CCSD loses six high school proficiency tests

Monday, Sept. 13, 2004 | 11:06 a.m.

The Clark County School District lost the answer sheets to six high school proficiency exams that Las Vegas High School students completed in July, a school district spokeswoman said.

For some of the students, the July test was their last chance to take the math portion of the proficiency exam and still be able to enroll in college this fall, Karlene McCormick-Lee, assistant superintendent of district research and accountability, said. These were seniors who had enough credits but who still needed to pass the math exam to earn their diplomas.

McCormick-Lee said the district searched through more than 200 booklets to find the missing answer sheets but they did not turn up. The six students will be able to retake the test this Wednesday, she said.

Las Vegas High School Principal Patrice Johnson said her school had nothing to do with the testing, as students took the district-administered test at Chaparral High School.

"We're just as upset about it as the students are," Johnson said, adding that she hoped the students pass on Wednesday and could put the test behind them.

McCormick-Lee said the district was investigating how the tests came up missing.

Paul LaMarca, assistant deputy superintendent for the Nevada Department of Education, said that any missing tests would be investigated as a test irregularity.

Nevada law allows the students to be retested in such cases, whenever a student is denied a chance to take the test or the test is hampered due to no fault of their own, LaMarca said.