High school graduation rate on the rise

Recent data says Saskatchewan students are graduating high school at the highest rate in 20 years.

A report from the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) says the provincial rate for high school graduates has risen. In the 2016-17 school year, 76.5 per cent of eligible students graduated “on time” (within three years). This number is up from 75.6 per cent in 2015-16.

“We’re very pleased that more students are graduating,” Bronwyn Eyre, Education Minister, said in a press release. “Graduation is a vital step toward future success.”

The graduation rate for Inuit, Metis, and First Nations students also experienced a boost. The number rose from 41.9 per cent to 43.2 per cent.

This increase in the graduation rate inches the province closer to its goal of 85 per cent by 2020. 

The Education Sector Strategic Plan was implemented in 2014 after approval from the 28 provincial school districts. It established the 85 per cent rate as the main objective for 2020.

“The additional emphasis on supporting individual students toward graduation is seeing results,” Director of Education for Prairie South School Division Tony Baldwin said in a press release.

School divisions near  Yorkton discussed their satisfaction with the provincial rate increase.

“We’re quite pleased with it,” said Quentin Robertson, Director of Education for Good Spirit School Division.

Robertson noted that his division posted an 82.3 per cent graduation rate for 2016-17. However, he expressed disappointment that the rate was unchanged from 2015-16.

“We were anticipating being higher,” he said. “The hardest part is having predictable data.”

Christ the Teacher Catholic Schools posted a strong graduation rate of 87.1 per cent.

“It is a positive,” said Chad Holinaty, Superintendent of Education for the division. “We’re on that [right] track.”

Holinaty said the key to good graduation rates is focusing on individual student needs and encouraging them to regularly attend school.

“We take the time to know each student’s story,” he said.