High School Performance on the Exit Exam

April 2007
More than 91% of the students in the class of 2006 passed the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), according to the California Department of Education (CDE). Altogether 400,163 students passed the test, leaving 37,755 in the class of 2006 who did not.

The results do not include Special Education students in the class of 2006 who did not have to take the exit exam. In January 2006 legislators, in response to a lawsuit, agreed to exempt Special Education students in the class of 2006 who met certain criteria from having to take the exam. However, as of August 2006, about 48% of these students had already passed the test.

Particular populations of students have had less success passing the CAHSEE. The following chart outlines the percentages passing by student population. The most successful subgroup, white students, had a 97% passage rate and the least successful, English learners, a 76% rate.

For more information, see

The California High School Exit Exam Gets Real

Data: California Department of Education (CDE)
EdSource 4/07

NOTE: California defines English learners as students whose primary language—as reported by their parents—is not English and who did not reach a specified level of achievement on a test of English proficiency. Students are considered economically disadvantaged if they qualify for free and reduced-priced meals. Information about passing rates for other ethnicities is not available.