Exit exam scores fall slightly

by Anna B. Mitchell

Greenville County Schools experienced a small setback in its high school exit exams in spring 2009.

Results showed the school district’s pass rate of 77.4 percent among 10th graders taking it the first time was better than the statewide rate of 76.1 percent. However, the pass rate was down from 2008’s all time high of 81.9 percent.

Greenville County’s decline mirrored that of the state, which last year had a record high 80.8 percent pass rate.

A passing score on math and language arts exams, called the High School Assessment Program (HSAP), have been required of every South Carolina graduate since 2005.

Students typically take it in the 10th grade, and the vast majority have always passed that first time. Those who don’t can keep trying.

Looking at the math and language tests separately, the pass rates were higher – with 86.6 percent passing language and 80.8 percent passing math.

State Superintendent Jim Rex said he and his experts were at a loss to explain the statewide decline.

“We’ve been seeing very positive scoring trends, including the highest scores ever just last year,” Rex said in a statement from the education department.  “So these results are not what we expected.  But trends are what you look for in student testing, and we’ll have to wait a year and see if this is the beginning of a downward trend or just a random blip.”

The most notable declines were among low-income and black students. In math, 70.3 percent of students receiving subsidized meals passed (76 percent in 2008) and 68.4 percent of black students passed (74.5 percent in 2008).

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