The Louisiana Department of Education continues its transition away from Graduation Exit Exams toward End-of-Course exams, assessments that it says better reflect internationally competitive goals. Now it has released a summary report of the EOC exams administered to students enrolled in Algebra I, English II, Geometry and Biology in December 2011 and May 2012, and both local school systems fall generally short of the state averages.

EOC exams are administered to students upon completion of core subjects and are designed to measure whether students have mastered the required knowledge, skills and abilities of the tested course. The content of the assessments is aligned with the state’s comprehensive curriculum and is based on grade level expectations.

Students earn one of four achievement levels on EOC exams: Excellent, Good, Fair or Needs Improvement. To earn a passing score and eventually graduate, students must earn a rating of Fair or higher in a subject. A rating of Excellent or Good demonstrates proficiency in a particular subject. Incoming freshmen must earn passing scores on at least three EOC tests during their high school career to take home a state-issued diploma. The three passing scores must be in English II or English III, Algebra I or Geometry, and Biology or U.S. History.

The Washington Parish School System as a whole almost matched the state averages in English II. Across the state, students averaged: Excellent, 24 percent; Good, 42 percent; Fair, 24 percent; and Needs Improvement, 10 percent.

In English II, Washington Parish students scored: Excellent, 24 percent; Good, 40 percent; Fair, 28 percent and Needs Improvement, nine percent. Bogalusa City School System students scored: Excellent, 14 percent; Good, 50 percent; Fair, 23 percent; and Needs Improvement, 12 percent.

For comparison, the St. Tammany Parish average was: Excellent, 38 percent; Good, 41 percent; Fair, 16 percent; and Needs Improvement, 5 percent. The Tangipahoa Parish averages were: Excellent, 18 percent; Good, 40 percent; Fair, 28 percent; and Needs Improvement, 14 percent.

In Algebra I, the state averages were: Excellent, 22 percent; Good, 34 percent; Fair, 23 percent; and Needs Improvement, 21 percent.

In Algebra I, Washington Parish students scored: Excellent, 19 percent; Good, 25 percent; Fair, 26 percent ;and Needs Improvement, 29 percent. Bogalusa students scored: Excellent, 4 percent; Good, 28 percent; Fair, 42 percent and Needs Improvement, 25 percent.

The St. Tammany average was: Excellent, 34 percent; Good, 38 percent, Fair, 16 percent; and Needs Improvement, 12 percent. Tangipahoa students scored: Excellent, 16 percent; Good, 30 percent; Fair, 28 percent; and Needs Improvement, 27 percent.

In Geometry, the state averages were: Excellent, 19 percent; Good, 30 percent; Fair, 31 percent; and Needs Improvement, 19 percent.

In Geometry, Washington Parish students scored: Excellent, 12 percent; Good, 28 percent; Fair, 34 percent; and Needs Improvement, 26 percent. Bogalusa students scored: Excellent, 5 percent; Good, 20 percent; Fair, 39 percent; and Needs Improvement, 36 percent.

The St. Tammany average was: Excellent, 33 percent; Good, 35 percent; Fair, 24 percent; and Needs Improvement, 8 percent. Tangipahoa students scored: Excellent, 12 percent; Good, 25 percent; Fair, 35 percent; and Needs Improvement, 28 percent.

In Biology, the state averages were: Excellent, 15 percent; Good, 37 percent; Fair, 35 percent; and Needs Improvement, 13 percent.

In Biology, Washington Parish students scored: Excellent, 11 percent; Good, 38 percent; Fair, 41 percen;t and Needs Improvement, 10 percent. Bogalusa students scored: Excellent, 4 percent; Good, 30 percent; Fair, 48 percent and Needs Improvement, 18 percent.

The St. Tammany average was: Excellent, 26 percent; Good, 43 percent; Fair, 24 percent; and Needs Improvement, 6 percent. Tangipahoa students scored: Excellent, 13 percent; Good, 32 percent; Fair, 40 percent; and Needs Improvement, 15 percent.