93 Percent of Local Juniors Ready to Graduate High School

Orange County 10th graders performed slightly better on the California High School Exit Exam than the previous year’s class, with 90 percent passing the math portion and 88 percent passing the English section, according to test results released today.

• At Capistrano Unified, 93 percent of 10th graders (now juniors) passed the English section, with the same number passing the math component.
• At Saddleback Valley Unified, 92 percent passed the English section and 94 percent passed the math section.

The 2013-14 county math score was a slight improvement over the previous 10th grade class, which had an 89 percent pass rate for the math portion. The 88 percent pass rate for English was the same as last year’s class, according to the California Department of Education.

Statewide, 85 percent of 10th graders passed the math portion, up from 84 percent last year, while 83 percent passed English, equaling last year’s class.

According to the CDE, 95.5 percent of students in the class of 2014 across the state passed the overall exam, matching the record high passage rate set last year.

“Dedicated educators have worked hard in difficult times to prepare students for college and careers, but we must keep striving for even higher levels of achievement so all students have the skills, knowledge and tools they need to be successful,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said.

All students in California must take the exit exam during their sophomore year. They have two more opportunities to pass it in the 11th grade and up to five chances as seniors.

The class of 2006 was the first graduating class in California that was required to meet the exit exam requirement.

--City News Service

Patch Senior Editor Penny Arévalo contributed to this report.

PHOTO Patch file photo.