CA: Study shows LA graduation rates decreasing, exit exam a factor

Graduation rates declining in LA Unified despite higher enrollment, study finds

Los Angeles Times  June 21, 2008

A study conducted by the California Dropout Research Project at UC-Santa Barbara shows that declining graduation rates in LA Unified School District that have occurred after exit exams were required can be traced to the quality of the students' middle school experience and the teacher quality in high schools.  Magnet schools showed higher graduation rates, and differences between schools were more predictive than student factors, such as race and socioeconomic status.