I looked up the 2005 national data testing results for public schools. I compared California's 8th grade reading scores to New York, Texas, Illinois and Pennsylvania for size and Colorado and Washington for regional similarities. If you can't read by the 8th grade you can't read.
California is embarrassing. California was the lowest of the group with an 8th grade overall reading score of 250 compared to 265 for NY, 258 for Tx and 264 for Ill. Blacks in Colorado and Washington had higher scores than the average of California: Co 254, Wa. 255. Latinos equalled California's average in New York getting 250 and beat California in Ill. where Hispanics got 253.
These are large samples so the differences are statistically significant...they have policy significance too. California has had a Democratically controlled Assembly and Senate for 45 years, run with iron discipline by the party and teacher's unions. Except for the unions, California has been just like most of the Old Dixie South.