California High School Exit Exam

The California High School Exit Exam (or CAHSEE) is a requirement for high school graduation in the state of California, created by the California Department of Education to improve the academic performance of California high school students, and especially of high school graduates, in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics; public school students must pass the exam before they can receive a high school diploma, regardless of any other graduation requirements. The test first applied to the graduating class of 2006, with approximately nine of every ten students passing. The legality of the test continues to be challenged in court.