English Exit Exam Scores Jump

Sophomores at improved their scores on the English-Language Arts California High School Exit Exam between the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years, but the number of students scoring as proficient or above in mathematics dropped slightly.

The percentage of students who passed both exams remained the same.

Ninety-two percent of students passed the 2010-2011 English-Language arts exam, with 77 percent scoring as proficient or higher. Last year, 70 percent scored proficient or higher.

About 91 percent of sophomores passed the 2010-2011 mathematics exam, with 67 percent scoring as proficient or higher. That's down two percentage points from the 2009-2010 school year, when 69 percent of sophomores scored proficient or above.

Across California, about 83 percent of 10th graders passed the math portion of the test, City News Service reported. About 82 percent passed the English-Language Arts portion.

"It is heartening to see that our students continue to learn and achieve despite the painful toll that budget cuts are taking on our schools," said Tom Torlakson, state superintendent of public instruction, in a statement. "The results of this year's exit examination—and the progress schools are making to close the achievement gap—are yet another sign of the remarkable commitment that teachers, school employees and administrators have to the students of California."

California students are required to take the exit exam during their sophomore year. If they don't pass as 10th graders, they have five more chances—two during their junior year and three during their senior year—to pass.

Passing the exit exam is a prerequisite for high school graduation.

City News Service contributed to this report.