EDITORIAL

Exit exam results for high school students were released last week,

and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District fared well overall.

The district’s freshmen, who were the only ones required to take the

new exams in March, bested both the county and state averages in the two

categories -- English-language arts and math.

In English-language arts, about 75% of the students passed the test

compared with the county’s 71% and the state’s 64%.

In math, the district’s 55% passing rate topped the county marks by 1%

and the state’s measly 44%.

Looking at the general numbers, the district did fantastic by staying

ahead of the county and state in both categories. Considering it was the

first time the test was offered, and students were unsure even a day

before if the test would count or only serve as practice, the numbers are

that much better.

When the numbers are broken down between the individual high schools,

Corona del Mar recorded the best passing rates by far, with a 95% in

English-language arts and an 84% in math. Newport Harbor, Costa Mesa and

Estancia then finished in that order in each of the categories.

While there’s no need to worry too much at this point, it is obvious

Estancia needs a good deal of help in both categories, as only 60% of its

freshmen passed in English-language arts and 30% passed in math.

Peggy Anatol, director of secondary curriculum and assessment for the

district, said the language used on the tests often proved too difficult

for second-language-learning students. That would explain why some of the

lower scores were found in Costa Mesa high schools, which teach more

second-language learners.

As it’s still early and the students will be given multiple

opportunities to pass the exam, the district and individual schools have

plenty of time to work with those students who ran into difficulties.

But so far, so good.