Dashboard Performance Levels and Categories

Information on the California School Dashboard's Accountability determinations, inclusive of the five color-coded Performance Levels as well as the Performance Categories used to measure growth.

Performance Levels (or colors) for state indicators are determined using current year performance (or Status) and the difference from prior year (or Change) to show improvement or decline. This results in five color-coded Performance Levels for each indicator. From highest to lowest, the Performance Levels are: Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red. Note that English Language Arts Growth (ELA) and Mathematics (Math) Growth Indicators use a different methodology to calculate performance categories. The categories for ELA Growth and Math Growth will be provided on this page in December 2026. For more information on Performance Levels, refer to the "How Dashboard Colors are Determined" flyer posted on the CDE Dashboard Communications Toolkit web page.

This web page provides the five-by-five colored table(s) used to determine Performance Levels for the color-coded state indicators. Some indicators have more than one five-by-five table to determine performance levels (or colors) due to differences in data by school or LEA type. For more information on which five-by-five table to use for each indicator, refer to the indicator Technical Guides posted on the CDE Dashboard Technical Guide web page.

In cases where the number of students within an indicator denominator for an LEA, school, or student group is small (Chronic Absenteeism, Suspension Rate, Graduation Rate, and College/Career Readiness Indicators only), the Dashboard utilizes a three-by-five colored table to determine performance. For information on the three-by-five colored tables for small populations, refer to the “What is the 3x5 Colored Table?” flyer posted on the CDE Dashboard Communications Toolkit web page.

Chronic Absenteeism Indicator
Suspension Rate Indicator
English Learner Progress Indicator
Graduation Rate Indicator
ELA Indicator
- Grade 3-8
- Grade 11
Math Indicator
- Grade 3-8
- Grade 11
Science Indicator
College/Career Indicator

The ELA Growth Indicator and the Math Growth Indicator are not based on Status and Change levels and therefore do not use the five-by-five colored tables to determine performance. Instead, LEAs, schools, and student groups are assigned one of five Performance Categories based on their average growth score. This web page provides the table of cut scores used to determine the Performance Category for the ELA Growth and Math Growth Indicators:

ELA Growth and Math Growth Indicators

Note: "Percentage Point Change" or p.pts is referenced throughout the Change columns in the tables below to signify that Change reflects the numerical difference between two percentages.

Chronic Absenteeism Indicator

Performance Level	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 3.1 p.pts or more)	Increased from Prior Year (by 0.5 p.pts to 3.0 p.pts)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 0.4 p.pts or fewer)	Declined from Prior Year (by 0.5 p.pts to 2.9 p.pts)	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 3.0 p.pts or more)
Very Low 2.5% or less in Current Year	Yellow	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
Low 2.6% to 5.0% in Current Year	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 5.1% to 10.0% in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green
High 10.1% to 20.0% in Current Year	Red	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very High 20.1% or greater in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Yellow

Suspension Rate Indicator

Local Education Agency (LEA) Suspension: Elementary School District

Performance Level	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 2.1 p.pts or more)	Increased from Prior Year (by 0.3 p.pts to 2.0 p.pts)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 0.2 p.pts or fewer)	Declined from Prior Year (by 0.3 p.pts to 1.9 p.pts)	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 2.0 p.pts or more)
Very Low 0.5% or less in Current Year	N/A	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
Low 0.6% to 1.5% in Current Year	N/A	Yellow	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 1.6% to 3.0% in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green
High 3.1% to 6.0% in Current Year	Red	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very High 6.1% or greater in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Yellow

LEA Suspension: High School District

Performance Level	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 3.1 p.pts or more)	Increased from Prior Year (by 0.5 p.pts to 3.0 p.pts)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 0.4 p.pts or fewer)	Declined from Prior Year (by 0.5 p.pts to 2.9 p.pts)	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 3.0 p.pts or more)
Very Low 1.5% or less in Current Year	N/A	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
Low 1.6% to 3.5% in Current Year	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 3.6% to 6.0% in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green
High 6.1% to 9.0% in Current Year	Red	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very High 9.1% or greater in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Yellow

