Last-Chance Test Lets 7 Seniors Join Grads

With graduation on the line, a group of seniors at Fillmore High passed proficiency exams that will allow them to join their classmates at commencement exercises this week.

All but one of eight students in danger of being barred from Thursday’s graduation managed last week to pass the writing portion of the state-mandated exams.

Last month, the students won one additional chance to pass the exams after arguing they had been shortchanged by a new graduation requirement allowing seniors only two attempts.

They told school board members it was unfair to limit them to two tries this year after seniors have had up to six opportunities in previous years.

“They made it, but it was grueling,” said Jane Kampbell, assistant superintendent for the Fillmore Unified School District.

“They were working up until the last day,” she said.

High school students are required to prove basic proficiency in reading, writing and math to graduate.

The eight seniors had earned passing scores in reading and math but had failed to do so in writing.

The new policy is part of a broader push to toughen graduation standards for Fillmore High seniors, including a move earlier this year to require at least a C average to receive a high school diploma starting with the class of 2002.

Fillmore school board members are expected to meet in coming months to clarify the new standards so there is no future confusion.

“We’re going to codify our policy, so to speak, so that we have all our pieces in place,” Kampbell said.

“We want all of our high school students to be aware that the school board is increasing standards.”