| As the San Diego schools graduating | | | | the test, and 98.5 percent of whites and |
| class of 2007 begin their senior year, | | | | Asians had passed. When the class of |
| school district superintendents across | | | | 2006 first took the exam two years ago, |
| San Diego County are celebrating. The | | | | 65 percent of blacks and Latinos passed |
| San Diego County Schools announced in | | | | the math portion, with 90 percent of |
| September that, as of the class of 2006, | | | | whites and Asians passing it. |
| the gap in passing the crucial math | | | | The math portion of the California High |
| portion of the state exit exam is nearly | | | | School Exit Exam covers middle school |
| closed between black/Latino and white | | | | math and some algebra. A score of at |
| Asian students. | | | | least 55 percent must be achieved to |
| The county school report represented | | | | pass the exam. Students first take the |
| three years worth of student testing. | | | | exam in their sophomore year and have |
| The results break a long-standing | | | | numerous chances in their junior and |
| pattern of lagging scores for black and | | | | senior years to retake the exam. The |
| Latino students. | | | | test was first administered in 2001, but |
| Across the nation, as well as in the San | | | | the requirement to pass or not receive a |
| Diego schools, gaps have long been | | | | high school diploma was implemented with |
| evident between races in many academic | | | | the class of 2006. |
| measures, such as SAT scores, dropout | | | | Passing the math portion is of |
| rates, and college prep course | | | | particular concern to the San Diego |
| enrollment. | | | | schools, where 43 percent of its |
| There are many theories as to why the | | | | students fall into this lagging behind |
| gap exists. Some believe high-achieving | | | | category. Latino children represent its |
| minority students are condemned by their | | | | largest racial or ethnic group. |
| peers as "acting white", while others | | | | San Diego schools Superintendent Carl |
| believe that racism is built into the | | | | Cohn pointed out the importance of this |
| institution to discourage minorities | | | | test. He said it means the difference |
| from enrolling in rigorous courses. It | | | | between a lifetime of unemployment and |
| is even believed that predominantly | | | | or incarceration and a successful |
| low-income, minority schools generally | | | | lifestyle for San Diego schools |
| employ inexperienced or uncredentialed | | | | students. "It makes all the difference |
| teachers. | | | | in the world," stated Cohn. "The test is |
| Whatever the problem, it seems the San | | | | genuinely high stakes." |
| Diego schools and other districts in the | | | | The National Center for Education |
| county are resolving it. About three | | | | Statistics underscores the San Diego |
| years ago, 42 school district | | | | schools superintendent's remarks. It |
| superintendents, including the San Diego | | | | reports that, if a student enrolls in |
| schools, pledged to help black and | | | | algebra in the eighth grade, the chances |
| Latino students bring their math skills | | | | that student will apply to a four-year |
| up to par. The Superintendents' | | | | college almost doubles. |
| Achievement Gap Task Force closed the | | | | With all the good results for the |
| gap by using teacher training, prep | | | | county's class of 2006, 1,207 students |
| courses, increased teaching time for | | | | were denied diplomas, because they did |
| struggling students, and a symposia for | | | | not pass the math portion of the exit |
| county educators to share techniques and | | | | exam. Thus, for the San Diego schools, a |
| results. A variety of methods were | | | | gap is still a gap. San Diego schools |
| employed to ensure students had every | | | | officials acknowledge that more work |
| opportunity to succeed. | | | | needs to be done to bring blacks and |
| By class of 2006 graduation day, 92.3 | | | | Latinos' pass rates up within the San |
| percent of blacks and Latinos had passed | | | | Diego schools. |