Ontario graduation rates nudge up, again

Minister pleased with past government’s results

Ontario’s high school graduation rate has nudged up again, with 87.1 per cent of students earning their diploma after five years.

The rate over four years is 81.2 per cent, according to results from the 2017-18 school year, the most recent government statistics available which reflect the final months of the Liberal government’s time in office.

“These results demonstrate a commitment from our students, parents and educators of working together to ensure the success of our young people,” said Education Minister Stephen Lecce, who was appointed to the position last June by Premier Doug Ford.

“While there are continued challenges in core competencies, including math, we are pleased to see more students graduating in the province of Ontario. We will continue to work with our partners to see more students graduate and prepare them for the jobs of the future.”

The government ended the fifth year of high school back in 2003, though students still have the option of a so-called “victory lap” to take extra time to earn the credits required.

Harvey Bischof, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, said the results speak to the strength of the province’s public education system.

It “was not ‘broken’ as Premier (Doug) Ford has repeatedly claimed,” Bischof said. “In fact, more students than ever were getting the chance to pursue the future they hoped for. With the government’s massive cuts in staffing beginning to take hold this year, future graduation rates will inevitably drop and fewer students will reach their potential,” he said, referring to the province’s plan to eliminate about 3,500 teaching positions over the next four years as secondary class sizes grow from an average of 22 to 28.

“No wonder Education Minister Lecce released this information so quietly,” he also said.

The five-year rates vary from board to board across Greater Toronto: Durham public: 88 per cent. Durham Catholic: 91.8 per cent. Halton public: 92 per cent. Halton Catholic: 92.9 per cent. Peel public: 89.2 per cent. Dufferin-Peel Catholic: 92.7 per cent. Toronto public: 83.7 per cent.

Toronto Catholic: 88.8 per cent. York public: 93.1 per cent. York Catholic: 96.5 per cent. In 2016-17 school year, the five-year graduation rate was 86.5 per cent.