Test continues to plague graduates
By Anne Marie Kyzer

Some 224 graduation candidates were recognized at Burke County High School's graduation ceremony last week.

While 180 graduates received diplomas, 44 were awarded certificates of performance instead, according to data from the school system.

Certificates of performance are given when students have completed all of the coursework for graduation but do not pass one or more sections of the Georgia High School Graduation Test.

Nearly 20 percent of this year's graduates received certifi- cates, compared to 16 percent last year and 15 percent in 2005.

The students can still retake portions of the graduation test this summer to earn their diploma, school system spokesperson Amy Nunnally said. The test will be administered again July 16-20.

There were 243 candidates for graduation the week prior to the ceremony, but failing grades kept 19 from marching.

BCHS Principal Dr. Wayne Hickman said most of those students could earn the necessary credits for graduation in summer school.

Summer school begins June 4 and runs through July 13.