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High school grad results differ for Sault school boards

Huron-Superior Board exceeds average; ADSB official says 'we're getting there'
college university education shutterstock_209187676 2016

More Ontarians than ever are getting a high school diploma, according to a provincial announcement Tuesday.

In 2015, 85.5 percent of students across Ontario graduated within five years of starting high school in Grade 9, while 78.3 percent graduated within four years of starting high school.

In 2004, the province-wide graduation rate was just 68 percent.

Locally, the Algoma District School Board (ADSB) five-year graduation rate for 2015 was 77.3 percent, while the four-year rate was 69.1 percent, below the provincial averages.

"Our overall pattern is still up…we'd love to be at 85 percent but we're getting there," said Joe Maurice, ADSB superintendent of education, speaking to SooToday.

"When you look at the figures it looks like some have dropped out but that's not the case, most are still in school finishing up, most are still in school and may take an extra year to get it done…when it comes down to it, very few are right out of the system, without anything."

"Obviously we'd love to see them done in five years but some take a little longer," Maurice said, adding the ADSB offers several alternatives for students to get through school.

"There are a lot more options…we have (for example) the Prince Charles Late School and the Urban Aboriginal program running out of the old Etienne Brule site."

"The Late School has a later start in the day and has more flexible course offerings and Urban Aboriginal has more flexibility, in partnership with the Indigenous Friendship Centre."

"For students who have to work, or students who have home commitments, it (the Late School) gives them more alternatives…for older students who need to reach back to Grade 9 classes, it's a lot more comfortable than going into a regular Grade 9 class if you're 18 or older."

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (HSCDSB) fared noticeably better in the results released Tuesday.

The HSCDSB's five-year graduation rate for 2015 was 87.7 percent, the four-year rate 84 percent (both figures above provincial averages).

"We have a number of people who are putting in a lot of effort and dedication, and that includes everyone from the students themselves, our parents who are supportive and all our employees, the clergy, the parishes and community organizations," said Rose Burton Spohn, HSCDSB superintendent of education.

Out-of-the-traditional-classroom options for HSCDSB students pursuing their high school diploma include studies at the board's St. Kateri EcoEd program and courses offered at Holy Angels Learning Centre.

"Our graduation class from Holy Angels was about 30 students last year, everywhere from 18 years old, and the oldest graduate was in her 60s, it's never too late to get your high school diploma," Burton Spohn said.

A popular option for both ADSB and HSCDSB students are Specialist High Skills Majors.

Specialist High Skills Majors allow high school students to focus on a career path that matches their particular skills and interests while meeting the requirements of their high school diploma.

The province announced Wednesday the Specialist High Skills Majors program will be expanded to accommodate an additional 2,000 students and just over 100 new programs for the 2016-2017 school year. 

As a result, more than 48,000 students will be enrolled in 1,835 Specialist High Skills Majors programs across the province.

The HSCDSB will continue to offer four Specialist High Skills Majors, in business, health and wellness, construction and hospitality and tourism in 2016-2017, while the ADSB will be offering Specialist High Skills Majors in no less than nine categories next school year.

They include arts and culture, business, construction, energy, environment, health and wellness, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing and sports.

Through the Specialist High Skills Major in construction, for example, the ADSB offers programs such as the House Building Project, in partnership with Sal-Dan, in which students work on construction job sites to gain hands-on skills.

"Our hospitality and tourism program has a connection with the Delta and the students do really cool things like catering events…it's hands-on and they earn credit for it," the HSCDSB's Burton Spohn said.

As for French-language schools, Conseil scolaire de district du Grand Nord de l'Ontario four and five-year graduation rates for 2015 came in at 82.1 and 88.7 percent respectively, while Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario, with a site in the Sault, had four and five-year graduation rates of 88.8 and 92.2 percent.

 

 


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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