More Than 90 Percent Of Black And Latino Students Pass California High School Exam

MercuryNews.com:

For the first time, more than 90 percent of California's black and Latino students passed both the English and math portions of the high school exit exam by May of their senior year, according to new data released Wednesday.

The milestone comes five years after California started requiring students to pass the controversial test -- a breeze for most seniors, a burden for many traditionally left behind -- before they can graduate.

Read the whole story: MercuryNews.com

Comments

[DanSc]

04:36 PM on 08/28/2011

So students that didn't drop out already did what they were supposed to do. Congratulations?

[bg3]

01:24 PM on 08/28/2011

question #1 what is your name

[sixty-one]

01:29 AM on 08/27/2011

Progress of any kind should be encouraged.

[Fogcatcher]

07:49 PM on 08/26/2011

Where is Jaime Escalante when you need him....I know it's been a few years since his passing but if we had more like him stories like this would be the norm, not some sort of a huge accomplishment.....

[Ian Gord]

07:23 PM on 08/26/2011

And how many of this 90% will need remedial courses should they attend college?

Statistically 80% !

http://chronicle.com/article/Most-Students-in-Remedial/41611

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

05:05 PM on 08/26/2011

Link doesn't work. {{-_-}}

[thomp5000]

05:03 PM on 08/26/2011

Factor in that almost half drop out and you're looking at a figure of closer to 40-45% success rate. I don't know why anyone would patting themselves on the back.

[Ian Gord]

07:10 PM on 08/26/2011

They're liberals.

[SuperMex]

03:46 PM on 08/26/2011

One would think that the lions share of the comments would be cheering these kids on. After all they are the American future.

Don't get me wrong, I clearly understand the role of critical thinking. I can remember having some degree of difficulty trying to solve some college logic problems.

Our future is in your hands young Americans. Good Luck.

[Fogcatcher]

08:33 PM on 08/26/2011

I understand the comments as well, but I must agree with you in that our future is in the hands of these young Americans... We were once young Americans and the future was ours to be had... why did we allow the politicians of our time to sell us short... My hope is that these young Americans pay more attention than we did.......

[media sux]

08:47 PM on 08/26/2011

well said...both of you!

[sibyl9]

02:58 PM on 08/26/2011

Teaching to the test year after year is finally showing results. However, the pass rate for critical thinking skills is 0%.

[Fogcatcher]

03:21 PM on 08/26/2011

I can't pull it up, does anyone know why it was controversial to require students to pass the test?

[Seastink]

05:29 PM on 08/26/2011

Because the majority of them are too stupid to pass a test and it would hurt their little feelings if they failed. They might turn to crime and violence then.

[Ian Gord]

07:20 PM on 08/26/2011

Well, teaching what feels good hasn't seemed to work.

If a test is the only objective standard the "educational community" understands, the test on!

The "critical thinking" argument is a sham - it can't be measured, and that's why the "educational community" loves to promote it as an alternative to knowledge. One cannot think critically without any facts, concepts, or skills to work with.

How many of this 90% will have to be remediated in college? 80% !
http://chronicle.com/article/Most-Students-in-Remedial/41611

[sibyl9]

08:09 PM on 08/26/2011

I agree that these students are graduating without having a good grasp of literacy and math skills - skills they should have learned by middle school. In high school, students are supposed to be taught to analyze and problem-solve. These students are not getting these critical thinking skills because high school teachers have to continue teaching them elementary and middle school English and math. The fact that so many h.s. graduates have to go to remedial math and English classes in community college is indicative as to the worth of the High School diploma they receive - to.i let paper.

[Knowledgeseeker]

02:51 PM on 08/26/2011

good news, this story should be in all news headlines.

[massjim]

06:52 AM on 08/26/2011

Some great news, congratulations to the kids!

[theaustralian]

05:13 AM on 08/26/2011

Education in the usa is pretty bad, if the usa wants to compete it needs to raise it's standards.

[asteven]

02:13 PM on 08/26/2011

I agree. You can always lower the bar to get +99% pass.

[ColoradoBrad]

12:23 AM on 08/26/2011

Good

[Veritas 1]

11:05 PM on 08/25/2011

Read: After several attempts, eventually 90% of those who stay in school to become seniors pass an exit exam that tests knowledge which should be mastered by 7th grade.

[ObamAtomic]

12:04 AM on 08/26/2011

What you have against students? You are lying!

Public school students take the California High School Exit Exam in the 10th grade. Those who don't pass have two more chances in 11th grade and five in 12th grade. Currently, students with disabilities must take the exam in 10th grade but do not need to pass in order to earn a diploma.

Others question the rigor of the exam. While the English portion tests what students learn in 10th and 11th grade, in math only 15 percent of the exam focuses on Algebra I -- which students usually take in eighth or ninth grade. The other 85 percent of the exam tests sixth- and seventh-grade skills.

http://www.mercurynews.com/education/ci_18747411?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com

[Veritas 1]

01:11 AM on 08/26/2011

What makes you think I hold anything against these students? I have actually taken the test or at least a precursor to the current version. The authorities can call the curriculum whatever "grade" they want, however that doesn't change the fact that it is basically material which is taught or should be taught in middle school. My comment was only making fun of the positive spin the article places on mere ordinary numbers.

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

03:45 PM on 08/26/2011

Even Rosa De Leon of the civil rights group Californians for Justice thinks the teachers are just teaching the test, so what are you ranting about? Or is it just another opportunty to use the word "baggers" today? (see your own post below)

[Jayjaybe]

12:50 AM on 08/26/2011

Their SATs will account for the reality of their preparedness. Many of these kids are showing up in college in increasingly greater numbers every year, especially latino kids, many of whom are English-only. Obsolete bigotry rings hollow, huh?

[Veritas 1]

01:14 AM on 08/26/2011

My comment was not meant to be directed only at the groups mentioned in the article. I believe in equally bad educational experiences for everyone.

[mr politenessman]

10:23 PM on 08/25/2011

Excellent kids!..... Great California!....Keep moving forward!...College next!....