Testing Error Alarms Lakeside Students, Parents

DEKALB COUNTY, GA -- A testing error at Lakeside High School has parents and students worried about this weekend's graduation.

DeKalb's school system tests its graduating seniors online, and the results are usually returned in time for the students' diplomas to be verified and in time for the students to get their scholarship applications turned in.

But about 200 students don't have their scores back, and a meeting was held Wednesday night where dozens of angry parents vented their frustration.

Another meeting is set for Thursday at 6 pm, also in the Lakeside High School cafeteria.

"All seniors who took their assessment as a paper and pencil test will have the opportunity to participate in commencement exercises, if the scores are not returned to the district prior to the graduation," according to a statement from the school system.

"However, if the scores come back and they do not earn a passing grade in the class, the student will not have the opportunity to participate in the commencement exercises and will have to attend summer school and retake the EOC during the summer to earn a high school diploma."

The system is still trying to figure out how half of the school's seniors had to take year-end paper tests instead of ones that are online. The tests account for 20 percent of their final grade.