The majority of the San Diego County sophomores who took the state high school exit examination during the last academic year aced the mathematics and English sections, in results the state Department of Education announced Friday.

About 37,000 students took the test and 88 percent passed the math portion, while 86 percent mastered the English part.

The performance by students in the region was 3 percent higher than the state average in both math and English, according to the EDD. The local results were roughly the same as compared to student performance from recent years.

A large majority of economically disadvantaged students in the county passed – 82 percent in math and 78 percent in English. Of students labeled as English learners, 39 percent passed English and 58 percent passed math.

In the area’s largest district, San Diego Unified, about 8,200 10th-graders took the exit exam; 87 percent passed the math portion and 85 percent passed English, according to state data.

Rates regarding economically disadvantaged and English learning students mirrored the county results.

“Dedicated educators have worked hard in difficult times to prepare students for college and careers, but we must keep striving for even higher levels of achievement so all students have the skills, knowledge, and tools they need to be successful,” said Tom Torlakson, the state superintendent of public instruction.

All students in California must take the exit exam during their sophomore year. They have two more opportunities to pass it in the 11th grade and up to five chances as seniors.

The class of 2006 was the first graduating class in California required to meet the exit exam requirement.

– City News Service

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