More Oceanside seniors still need exit exam to graduate

By: KEITH RUSHING - Staff Writer | Friday, June 8, 2007 11:44 PM PDT ∞

OCEANSIDE ---- With graduation day approaching in the Oceanside Unified School District, more seniors than last year still haven't passed the California High School Exit Exam required by the state to graduate, district officials said Friday.

This year, 61 seniors who have enough credits to receive a diploma still haven't passed the exit exam, according to Michael Hargrove, the district's director of assessment and evaluation. In June 2006, 43 seniors hadn't passed the exam, Hargrove said.

Like last year, the majority of those students will still get their diplomas because they're special education students who are exempt from the requirement. However, the percentage of mainstream seniors in the Oceanside district who have yet to pass the exam has doubled over last year, Hargrove said.

In June 2006, 11 students --- or about 1 percent of seniors who had the credits required for graduation --- couldn't get a diploma because they hadn't passed the exit exam. This year, 19 students, or about 2 percent of seniors, haven't passed the exam and won't get to graduate next week.

Oceanside students can take the exit exam a single time in 10th grade, twice in 11th grade and three times in 12th grade.

While this year's data might appear discouraging, district officials said it actually reflects a positive trend ---- that the district is keeping significantly more at-risk seniors in school through new academic recovery centers.

"Although there might be a slight decline in the senior (exit exam) pass rate, it's because we're retaining more students who otherwise might not have graduated," said Hargrove. "To have students in school working toward graduation, as opposed to dropping out, is absolutely good news."

About 370 students are enrolled in the recovery centers, which opened in the fall. Although the district's enrollment has been dropping for the past four years, the number of juniors and seniors this month was up by about 250 when compared to last year, according to recent enrollment data.

Before the recovery centers opened at three district schools ---- El Camino and Oceanside high schools and Clair Burgener Academy ---- students who were significantly behind in credits would often drop out, said Hargrove.

The recovery centers allow students to work at their own pace, using computer software under the guidance of teachers and counselors. Students are awarded credits once they've demonstrated knowledge of a course through a test.

Recovery center students, some of whom have children or depend on jobs to support themselves, have more flexible schedules. They're required to spend only two hours at a center each weekday and expected to spend about four hours working independently on their own.

Although the recovery centers have been successful in keeping students in school, the lower pass rate on the exit exam might indicate a need for more preparation, said Hargrove.

"We have to make sure that the ARC (recovery center) students are getting support in passing," said Hargrove.

Deputy Superintendent Larry Perondi said this week that the recovery center seniors will get more preparation next year because they'll be required to take an exit exam preparation course, which was optional this year.

"We're always going to be mindful of the fact that we'd like to have 100 percent of the seniors who take (the exit exam) pass the exam," he said. "We want kids to take it seriously."

Students who haven't yet passed the exam will have one more chance to pass the English section of the test, on July 24, and the math section on July 25. If students are successful in meeting the requirement, they'll get a 2007 diploma, said Hargrove.

Contact staff writer Keith Rushing at (760) 901-4151 or krushing@nctimes.com.

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