District’s exam results below county’s

Deirdre Newman

The number of high school students who may be watching graduation

ceremonies from the bleachers instead of participating on the field

is dwindling, according to results of the second statewide exit exam

released Monday.

The class of 2004 is the first to have to worry about passing the

exit exam to graduate. About 500 Newport-Mesa Unified School District

sophomores out of 1,650 took the exams in English and math in March.

35% passed the math portion and 42% passed English.

While the passing percentages were lower than the county averages

-- with 43% passing math and 63% passing English -- it was because so

many students had already passed the tests their freshmen year, said

Peggy Anatol, director of assessment.

“This is the group that is going to need some intense attention,”

Anatol said. “Some of the schools in the south [of Orange County]

didn’t give it to freshmen. So when you come out of the chute and

take it the first time, your percentage rate will be higher.”

Statewide, 32% of students taking the exam passed the math portion

and 54% passed the English.

The English portion of the exit exam contains questions that

reflect both ninth- and 10th-grade standards. Students have to get

60% correct to pass that part of the test. The math questions include

sixth- and seventh-grade standards, as well as first-year algebra.

The cutoff has been lowered from 60 to 55%.

Corona del Mar led the pack of high schools with 63% passing math

and 79% passing English. Principal Sharon Fry attributed her

students’ success to the focus on the state standards.

“I think a lot of it is due to consistent hard work on the part of

the students and the staff,” Fry said. “The students understand the

importance of passing the test and I think the teachers tried to

incorporate everything they can into their daily curriculum to make

sure the students are exposed to the kinds of questions that are

going to be on the test.”

Newport Harbor High School followed with 39% passing math and 42%

passing English. At Estancia High, the numbers were 30% and 29%. At

Costa Mesa High, they were 27% and 37%.

Some of the more surprising results at the district and state

level showed that English Language Learners passed the English

portion of the exam at a higher percentage rate than the math

portion.

“I was thinking with all the English Language Learners, it might

be the opposite,” Anatol said.

To give their students an edge, district officials created an exit

exam preparation class that was given to students this summer. They

are now considering integrating the course into the curriculum next

fall, Anatol said.

Juniors who have not yet passed the test have seven more times to

try before graduation.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].