgently and implement it in grades 6-12. Furthermore, it’s critical that elementary, middle and high school math courses and instruction are cohesive to support deeper learning.
The UCSD report is another data point we can’t ignore that highlights the need to strengthen math education. We owe it to our kids, and to the future San Diego community, to act urgently. I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and ensure that our kids have a bright future. I hope our kids can rely on you, too.
Trull, Ph.D., is a nonprofit consultant and educator who lives in Clairemont.