San Diego Schools Closing Gap
In Math
By: Patricia Hawke
As the San Diego schools graduating class
of 2007 begin their senior year, school district superintendents across San
Diego County are celebrating. The San Diego County Schools announced in
September that, as of the class of 2006, the gap in passing the crucial math
portion of the state exit exam is nearly closed between black/Latino and
white/Asian students.
The county school report represented three years worth of student testing.
The results break a long-standing pattern of lagging scores for black and
Latino students.
Across the nation, as well as in the San Diego schools, gaps have long been
evident between races in many academic measures, such as SAT scores, dropout
rates, and college prep course enrollment.
There are many theories as to why the gap exists. Some believe
high-achieving minority students are condemned by their peers as “acting
white”, while others believe that racism is built into the institution to
discourage minorities from enrolling in rigorous courses. It is even
believed that predominantly low-income, minority schools generally employ
inexperienced or uncredentialed teachers.
Whatever the problem, it seems the San Diego schools and other districts in
the county are resolving it. About three years ago, 42 school district
superintendents, including the San Diego schools, pledged to help black and
Latino students bring their math skills up to par. The Superintendents’
Achievement Gap Task Force closed the gap by using teacher training, prep
courses, increased teaching time for struggling students, and a symposia for
county educators to share techniques and results. A variety of methods were
employed to ensure students had every opportunity to succeed.
By class of 2006 graduation day, 92.3 percent of blacks and Latinos had
passed the test, and 98.5 percent of whites and Asians had passed. When the
class of 2006 first took the exam two years ago, 65 percent of blacks and
Latinos passed the math portion, with 90 percent of whites and Asians
passing it.
The math portion of the California High School Exit Exam covers middle
school math and some algebra. A score of at least 55 percent must be
achieved to pass the exam. Students first take the exam in their sophomore
year and have numerous chances in their junior and senior years to retake
the exam. The test was first administered in 2001, but the requirement to
pass or not receive a high school diploma was implemented with the class of
2006.
Passing the math portion is of particular concern to the San Diego schools,
where 43 percent of its students fall into this lagging behind category.
Latino children represent its largest racial or ethnic group.
San Diego schools Superintendent Carl Cohn pointed out the importance of
this test. He said it means the difference between a lifetime of
unemployment and/or incarceration and a successful lifestyle for San Diego
schools students. “It makes all the difference in the world,” stated Cohn.
“The test is genuinely high stakes.”
The National Center for Education Statistics underscores the San Diego
schools superintendent’s remarks. It reports that, if a student enrolls in
algebra in the eighth grade, the chances that student will apply to a
four-year college almost doubles.
With all the good results for the county’s class of 2006, 1,207 students
were denied diplomas, because they did not pass the math portion of the exit
exam. Thus, for the San Diego schools, a gap is still a gap. San Diego
schools officials acknowledge that more work needs to be done to bring
blacks and Latinos’ pass rates up within the San Diego schools.
About The Author
Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth
reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on
San Diego schools visit
http://www.schoolsk-12.com/california/san-diego/index.html
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