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Debate Continues on Exit Exams
RALEIGH — When NC legislators decided to drop the planned high school graduation exit exam for 11th graders, they weren’t necessarily saying that there should be no final requirement for graduation. With the four-year graduation rate at just 60 percent, they also weren’t willing to see it go lower on the basis of one test. But new research suggests that tougher exams don’t cause fewer students to graduate. Some say that tougher tests may inspire high school students to do better, though there is little evidence yet for this effect, either. Even if it doesn’t occur, the “meaningfulness” of a diploma should increase with harder exit exams.