MOUNT VERNON — Though statewide results suggest about 85 percent of 2008-2009 high school seniors have passed the reading and writing standardized test required for graduation, local districts are double-checking the results.

Late last week, all districts were given a list of freshmen through juniors and their results on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

But the records in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction might not match those of a particular high school, said Cathey Frederick from the Mount Vernon School District.

“We have 180 students out of 1,065 showing no (test) book, and we know that’s not right,” she said.

Also, when students change names or districts in the middle of a school year, that can throw a wrench in the results, said Jeff Drayer with the Burlington-Edison School District.

“For example, one (test) book might be labeled as Bill Smith, and another book might have been labeled as William Smith,” Drayer said.

He said it would take about a week for him to reconcile the state’s results with the school’s records. Later, the state office will release official results.

Chris Barron, OSPI’s assessment communications manager, said he doesn’t expect the preliminary results and official results to change the outcome much.

About 85 percent of the class of 2009 passed both the reading and writing parts of the WASL as of the spring 2008 tests, and 60 percent also passed the math test or an approved alternative. Among those juniors learning English as a second language, only about 47 percent have passed both the reading and writing tests.

“The tests have all been scored,” Barron said. “It’s the results that are preliminary.”

Students have received their individual scores from their respective school districts. If they did not pass a section of the WASL this time, they have another chance in August, for which they must register by the end of June.

Districts traditionally mull over the results throughout the summer, Barron said.

“The numbers probably won’t change dramatically between now and August,” he said.

The class of 2010 — this year’s sophomores — is also making progress toward meeting WASL requirements. About 75 percent of this year’s sophomore class have passed both the reading and writing tests, and nearly 47 percent have also passed the math WASL.

This year’s seniors were the first to be required to pass the reading and writing parts of the WASL in order to graduate. But the WASL is just one of four state high school graduation requirements. Students must also earn the required number of credits in each subject area, complete a special project and write a plan for what they will do after graduation.

Several schools had seniors who depended on last-minute WASL results to walk at graduation. Such as the case for six seniors at Anacortes High School, and all of them passed, according to Anacortes High School Principal Pam Estvold.

But not all were as lucky. Four seniors from Sedro-Woolley High School did not pass the writing test, said Principal Mike Schweigert. Those four have submitted a Collection of Evidence, another way to pass the writing requirement.

“Depending on those scores, (they) will need to take the reading WASL in August to receive a diploma,” Schweigert said via e-mail.

Barron said those students should register for the August WASL because the Collection of Evidence scores will not be complete until mid-August.

State Superintendent Terry Bergeson said the state needs to put more resources into keeping students in school, but she doesn’t think the WASL has been a factor in dropout rates.

At least 25 percent of every graduating class doesn’t make it to the end of their senior year. Bergeson thinks a graduation specialist at every high school could make a big difference for these students, but school districts shouldn’t be expected to pay for this new staff member themselves.

“It’s a moral imperative that we help these children,” Bergeson said.

• The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• Kate Martin can be reached at 360-416-2145 or at .