Lexington One Students Improve Pass Rates on High School Exit Exams

Seventy-nine percent or nearly 4 out of 5 of South Carolina’s students who took both the English language arts (ELA) and mathematics High School Assessment Program (HSAP) exams passed on their first attempt, according to 2010-11 school year data released on Friday from the State Department of Education. 

In Lexington One, the percentage of students who passed the ELA section in the 2010-2011 school year increased by 1.8 percent compared to last year to 92.3 percent. The percentage of students who passed the math portion increased by a slight 0.7 percent to 92.1 percent.

Statewide, the data also showed that the percentage of students who passed End of Course (EOC) exams in Algebra, Physical Science and U.S. History, increased from the 2009-10 school year. English was the only subject area to show a decrease.

In Lexington One, however, pass rates were more mixed. Versus the 2009-2010 school year, pass rates in 2010-2011 improved 1.7 percent in Algebra and 1.6 percent in U.S. History & Constitution, but decreased 1.3 percent in Physical Science and 0.2 percent in English. 

Statewide, for ELA HSAP tests, 88.6 percent of the students tested (51,357) during the 2010-11 school year met the HSAP exam requirement of scoring a Level 2 or higher on the exam. In mathematics, 81.2 percent of the 51,356 students who took the test met the exit requirement. 

Here is a breakdown of the EOC exam results:

• 82.1 percent of the 56,492 students tested passed the Algebra exam, an improvement of 1.9 percent
• 68 percent of the 51,514 students tested passed the Biology exam
• 72.5 percent of the 54,830 students tested passed the English exam, a decrease of 1.2 percent
• 59.8 percent of the 53,506 students tested passed the Physical Science exam, an improvement of .7 percent
• 49.7 percent of the 47,724 students tested passed the U.S. History exam, an improvement of 3.4 percent

The 2010-11 school year is the first year for the Biology I exam. 

Students receive a grade from A-F. In South Carolina, the uniform grading scale is as follows: an A is 93-100; a B is 85-92; a C is 77-84; a D is 70-76; and a 69 or below is an F. A passing score is above 69. 

Public school students must pass both the HSAP exams in order to meet the state’s exit exam requirement for a high school diploma.  A level 2 score of higher will qualify a passing score for the state.

If a student doesn’t pass an exam on his or her first attempt, additional opportunities are given to retake any exam.

Students must score a Level 3 or higher to meet proficiency standards for federal accountability, according to the education department.

The HSAP, which is based on the state’s curriculum standards for ELA and math, is administered during a student’s second year of high school.

The Education Accountability Act of 1998 requires students to take the End of Course exams in what the State Education Department calls gateway or benchmark courses, which includes English and Algebra. All public school students in middle school, high school, alternative school, virtual school, adult education, and home schools who are enrolled in these courses must take the exam. 

The End of Course results count for 20 percent of a student’s final course grade.