LEA Suspension: Unified District and K–12 Schools

Performance Level	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 2.1 p.pts or more)	Increased from Prior Year (by 0.3 p.pts to 2.0 p.pts)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 0.2 p.pts or fewer)	Declined from Prior Year (by 0.3 p.pts to 1.9 p.pts)	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 2.0 p.pts or more)
Very Low 1.0% or less in Current Year	N/A	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
Low 1.1% to 2.5% in Current Year	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 2.6% to 4.5% in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green
High 4.6% to 8.0% in Current Year	Red	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very High 8.1% or greater in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Yellow

School Suspension: Elementary

Performance Level	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 2.1 p.pts or more)	Increased from Prior Year (by 0.3 to 2.0 p.pts)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 0.2 p.pts or fewer)	Declined from Prior Year (by 0.3 p.pts to 0.9 p.pts)	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 1.0 p.pts or more)
Very Low 0.5% or less in Current Year	N/A	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
Low 0.6% to 1.0% in Current Year	N/A	Yellow	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 1.1% to 3.0% in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green
High 3.1% to 6.0% in Current Year	Red	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very High 6.1% or greater in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Yellow

School Suspension: Middle School

Performance Level	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 4.1 p.pts or more)	Increased from Prior Year (by 0.3 p.pts to 4.0 p.pts)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 0.2 p.pts or fewer)	Declined from Prior Year (by 0.3 p.pts to 2.9 p.pts)	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 3.0 p.pts or more)
Very Low 0.5% or less in Current Year	N/A	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
Low 0.6% to 2.0% in Current Year	N/A	Yellow	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 2.1% to 8.0% in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green
High 8.1% to 12.0% in Current Year	Red	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very High 12.1% or greater in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Yellow

School Suspension: High School

Performance Level	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 3.1 p.pts or more)	Increased from Prior Year (by 0.3 p.pts to 3.0 p.pts)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 0.2 p.pts or fewer)	Declined from Prior Year (by 0.3 p.pts to 1.9 p.pts)	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 2.0 p.pts or more)
Very Low 0.5% or less in Current Year	N/A	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
Low 0.6% to 1.5% in Current Year	N/A	Yellow	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 1.6% to 6.0% in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green
High 6.1% to 10.0% in Current Year	Red	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very High 10.1% or greater in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Yellow

English Learner Progress Indicator

Performance Level	Declined Significantly From Prior Year (by 10.1 p.pts or more)	Declined From Prior Year (by 2.0 p.pts to 10 p.pts)	Maintained From Prior Year (declined or increased by 1.9 p.pts or fewer)	Increased From Prior Year (by 2.0 p.pts to 9.9 p.pts)	Increased Significantly From Prior Year (by 10.0 p.pts or more)
Very High 65.0% or greater in Current Year	Yellow	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
High 55.0% to 64.9% in Current Year	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 45.0% to 54.9% in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green
Low 35.0% to 44.9% in Current Year	Red	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very Low 34.9% or less than in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Yellow

Graduation Rate Indicator

Performance Level	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 5.1 p.pts or more)	Declined from Prior Year (by 1.0 p.pts to 5.0 p.pts)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 0.9 p.pts or fewer)	Increased from Prior Year (by 1.0 p.pts to 4.9 p.pts)	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 5.0 p.pts or more)
Very High 95.0% or greater in Current Year	N/A	Blue	Blue	Blue	Blue
High 90.5% to 94.9% in Current Year	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 80.0% to 90.4% in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green
Low 68.0% to 79.9% in Current Year	Red	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very Low 67.9% or less in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Red	Red

ELA and Math Indicators

English Language Arts/Literacy for Grades 3–8

Performance Level	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 15.1 points or more)	Declined from Prior Year (by 3.0 to 15.0 points)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 2.9 points or fewer)	Increased from Prior Year (by 3.0 to 14.9 points)	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 15.0 points or more)
Very High +45.0 points or more in Current Year	Green	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
High +10.0 to +44.9 points in Current Year	Green	Green	Green	Green	Blue
Medium -5.0 points to +9.9 points in Current Year	Yellow	Yellow	Yellow	Green	Green
Low -5.1 to -70.0 points in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very Low -70.1 points or fewer in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Orange

