Graduation ceremony (File photo (ID 11161514 © Marian Mocanu | Dreamstime.com)

By Liam Verster

SD22 Grad Rates

Student completion rates rising in Vernon district

Dec 21, 2023 | 1:45 PM

School District 22 (Vernon) is reporting a higher ratio of students are completing their education.

The Ministry of Education, and the Vernon School District, tracked how many students graduated within six years of beginning Grade 8.

The results of that work showed that 88 per cent of the B.C. residents in SD22, or 591 students, graduated in the 2022-23 school year. That was up from the 87 per cent graduation rate in 21-22, and from 20-21’s rate of 82.3 per cent.

The typical graduation ratio across B.C. was between 83 and 94 per cent in 2022-23.

SD22’s data also showed that 74 per cent of Indigenous students, or 89 students, graduated in the most recent year.

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That figure was up from 71 per cent the previous year and from 64.3 per cent the year before that. It also landed in the middle of the provincial range of between 68 and 85 per cent.

The most recent year also saw 65 per cent of students with diverse needs, or 83 students, graduate.

That was down from 66 per cent the year prior, but up from the year before when 58.8 per cent of students with diverse needs graduated. It was also on the low end of the provincial range which was between 65 and 82 per cent.

SD22 Superintendent Dr. Christine Perkins said thanks to the students, supportive families, and dedicated staff, their students’ success mirrors the district’s collective efforts.

“Students are finally telling us they are feeling seen and heard again and they are getting excited about the future. During the 2022-2023 school year, we continued with academic reviews of Grade 10-12 students at all our high schools and elementary schools, a process which we began two years ago,” Perkins said.

Perkins said SD22 has also implemented targeted programming for Indigenous and diverse needs students, increased middle and early learning interventions, and continues to be focused on providing equitable learning experiences for all their students.

“All grad program students (Grades 10-12) have a three-year grad plan,” Perkins said. “2023 has been a terrific year of learning and innovation. B.C. continues to be among the top places in the world to receive an education and SD22 is the place where students can really embrace our motto to Dream. Believe. Achieve