Contact: Susan Cox (213) 241-6766 May 23, 2011
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LAUSD STUDENTS CONTINUE TO MAKE GAINS ON THE 2011 CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM (CAHSEE)
Los Angeles—As of March, 65 percent of all current 10th graders in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) have successfully passed both parts of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) on their first try. It is the highest pass rate recorded for classes of 10th graders since the exam was first required in 2003-04.
In addition, 85 percent of current 12th grade students in the District have passed both parts of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) for the same time period, according to figures recently released by the California Department of Education.
All California public school students must pass both the English language arts and mathematics portion of the CAHSEE, and meet state and District course requirement, in order to receive a high school diploma.
The latest CAHSEE pass rate for 10th grade students in the LAUSD increased three percentage points when compared to the same time period during the last school year. That 65 percent pass rate reflects a steady increase from the 44 percent of 10th graders who passed both parts of the exam on their first try seven years ago when the test was introduced. All 10th graders take the CAHSEE for the first time in either February or March.
“The advances from the previous year indicate that we are making progress toward the District’s goal of 100 percent graduation,” said LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy. “Working together, I am confident that we will succeed in ensuring that all students graduate from LAUSD college-prepared and career-ready.”
The 85 percent pass rate for 12th graders and the 77 percent pass rate for 11th graders kept pace with previous year classes.
These latest results continue a trend of steady gains in the District’s CAHSEE pass rates among 10th graders. Pass rates rose three percentage points for Latino students, and two percentage points for English Learners and Reclassified English Learners, from the previous year.
District officials attributed the improvement in pass rates to the administration of the CAHSEE Diagnostic as a practice test for ninth and 10th grade students. Current tenth graders first took the CAHSEE Diagnostic test in the ninth grade, and, if necessary, again in the 10th grade. Those who failed the CAHSEE Diagnostic test were offered tiered intervention, based on which part of the exam they failed. The CAHSEE Diagnostic test will continue to be administered to ninth and 10th graders next year.
“These gains can be absolutely attributed to the hard work and dedication of school site teachers, administrators, counselors and our parents. Last year, we implemented the CAHSEE Diagnostic for ninth graders and 10th graders who had not passed the exam the first go-round,” said Judy Elliott, Chief Academic Officer for the LAUSD.
“The increase in first-time pass rates is due to the practice on the test and most importantly, the direct and tailored CAHSEE intervention that was revamped and implemented this year. We now offer tiered interventions for all students during the bell, as well as beyond the bell. Finally, it reflects great collaboration across offices and adults, based on data and student need,” she added.
There is a make-up opportunity for students in May who may have missed the previous administration of the test, and for 11th and 12th graders that still need to pass the exam. However, education officials say the recently released March data provides a good indication of how many students passed the exam in the 10th grade.