English Language Arts/Literacy for Grade 11

Performance Level	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 15.1 points or more)	Declined from Prior Year (by 3.0 to 15.0 points)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 2.9 points or fewer)	Increased from Prior Year (by 3.0 to 14.9 points)	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 15.0 points or more)
Very High +75.0 points or more in Current Year	Green	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
High +30.0 to +74.9 points in Current Year	Green	Green	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 0.0 to +29.9 points in Current Year	Yellow	Yellow	Yellow	Green	Green
Low -0.1 to -45.0 points in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very Low -45.1 points or fewer in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Orange

Mathematics for Grades 3–8

Performance Level	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 15.1 points or more)	Declined from Prior Year (by 3.0 to 15.0 points)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 2.9 points or fewer)	Increased from Prior Year (by 3.0 to 14.9 points)	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 15.0 points or more)
Very High +35.0 points or more in Current Year	Green	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
High 0.0 to +34.9 points in Current Year	Green	Green	Green	Green	Blue
Medium -0.1 to -25.0 points in Current Year	Yellow	Yellow	Yellow	Green	Green
Low -25.1 to -95.0 points in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very Low -95.1 points or fewer in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Orange

Mathematics for Grade 11

Performance Level	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 15.1 points or more)	Declined from Prior Year (by 3.0 to 15.0 points)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 2.9 points or fewer)	Increased from Prior Year (by 3.0 to 14.9 points)	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 15.0 points or more)
Very High +25.0 points or more in Current Year	Green	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
High 0.0 to +24.9 points in Current Year	Green	Green	Green	Green	Blue
Medium -0.1 to -60.0 points in Current Year	Yellow	Yellow	Yellow	Green	Green
Low -60.1 to -115.0 points in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very Low -115.1 points or fewer in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Orange

Science Indicator

Performance Level	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 5.1 Science Points or more)	Declined from Prior Year (by 2.0 to 5.0 Science Points)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 1.9 Science Points or fewer)	Increased from Prior Year (by 2.0 to 4.9 Science Points)	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 5.0 Science Points or more)
Very High 65.0 Science Points or more in Current Year	Green	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
High 55.0 to 64.9 Science Points in Current Year	Green	Green	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 45.0 to 54.9 Science Points in Current Year	Yellow	Yellow	Yellow	Green	Green
Low 35.0 to 44.9 Science Points in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very Low 34.9 Science Points or fewer in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Orange

College/Career Indicator

Performance Level	Declined Significantly from Prior Year (by 9.1 p.pts or more)	Declined from Prior Year (by 2.0 p.pts to 9.0 p.pts)	Maintained from Prior Year (declined or increased by 1.9 p.pts or less)	Increased from Prior Year (by 2.0 p.pts to 8.9 p.pts)	Increased Significantly from Prior Year (by 9.0 p.pts or more)
Very High 70.0 % or greater in Current Year	Yellow	Green	Blue	Blue	Blue
High 55.0 to 69.9 % in Current Year	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green	Blue
Medium 35.0 to less than 54.9 % in Current Year	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Green	Green
Low 10.0 to 34.9 % in Current Year	Red	Orange	Orange	Yellow	Yellow
Very Low 9.9 % or lower in Current Year	Red	Red	Red	Orange	Yellow

ELA Growth and Math Growth Indicators

Growth Score	Performance Category
21 Points Below or Fewer	Minimal Growth
20 Points Below to 6 Points Below	Moderate Growth
5 Points Below to 4 Points Above	Average Growth
5 Points Above to 19 Points Above	Accelerate Growth
20 Points Above or More	Exceptional Growth

Questions: Analysis Measurement & Accountability Reporting Division | Dashboard@cde.ca.gov

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

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