December 12, 2008

School District No. 23 Achieves Top Student Completion Rates in the Thompson/Okanagan region

KELOWNA, BC: School District No. 23 student completion rates for 2007/2008 were the highest in the Thompson/Okanagan region and ranked in the top 10 provincially, according to recently released data from the Ministry of Education (click to open).  Our also district has successfully maintained the substantial gains we achieved in the 2006/2007 school year.

“Our high completion rate represents a great deal of effort from our students as well as our teachers, administrators and support staff,” says Mike Roberts, Superintendent of Schools.  “Placing in the top 10 districts provincially is an important indicator of our work to improve both programs and student tracking.  We try to identify students at-risk in the primary grades, address their learning requirements, and put them on an early track to success.  In the secondary grades, we continue to meet student needs through a wide range of courses academic courses and career programs.”

The Ministry of Education’s 2007/2008 completion rate data shows that School District No. 23 achieved more than an 82% overall final Grade 12 completion rate for students entering grade 8.  This compares to an average of 78% among all B.C. public schools.  For students entering grade 12 last year, more than 96% completed their full academic Dogwood graduation on time.

“We are proud of our achievement in the area of Aboriginal education,” says Roberts.  “Last June, 60% of our Aboriginal students completed their grade 12 education within the 6-year window compared to the provincial average of just 47%.  We have an Aboriginal student population of approximately 2,000 students so these figures represent substantial numbers of the school community moving forward with the credentials to find success in post-secondary training or in the workforce.  While further improvement is still needed, we are moving in the right direction.”

Completion rates refer to the percentage of students who graduate with a Dogwood diploma within six years of starting Grade 8.  This is somewhat different than graduation rates, which refer to the percentage of Grade 12 students who graduate at the end of that school year.

All data is provided by the Ministry of Education and includes the total number of students in public education within the Central Okanagan School District.

Approved by the Superintendent and Chairperson December 12, 2008

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For comments, please contact:

Roland Cacchioni, Chairperson of the Board, (250) 765-3419

Mike Roberts, Superintendent of Schools (250) 860-8888

For background information: please contact Lisa Harrison lharriso@sd23.bc.ca or 470-3284.