Former ELLs Outperform Peers

Data from California showed that English-language learners passed the state's exit exam at a significantly higher rate than the overall population. For example, data from this year's seniors indicated:

• 85 percent of former ELLs passed the English-language arts test.
• 73 percent of all students passed the English test.
• 82 percent of former ELLs passed the math test.
• 72 percent of all students passed the math test.

A similar trend was found in the graduation rate. New York City schools had higher graduation rates among former ELLs than non-ELLs.

• In 2001, about 60 percent of former ELLs received a diploma, compared with 53 percent of all students.
• By 2004, after tracking students for three years, an additional 15 percent of the former ELLs from 2001 got diplomas, for a total of 75 percent.
• Among non-ELLs, 69 percent received their diplomas by 2004.
• Data from 2004 continued to show that former ELLs graduated at a higher rate than non-ELLs.