Gary Moskowitz
For her students who don't necessarily excel at mathematics, Glendale
High School Co-principal Lou Stewart understands.
"I was math-phobic myself," Stewart said. "I can definitely
relate."
But with her school showing a higher pass rate on the latest
California High School Exit Exam than county and statewide averages,
Stewart is confident her students are making progress in math and
English, phobias or no.
The state Department of Education recently released its annual
California High School Exit Exam reports, based on students in the
classes of 2004 and 2005 who took the test during the 2002-03 school
year.
The exit exam is a statewide standardized test in English and
language arts and math. The state Board of Education in July voted to
delay the exit exam as a graduation requirement for the classes of
2004 and 2005; the requirement to pass the exam will begin with the
Class of 2006.
In the interim, Glendale Unified is continuing to administer a
slightly different version of the test to its students.
Overall district scores were above county and state averages, with
local pass rates ranging from 52% to 97%. The countywide pass rate
was 37% in math and 62% in English. The statewide pass rates were 43%
in math and 66% in English.
Glendale High scored a 52% pass rate in the math portion of the
exam, and a 72% pass rate in the English and language arts portion of
the state-standardized test. The school's scores are below district
averages, but are above county and state averages.
"We always have intervention classes in the works," Stewart said.
"And we are starting after-school intervention classes in the next
few weeks for kids who need an extra push."
Clark Magnet High School, which offers a 40-minute enrichment
period for peer tutoring on exit-exam material, scored 90% in math
and 97% in English and language arts.
Crescenta Valley High School had an 87% pass rate in math and a
91% pass rate in English.
"The test is not asking them to be geniuses, but rather to have a
working knowledge," said Lisa Reed, a math teacher at CV High and a
member of the state standards-setting committee for the exam.
Hoover High School scored a 54% pass rate in math, and a 62% pass
rate in English and language arts. Co-principal Hasmik Danielian said
teachers of subjects other than math and English are asked to
incorporate elements of writing and math into lesson plans throughout
the school year.
"I think we have done very well," Danielian said. "As a school, I
think we need to develop more strategies, and we need parents and the
community to help us with this. We cannot do this alone."
This year, Hoover is looking into creating math and technology
nights for parents, to help them be better prepared to work with
their children on math at home, Danielian said.
