The Hall County school system either met or exceeded the state passing rate for the Georgia High School Graduation Test’s writing portion.

Systemwide, 91 percent of 11th-graders passed the fall exam, compared to 89 percent for the state, according to school officials.

Ninety-five percent of Chestatee High students passed the exam; 93 percent, Johnson High; 92 percent, Lanier Career Academy; 91 percent, West Hall High; 90 percent, North Hall and Flowery Branch high schools; and 89 percent, East Hall High.

In the Gainesville school system, 94 percent of students passed the test, said Gainesville High School principal Mike Kemp.

Students must pass the writing test, along with the graduation test’s other portions, to earn a regular education diploma.

Eleventh-graders will take other portions of the graduation tests in the spring.