Story Created:
Aug 26, 2010 at 11:04 AM PST
Story Updated:
Aug 26, 2010 at 11:04 AM PST
Scores continued creeping upward for Los Angeles Unified School District students on the California High School Exit Exam, with 72 percent of 10th-graders passing the math portion of the test and 73 percent passing the English section, according to test results released Tuesday.
Those scores bested the marks posted by 10th-graders last year, when 70 percent passed the math portion and 71 percent passed English, according to the state Department of Education.
Statewide, the pass rate was 81 percent for both the math and English portions of the exam.
LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines said 62 percent of the district’s 10th graders passed both the math and English portion of the test — an 18 point increase since 2003-04.
“Once again, our upward trend in student achievement continues,” Cortines said. “I want to commend our students, administrators and entire school community for thriving and aspiring despite the numerous obstacles and challenges they faced last year.”
Cortines said that LAUSD, compared to other urban districts in the state, had the second-highest gains over the past seven years, with only Pasadena faring better.
“I want to congratulate seven high schools — Belmont, Southeast, Polytechnic, Arleta, Los Angeles, Elizabeth and Contreras — that have increased pass rates by 20 percent or more for 10th graders over the past four years,” he said.
“These schools should be commended for their efforts and their practices at these schools should be shared with other schools to increase the pass rates.”
According to the state Department of Education, 94.5 percent of students in the class of 2010 passed the overall exam, up from 90.6 percent last year.
“I am pleased that the latest exit exam results show that more of our students are mastering the mathematics and English-language arts skills measured by this exam,” said Jack O’Connell, state Superintendent of Public Instruction.
“Passing the exit exam is a high school graduation requirement because students need these important basic skills to be successful in college, the work force and in life.”
All students in California must take the exit exam during their sophomore year. They have two more opportunities to pass it in the 11th grade and three chances as seniors.
The class of 2006 was the first graduating class in California that was required to meet the exit exam requirement.
O’Connell noted that the results showed the achievement gap between Black and Hispanic students and Asian and white students was narrowing. By the end of their senior years, 89.7 percent of Black students and 91.6 percent of Hispanic students had passed the exam, compared with 97.4 percent of Asian students and 98.1 percent of white students, according to the state.
“I applaud the hard work of our students, teachers and school staff that has resulted in the gap narrowing, but we cannot rest until it is fully erased and all students are meeting their full potential,” O’Connell said.
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