Las Virgenes students ace exit exam

As predicted, high school students in the Las Virgenes Unified School District have passed the California High School Exit Examination with flying colors.

The exam assesses student mastery of state content standards in English/language arts and mathematics. The exit exam became a California graduation requirement this year for all high school students attending public schools.

The recently released 2005-06 test results show sophomores, juniors and seniors demonstrate a proficiency in math and language arts that surpasses the state average.

At Calabasas High School, 96 percent of all students passed the math segment, and 95 percent aced language arts.

Eighty-nine percent of Agoura High School students who took the test last year passed the math section, while 92 percent of all students passed the language arts portion of the test.

Students first take the exit exam in their sophomore year, but if they don't pass, they have several more chances, through their senior year.

Twenty-nine of the 50 students who attend Indian Hills High School passed the math section, which translates into 58 percent for the alternative education school. Test results were higher for the school in language arts-70 percent, or 35 students, passed.

Las Virgenes schools performed at levels above the state average. According to a statement from the California Department of Education, the class of 2007 initially took the exam as 10th graders in 2004-05, with some students taking the exam for a second time last year.

Overall, California students demonstrated an impressive passing rate of 89 percent for the English-language arts test, and an estimated 88 percent passing rate in mathematics.

"I think this just underscores the commitment of our teachers, our students and our parents, as well as our entire staff in supporting all of our kids, especially the kids at risk," said Donald Zimring, deputy superintendent of Las Virgenes schools.

"I have always known that our students could rise to the challenge of higher expectations," State Superintendent Jack O'Connell said. "I am proud of the ongoing rate of student success on the exit exam. The vast majority of the class of 2007 and the class of 2008 have already passed the exit exam and, at this pace, we are on track toward a passing rate greater than that of the class of 2006."

"The exit exam is designed to ensure that all students graduate with at least the basic level of knowledge and skills needed in the workplace and in life," O'Connell said. "The exam also shines a light on students who are struggling so they can get the targeted assistance they need to succeed. I am pleased that the majority of students are successfully passing the exam, but I remain troubled by the persistence of the achievement gap among several of our subgroups."

Subgroups include students in special education, English learners and those who are disadvantaged socioeconomically.

At Calabasas, 35 special education students took the exam- 23, or 66 percent, passed the math section, while 26 students, 74 percent, passed the English/language arts segment. Six students were categorized as socioeconomically disadvantaged, but their results were not included in the report.

Seventy-eight special education students at Agoura High took the math section, but only 65 completed the English/Language Arts portion of the exam. Forty-five percent of the special education students passed the math section, and 60 percent passed language arts.

All of the students who were categorized as socioeconomically disadvantaged at Agoura High passed both sections of the exam. English learners at the high schools showed a disparity in their ability to pass. At Agoura High, only 11 out of 21 students identified as English learners passed the math section, and only nine of the 16 students who tackled the English portion of the test passed.

Calabasas High School's English learners did somewhat better. Of the 12 students who took the math portion, 11 passed. Nine out of the 11 who took the English/ Language Arts section passed it.

"We know that the vast majority of kids will pass this test year in, year out," Zimring said. "The challenge is those kids always on the edge and helping them pass this exam."

School district, county and state level results for the high school exit exam are posted on the CDE website at http:// cahsee.cde.ca.gov/.