More Aboriginal students are completing secondary school in B.C. according to the latest school completion rates, which show a more than three per cent increase.

The completion rate for Aboriginal students reached 53.7 per cent in 2010-11, up from 50.4 per cent in 2009-10.

This year's provincial results show improvement among all major student sub-populations - male, female, Aboriginal, ESL and special needs. Overall, the provincial completion rate increased to its highest level yet at 81 per cent.

Completion rates are one of several indicators of student achievement which, when combined, provide a better understanding of how B.C. students are performing. The Ministry of Education is now working with districts to develop a further contextual analysis to account for every student and help identify which programs and interventions are most effective in contributing to student success.

Quick Facts:

• The six-year completion rate shows the percentage of students who earned a B.C. certificate of graduation within six years of starting Grade 8 for the first time.
• Over the last 10 years, the completion rate for Aboriginal students has increased by 11 per cent.
• The overall completion rate has stayed relatively constant since 2003-04, ranging between 78 and 81 per cent.
• In the Vancouver Island North (SD 85) school district, the completion rate for Aboriginal students increased from 49.8 per cent in 2009-10 to 61.7 per cent in 2010-11.
• In the Boundary (SD 51) school district, overall completion rates increased from 85.4 per cent in 2009-10 to 94.2 per cent in 2010-11.
• The completion rate for the Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte (SD 50) school district has increased every year since 2006-07.
• Thirty-nine school districts had increases in their completion rates, while 21 had small decreases.
• Five school districts had overall completion rates of 90 per cent or more.
• Twenty-three school districts had Aboriginal completion rates of 60 per cent or more.
• Independent school completion rates remain high at 87.5 per cent.

Learn More:

For a fact sheet with further details on this year's completion rates: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/news/docs/2011/fs_CompletionRates_111110.pdf

To view complete Provincial, District and School-level reports for six-year completion rates and other education indicators, visit: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/reporting/

To read about BC's Education Plan, visit: www.bcedplan.ca

Media Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963