Mission High School achieves highest UC Berkeley acceptance rate despite low test scores

Mission High School in San Francisco has recorded the highest acceptance rate to the University of California, Berkeley, in the state, despite significantly low academic proficiency scores. Data shows that 34 out of 76 applicants from Mission High gained admission for the fall 2025 term, resulting in an acceptance rate of approximately 45%, which far exceeds the state average of 15%.

However, state assessment exams reveal a stark disconnect between grades and academic readiness. Only 6% of Mission High 11th graders met state math proficiency standards, and 17% met English standards. These figures are the lowest within the San Francisco Unified School District.

Graduates and critics have attributed this discrepancy to grade inflation and low academic standards. Alumni Levi Lum and Misael Villalta noted that grades were often easy to earn through mere attendance and completion, leaving many students academically unprepared for the rigors of UC Berkeley. Critics also pointed to the elimination of SAT requirements in the UC system and limited Advanced Placement offerings as contributing factors to the gap between high school transcripts and college readiness.