Getting Results


Ontario's Graduation Rate

More students are graduating from high school in Ontario as a result of the support from educators and Student Success programs. The province has seen a steady improvement in the number of high school graduates. Eighty-two per cent of students graduated with a high school diploma in 2010-11, compared to 68 per cent in 2003-04. That rate means about 93,000 additional students have graduated.

Tracking Progress

This graph shows the progress of Ontario's graduation rate:

Graduation Rates in Ontario 2003-2004 to 2009-10: In 2003-04 total 68 per cent; 2004-05 total 71 per cent; 2005-06 total 73 per cent; 2006-07 total 75 per cent; 2007-08 total 77 per cent; 2008-09 total 79 per cent

Student Success Strategy and Programs

Transforming high school for all students is the focus of our Student Success Strategy. It gives Ontario students a greater opportunity to customize their high school experience to match their strengths, interests and career goals.

The government has been providing support and resources for students who struggle, and providing all high school students with more learning opportunities that match their aspirations for the future. Read more about our Student Success programs.

Target

The government has set an 85 per cent graduation rate target – a significant increase from 2003-04. This means that each year more than 25,000 additional students will graduate when the target is met.

Costs Of Dropping Out

Here are some facts captured in the Canadian Council on Learning's report on the cost of dropping out of high school:

  • Labour and employment: A student who drops out can expect an income loss of more than $100,000 in their lifetime, compared to individuals with a high school diploma (and no postsecondary education).
  • Social assistance: The average public cost of providing social assistance is estimate at over $4,000 per year per student who drops out.
  • Crime: Students who drop out are overly represented in the prison population.
  • Health: A student who drops out enjoys fewer years at a reasonable quality of life. This is because there are strong associations between education and health across a range of illnesses (e.g., cancer, diabetes). Combining morbidity and mortality costs, there is an estimated cost to the student who drops out of more than $8,000 per year.