Despite San Diego’s reputation as a hub of innovation and opportunity, its public education system hardly sets a benchmark worth emulating. National assessments reveal that students here frequently perform just at or below average in key subjects, raising serious concerns about what “best” truly means. Standardized test scores, graduation rates, and college readiness metrics all paint a picture of a system that struggles to prepare youth for a competitive global future.

When examining critical indicators, the shortcomings become clear:

  • Math proficiency: Less than half of San Diego students meet grade-level expectations by the end of middle school.
  • Reading comprehension: Growth stagnates, leaving a significant percentage of students behind by high…