California's nearly half-million African American students often get lost in the state's policy debates about improving student achievement, in part because they represent less than 8% of the K-12 student population. This 24-page report asks:

• How are African American students in California's public school system doing?
• What do we know about how and where these students are succeeding academically?

The report finds that although the academic achievement of the state's African American students is improving, California educators and policymakers still have much to do to ensure that these students are served more effectively and consistently within the K-12 system. But the report also finds good reason to hope that this is possible. Behind the state-level numbers, African American student achievement varies widely across California districts and schools, with these students doing well academically in many places.

EdSource thanks The James Irvine Foundation for underwriting the research, development, and dissemination of this publication.