Our Student Success Strategy helps students in Grade 7 to 12 tailor their education to their individual strengths, goals and interests.
Reason For Action
Nearly a third of students were not completing their high school education only in 2003-04.
Here are some interesting facts found 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 over 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 estimated 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.
Graduation Goal
The government has set an 85 per cent graduation rate target by 2010-11. This means 20,000 more students per year will graduate when the target is achieved.
Learn more about the ways we're helping students graduate.
Progress
Since 2003-04, the high school graduation rate has increased by nine percentage points – from 68 to 77 per cent. That means 36,000 more students got their high school diploma and a chance at a brighter future. And more Grade 9 and 10 students are completing all of their courses and are on track to graduate.
New Initiatives
There are many new programs being rolled out across the province for students pursuing university, college, apprenticeships or the workplace after graduation.
- Specialist High Skills Majors allow students to focus on a future career through a bundle of classroom courses, workplace experiences and sector certifications
- Expansion of Cooperative Education allows students to count this hands-on learning towards two compulsory high school credits
- E-Learning provides students with online courses and allows teachers to share resources across the province
- Dual Credits count towards a student's high school diploma as well as a college certificate, diploma or apprenticeship certification
- Think Literacy and Leading Math Success ensure teachers have the resources they need to help students build a solid foundation in reading, writing and math.
Support is also being provided to struggling high school students so they can get back on track to graduate.
- Elementary To Secondary School Transition Program helps students succeed in high school through individual profiles, customized timetables and other programs
- Student Success Teams (principal, student success teacher, guidance counselor, special education teacher and other educators) provide extra attention in every high school to students who need it.
