What Is the CAHSEE?

The California High School Exit Exam¬ination (CAHSEE) is a statewide exam all California public school students must pass in order to graduate from high school beginning with the 2005-06 school year.The purpose of the CAHSEE is to improve student achievement in high school and ensure that students who graduate from high school can demonstrate competency in the state academic content standards for reading, writing, and mathematics.

The exam is divided into two parts: English-language arts (ELA) and mathematics. All questions are aligned to California academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education. Academic content standards describe what students should know and be able to do at each grade level from kindergarten through grade twelve.

For more information about the content standards covered on the CAHSEE, go to

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/resources.asp

Graduation Requirements

California public school students who graduate in the 2005-06 school year and after must pass the CAHSEE as well as any school district requirements to receive a high school diploma.

This graduation requirement is mandated by state law. Students must earn a score of 350 or higher on each part of the CAHSEE (mathematics and English-language arts) to pass the exam. This translates to approximately 60 percent correct in English-language arts and 55 percent correct in mathematics. Students who do not pass the exam in grade ten will have additional opportunities in grades eleven and twelve to retake the part(s) not passed.

Testing Dates
2006 – 2007

October 3rd / 4th seniors

November 7th / 8th juniors

February 6th / 7th seniors

March 20th / 21st juniors & sophomores

May 8th / 9th seniors & (sophomore make-up only)