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Pass rates in Simcoe County schools show 'upward growth': board

On average, around 90 per cent of Simcoe County District School Board high school students are passing courses; trustee says that's higher than expected given the challenges of the past three years
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Post-pandemic, the kids' grades are all right, according to metrics heard by school board trustees this week.

During a committee presentation at the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) meeting on Wednesday night, trustees were given an update on how high school students board-wide were faring as of the first semester of the 2022/23 school year, broken down by grade.

“Recent secondary school credit accumulation data indicates that despite the prolonged impact of the pandemic, secondary students in the SCDSB continue to achieve success,” noted Dawn Stephens, the associate director of education.

“These affirmative results connect to the continued upwards growth of overall graduation rates,” she said.

Success was measured by comparing how many students were working toward four full credits for the term, and how many students managed to earn the four full credits.

For Grade 9, 93 per cent of students achieved all four credits. In Grade 10, 91 per cent of students achieved all four credits. In Grade 11, 92 per cent received all four credits.

In Grade 12, students work toward three credits with one spare period. Of those students, 94 per cent earned three out of three credits.

“We've heard of some of the struggles post-pandemic and struggles with learning,” said Orillia/Ramara/Severn trustee Jodi Lloyd. “I think it shows the resiliency and some of the work and effort that's taken place.”

“It was higher, quite honestly, than what I expected it to be based on some of the commentary and challenges,” she said.

Secondary school enrolment for the 2022/23 school year was 17,025 students. There were 13,495 students counted for the report, which is about 80 per cent of high school students. The students working toward fewer than four credits in grades 9 to 11 or three credits in Grade 12 were not counted as part of the report.

For the 2021/22 school year, the five-year graduation rate at the SCDSB was 87 per cent. The board releases the annual graduation rate in a report in the fall.

“Just looking at this data, it looks like we should have a very positive graduation rate,” said Barrie trustee Lynn Strachan. “I'm very anxious to see that report and how it pans out.”

New Tecumseth trustee Sarah Beitz asked if the increase in success could be at least partially attributed to this year’s change that allowed feedback days as part of the school calendar.

“The feedback that we received from (principals) was that there was a definite decrease in the number of students who are unsuccessful,” said Stephens. “They were utilizing those days and getting work completed. I know one of our schools reported the lowest number of student failures that they had had in the time the principal could remember.”