Data reveals that a majority of 10th graders are passing the
exit exam their first time around
Gilroy – More Gilroy sophomores are passing the California High School Exit Exam the first time around, making last-minute scrambles and heavy intervention plans less essential.
“I think the data is clearly showing us that we’re on the right path,” said Gilroy Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Jacki Horejs. “We still have work to do, but at least we feel that were moving in the right direction.”
Of the 671 Gilroy High School sophomores who took the exam for the first time last school year, 541 or 81 percent passed, according to data released by the state department of education Tuesday.
That means those students never have to stare at another CAHSEE test and are on track for graduation. As of June, all high school students attending California public schools must pass the CAHSEE in order to earn a diploma.
The passing rate of all GHS sophomores, juniors and seniors who took the CAHSEE during the 2005-06 school year wasn’t too shabby either, with local students exceeding the state. Out of the 1,006 students tested in math 618 or 61 percent passed compared to 59 percent statewide.
In English, 946 GHS students were tested and 633 or 67 percent passed compared to 61 percent statewide.
The numbers drop when all district high schoolers are tallied in, bringing the math passing rate to 56 percent and the English to 64 percent. But, Horejs pointed out, the bulk of local high schoolers are educated at GHS.
Districtwide data consists of GHS students, plus teens attending one of the district’s alternative institutions including Mt. Madonna High School, Community Day School and independent study. But even with the additional pupils, more than half of all students are passing the exit exam.
Districtwide in math, of the 1,229 tested, 688 or 56 percent passed. Of the 1,130 tested in English, 724 or 64 percent passed. Gilroy High School Principal James Maxwell was happy to hear that GHS is on par with the state and continuing to improve, but pointed out that it’s imperative that all students to pass.
“I’m pleased and we’re at least competitive in the county and state,” he said. “My goal is, of course, far greater than that, but it’s a good beginning.”
English language learners and Hispanic students continue to lag behind on the CAHSEE, a trend prevalent on standardized tests. Last school year, 85 percent of Caucasian GHS students passed the exam compared to 58 percent of the Hispanic enrollment.
The gap between students learning English is even more drastic with only 27 percent passing the exam, compared to 95 percent of fluent English speakers.
Students attending Gilroy’s charter school, Mexican American Community Service Agency El Portal Leadership Academy, are struggling on the math section with 43 percent passing. In English, 51 percent of the charter school students are passing.
Students take the high stakes exam for the first time their sophomore year. During the 2005-06 school year more than 480,000 tenth-graders took the CAHSEE.
Students who fail both the math and English portions may take the exam additional times during their high school careers. The test was administered twice during the summer for seniors who didn’t pass last year. Seniors who were on track to graduate but didn’t pass the CAHSEE may enroll in classes through adult education, Mt. Madonna or at the high school.
