Magnolia Science Academy San Diego Is Making Important Gains for All Students

From Los Angeles to San Diego, Magnolia Public Schools (MPS), a network of high-performing tuition-free charter public schools, is making important gains for all students, especially students living in underserved communities. According to the 2024-25 California Department of Education’s California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) report, the state’s end-of-year assessment for English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics that measures college and career readiness, data released last week show some MPS student scores surpassed those of regional school districts like Los Angeles, Santa Ana, San Diego and even the state.

The San Diego campus showed significant student outcomes between 2024 and 2025. Magnolia Science Academy – San Diego, a Grades 6-8 middle school, saw a 3.54 percentage point increase in ELA scores, from 68.88% to 72.42%. MSA-SD is a California Distinguished School.

“Our test scores are a testament to the hard work of our dedicated teachers and staff,” said Magnolia Public Schools CEO, Alfredo Rubalcava. “Nearly half of the schools in our network surpassed Los Angeles Unified School District, San Diego Unified School District, and Santa Ana Unified School District SBAC scores. Magnolia Public Schools are experiencing a 3-to-4 percentage point increase, and that’s incredible,” he added.

MPS administrators use the data to better understand and assess each program’s effectiveness in addressing learning gaps. MPS test scores show an overall increase of nearly 3 percentage points in ELA and 4 percentage points in mathematics. Individually, where increases occurred, they were remarkable. All schools serve English Language Learners, Special Education students, and students on the federal Free and Reduced Lunch program, which makes the network’s success all the more noteworthy as an effective program that is closing the academic achievement gap and helping students reach their full potential.

In 2024, Magnolia Public Schools was awarded the Hart Vision Equity and Innovation Award by the California Charter Schools Association, and the U.S. Department of Education awarded the network of high-performing schools a grant to expand and replicate its model. Each year, many of its schools rank among top schools regionally and at the state level. In the last three years, Magnolia Science Academy 2 in Van Nuys, Magnolia Science Academy 7 in Northridge, and Magnolia Science Academy-San Diego were recognized as California Distinguished Schools, further underscoring the network’s commitment to excellence and equity in education.

MPS graduates are 40% more likely to enroll in college, 54% more likely to earn college degrees, and 22% (54% if female) more likely to graduate from a STEM field than students from similar schools across the country. Together, dedicated staff are building a pipeline to STEAM fields, and helping students achieve higher education goals.

Magnolia Public Schools (MPS) are tuition-free charter schools with campuses throughout Southern California focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM)-based teaching to ensure students are well-rounded and college-ready. MPS offers smaller class sizes, individualized attention from teachers, as well as safe campuses that foster ideal learning conditions for students.