California students match record pass rate in high school exit exam

California students in the class of 2014 matched last year’s record-high pass rate on the state high school exit exam, with 95.5% demonstrating the required reading, writing and math skills, state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced Friday.

“I am pleased California’s high school students continue to pass this graduation exam at record rates,” Torlakson said in a statement. “Dedicated educators have worked hard in difficult times to prepare students for college and careers, but we must keep striving for even higher levels of achievement so all students have the skills, knowledge and tools they need to be successful.”

The California High School Exit Examination, given to all students beginning in 10th grade, measures basic skills. Those who fail have up to seven more chances to pass in 11th and 12th grade.

The pass rate indicates a 5 percentage-point increase since 2006, when the test was first required for graduation, according to the preliminary results.

African American students showed a slight improvement over the last year, increasing their pass rate to 92.2%. Latino students matched last year’s rate with 93.8% passing. Among Asians, 97.7% passed, and 98.6% of white students did so. Both African Americans and Latinos narrowed the gap between white students.

In the Los Angeles Unified School District, the state’s largest, 87% of students in the class of 2014 passed both the math and reading parts of the exam, a 1 percentage-point decrease from last year.

About 68% of sophomores passed both the math and English-language arts sections of the exam, which is just below the record mark of 69% set last year, according to the district.

The pass rate reflects a 24 percentage-point increase from 44% in 2003-04.

“We’re making great progress in preparing our sophomores and other students for graduation,” said Supt. John Deasy in a statement. “There’s no doubt that we have more work to do in serving our historically-underserved students, and we are committed to doing so.”

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