TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

For Frontier High School junior Jesse Hoff, the California High School Exit Exam was a piece of cake.

"It was all review from my classes," Hoff, who averages A's and B's, said. "If you pay attention in class, you'll pass."

Apparently Frontier High students are paying attention in class, even with highly publicized administrative changes and personnel controversies swirling around them.

Just five years after first opening, Frontier High posted Kern County's highest passing rates on the exam among first-time test takers this past year, according to new results released Wednesday.

Last school year's sophomores leaped past or joined the ranks of perennial testing standouts like Stockdale, Liberty and Centennial high schools. But the entire Kern High School District had reason to celebrate Wednesday as data showed students taking the exit exam for the first time improved in both sections of the test, English and math.

Eighty-one percent of the sophomores passed the English test on the first try, up two percentage points from last year, while 81 percent passed the math test, up one percentage point.

Kern County generally (not just schools in the Kern High School District) also saw a jump -- 80 percent passed the English and math tests, up 3 percentage points in English and one percentage point in math.

"We're really happy with the results," said Mike Zulfa, KHSD's assistant superintendent of instruction. "It's one less hurdle for those students who have passed."

Still, both KHSD and the county as a whole continue to lag slightly behind state averages, where 83 percent of students passed the English portion and 82 percent the math. California as a whole continues to make gains each year, too.

"It is heartening to see that our students continue to learn and achieve despite the painful toll that budget cuts are taking on our schools," State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in a statement. "The results of this year's exit examination -- and the progress schools are making to close the achievement gap -- are yet another sign of the remarkable commitment that teachers, school employees and administrators have to the students of California."

State law requires students pass both parts of the test to earn a diploma, and to ensure students graduate with basic skills. They take the exam for the first time as sophomores, and have two chances to pass as juniors, and up to five chances as seniors.

Students who don't pass are tracked by the district and often take remedial courses to help them pass. Officials use data analysis to find strengths and weaknesses "kid by kid, and skill by skill," Zulfa said. Students also get help through after-school programs, community tutoring, online curriculum and other things. Principals and campuses also share with each other "best practices" on what's working for students.

Traditionally, roughly 95 percent of KHSD students pass both portions by the end of their senior year.

"It's important we don't fall back," Zulfa said. "There's still work to do."

Nearly 12,000 sophomores locally from the graduating Class of 2013 took the test this spring, with more than 8,000 of them on KHSD campuses.

For Frontier High, the news was especially good in light of publicity it garnered last school year when much of the administrative staff was replaced.

School staff maintained professionalism, and the personnel issues did not affect students, employees there have told The Californian.

The new scores reflect the quality of teachers, staff and students at Frontier, said John Teves, KHSD spokesman.

"There was never any issues with academic effectiveness at Frontier High. They've been doing just fine," he said.

Freshman Kesten Harris said he's nervous about taking the test next year, especially on the math section, even though he gets A's and B's in classes.

"There's a lot of pressure," Harris said. "If I don't pass, I won't get to graduate."

Students who don't pass the exams by the end of their senior year, but have earned enough credits, get a certificate of completion.

Sophomore Kesea Johnson, however, isn't too worried about taking the exam this school year. She's taking rigorous Advanced Placement classes.

"I think I'm prepared."

To see how your school scored, or compared, go to cahsee.cde.ca.gov.