More California high school students are passing the exam required to graduate. Nearly 95% of students in the Class of 2011 have passed the high school exit exam - that’s up just a smidge from last year.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said this year’s tests showed improvement among African-American and Hispanic students as well. The passage rate for African-Americans was nearly 91%, and for Hispanic students it was 93%. That’s up about a percentage point for both groups.
Torlakson says the “achievement gap” between white students and their African-American and Hispanic counterparts is also shrinking. California high school students first take the test in tenth grade and have multiple opportunities to re-take it if they fail.
