Less than 50 students in the Class of 2008 still need to pass one or both portions of the California High School Exit Exam, which is required for graduation.
They have two more opportunities to take the part they need to pass, according to Morgan Hill Unified School District officials.
The number of students who have not passed the exam fluctuates frequently, said Esther Corral-Carlson, coordinator of assessment for the district, because students enroll and un-enroll often.
Corral-Carlson told Morgan Hill School Board trustees during their Jan. 29 meeting that at the time she prepared her report, 94 percent of the graduating class have passed the English language arts area of the test, and 93 percent of students have passed the math.
Of the students who have not passed English, three are Central High students, 27 are Live Oak High students and 10 are Sobrato students. Of those needing to pass math, seven are Central High students, 27 are Live Oak High students and 13 are Sobrato High students.
Trustees also learned that 17 of the students needing to pass English and 24 of the students who haven't passed math are special education students. Of the students that haven't passed English, 19 are socio-economically disadvantaged students; 24 socio-economically disadvantaged students haven't passed math yet.
Twenty-four of the students who haven't passed English are English language learners, and 19 of those that need to pass math are English language learners.
Corral-Carlson told trustees that students who didn't pass both portions of the test the first time, when they were tenth graders, were offered special help.
Students had an opportunity to take the exam Feb. 6, and they will have another chance in March if they still have to pass one or both parts of the test. If they need to take the test another time, they can do so in May, but the results would not be available in time for the students to participate in the graduation ceremony in June.
"However, if students pass the May exit exam, they would be able to walk in the summer school graduation ceremonies and receive their diploma," Dan Ehrler, communications and community relations for the district.
To help students who still need to pass, the district offered a six-week after school program in January, and teachers are working very hard, he added, to look at the challenges students are facing and help them meet the challenges.
"The program that is used in the six-week boot camp is called Advanced Academics," said Ehrler. "It diagnoses students' areas of need so teachers can be directed to that need and provide relevant assistance."
Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil is a freelance writer for The Times.
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