Falling Behind: The Urgent Need for Education Reform in Yolo County
- vote4josegarcia
- Aug 16
- 3 min read
For nearly a decade, Yolo County has faced a persistent and troubling trend in its educational system. Year after year, an alarming number of students fail to meet California's academic standards, particularly in critical areas like Math and English. Approximately 75% to 88% of students in the county consistently fail to meet the state's math standards, and 58% to 73% fall short in English.
The disparity is stark, with the Davis School District standing as a notable exception, boasting a 50% improvement over other districts. What is Davis doing differently? And more importantly, why has Yolo County continued to fall behind in such a significant way for so long?
This situation is not just a statistic—it's the future of our community at stake. These students represent the future workforce, the backbone of our economy, and their success or failure will directly impact the prosperity of our region. Math and English are essential skills for every career, and without proficiency in these areas, our children are being set up for struggle rather than success.
We cannot afford to wait any longer. The time for change is now. We need to urgently reassess our approach to education, and we need to implement effective strategies that can reverse this trend. What can we learn from Davis? How do we foster a culture where every child and teacher receives the support they need to thrive. How can our parents get involved and partner with our schools? These are all the questions I genuinly have for our community, how do we begin to turn this tide today?
The situation in Yolo County is dire, but it’s not too late to turn things around. The lessons from Davis School District prove that improvement is possible—and it’s time for all of us to implement the changes that will ensure a brighter future for our children. The longer we wait, the more we risk losing generations of potential. Let’s act now—nine years of stagnation and decline is concerning. If you have thoughts on how to implement meaningful change I'd love to hear from you? If you want to get involved and lead change, your opportunity is right around the corner with the 2026 Trustee Elections.
Woodland Joint Unified School District Test Scores:
61.02% of students did not meet the CA English Standard
75.11% of students did not meet the CA Math Standard
**7 member board with 4 seats opening up in 2026; Trustee Areas 1, 2,6,7 will be opening up for new candidates
Davis Joint Unified School District CA Standardized
34.48% of students did not meet the CA English Standard
37.27% of students did not meet the CA Math Standard
**5 member board with 3 seats opening up in 2026
Washington Unified School District CA Standardized Test Scores:
58.3% of students did not meet the CA English Standard
72.7% of students did not meet the CA Math Standard
**5 member board with 2 seats opening up (possibly more, hard to tell from their site)
Esparto Unified School District Test Scores:
73.36% of students did not meet the CA English Standard
88.62% of students did not meet the CA Math Standard
**5 member board with 3 seats opening up in 2026
Winters Joint Unified School District CA Standardized Test Scores:
68.97% of students did not meet the CA English Standard
78.29% of students did not meet the CA Math Standard
**5 member board with 3 seats opening up in 2026
So, if you’re ready to take action and be a leader in our local schools, I encourage you to step up and consider running for school board trustee. This is your chance to make a difference in the future of education in your community. Reach out today, and let’s start the conversation about how you can play a vital role in shaping the next generation!
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