Ethnic Studies is Essential
A newly released study examined more than a decade of student data from San Francisco Unified School District finding that high school students who took a year-long ethnic studies course earned higher grades and were more likely to meet eligibility requirements for University of California campuses. The academic gains, roughly equivalent to moving from a B to a B+, were especially strong for students who had previously struggled and persisted throughout their remaining years of high school. As SFUSD prepares to finalize a controversial ethnic studies graduation requirement for the class of 2028, this news couldn’t have come at a better time.
This goes to show that not only that ethnic studies “works,” but that when schools invest in curriculum that affirm students’ identities and lived experiences, academic outcomes improve all around. And at a time when ethnic studies is being politicized, defunded, or framed as extremist, this research reinforces what educators and students have long said: belonging, relevance, and critical thinking are not hindering academic success but are essential to it. If SFUSD and California are serious about equity, college access, and closing achievement gaps, ethnic studies should be a core part of public education for every student.
Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle
By: Aldo Toledo | April 8, 2026 | San Francisco Chronicle
