Arcadia 10th Graders CAHSEE Scores Consistent With Last Year's

The percentage of Arcadia 10th graders who passed both the English and the math portions of the California High School exit exam kept consistent with last year's rates and well-exceeded the county average, according to figures released by the state Thursday.

Districtwide, 94 percent of 10th graders passed the English Language Arts, compared to 94 percent last year, according to the California Department of Education. 

For the math portion, 97 percent of sophomores passed, up from 96 percent last year. 

Across Los Angeles County, 83 percent of 10th graders passed the math
portion of the test -- up from 82 percent last year -- while 82 percent passed
the English section, up from 81 percent last year.

Statewide, 84 percent of 10th graders passed the math portion, while 83
percent passed English -- the same as the previous year's 10th graders.

According to the CDE, 95.5 percent of students in the class of 2013 across the state passed the overall exam, a slight uptick from the previous year. This year's pass rate was the highest it has been since the test was made a graduation requirement.

"Despite the very real challenges of deep budget cuts and the ongoing effort to shift to new, more demanding academic standards, our schools persevered and students made progress," according to Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction. "These results should give us confidence as we start the new school year, and our efforts to make college- and career-readiness a goal for every student move into high gear."

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 and editors Dan Abendschein and Melanie C. Johnson contributed to this report.