School Off, But College Tests Are On

Published: Friday, October 26, 2007 4:52 PM PDT

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School is off until Tuesday for San Diego students -- but some will still be taking high-stakes college entrance exams. Students who planned to take the ACT this weekend at San Diego High School still have to report to the school, according to a district press release issued Friday.

Meanwhile, testing sites in Encinitas, Escondido, La Jolla, Mission Viejo, Oceanside, San Bernardino, San Clemente, San Marcos, Santa Ana, Spring Valley and Victorville have all canceled their tests due to the wildfires and their effects, ACT employee Ariana Alvarez said. She added that the decision on whether or not to hold a test is made by each school site.

When students sign up for the ACT, they pick where they want to take the test. That means that even though San Diego High is well outside the evacuation zones, the test-takers might not be.

Students who miss the test can reschedule for a $20.50 fee. But San Diego City Schools' press release noted that students' chances of getting into college could be affected if they can't take the ACT on schedule.

Ouch. Would you like some stress with that?

I hope college-minded seniors remembered to lug their test-prep books to Qualcomm. Better yet, I hope none of them are actually in that boat.