Data from the NLSD shows not much has changed in 10 years. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

annual report

One in four NLSD students graduating within three years of entering high school

Apr 13, 2023 | 3:32 PM

New data released in the Northern Lights School Division (NLSD) annual report shows only one in four students are graduating within three years of entering Grade 10.

In June 2022, 26 per cent of students graduated within that time period compared to the provincial average of 76 per cent. Of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students, 23 per cent graduated within three years while 80 per cent of their non-FNMI peers did the same.

The provincial average for FNMI students is 40 per cent in three years and the average for non-FNMI students is 87 per cent.

“We had all of our schools in the system involved in a grad team to assist students, so that was something that was very active pre-COVID and then, of course with COVID, it created some problems for us just with the continuity piece,” said NLSD director of education Jason Young.

“I think that’s the piece we are looking at just in terms of planning. What are some of those grad initiatives stats for the following year here that can help us with our grad rates?”

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Data shows the 2022 grad rate is similar to the grad rate a decade ago. In 2012, 28 per cent of students were graduating within those three years. The rate for non-FNM students went up, however, from 53 per cent to 80 per cent.

Other indicators such as credit attainment and elementary literacy are also poor against the provincial rates. Of all NLSD students between Grade 10-12, only 21 per cent are attaining eight or more credits in a school year. The provincial average is 59 per cent.

In regards to the literacy level, data from Grade 3 students in 2022 shows 15.5 per cent are at or above the reading level benchmark. It was only 2.3 per cent in 2021, while the provincial average was closer to 70 per cent and 67 per cent in those years respectively.

“We were in a situation where there were fewer students that were at grade level in the previous year,” Young said.

“That was very difficult to see that result, but not surprising. I think when we saw that, we made efforts to make improvements throughout the year and, as a result, we did see some improvements last year.”

Young explained some of the poor indicators are partly due to the retention and recruitment challenges that the school division has been faced with for many years now. At any given time, the school division could be short between 15 and 20 teachers.

In February 2023, Young told larongeNOW the division was in a state of crisis because of the shortage. For instance, the school in Uranium City temporarily closed because of that reason and Dene High School in La Loche was on the verge of collapse. Both schools turned to the Facilitator Plus Model to continue education.

In the 2021-2022 academic year, the Northern Lights School Division had 270 full-time teachers and 281 educational support staff. In total, the division had 586 full-time staff.

“Our staff are aware of that data and yet they continue to do the work to be supportive and to continue to focus on that continuous improvement piece,” Young said.

“I’m grateful for their efforts that way and persevering through some of those challenging times. Again, with our recruitment and retention efforts and being down staff in schools can be very taxing and really impact moral. From what I have seen from the staff who stayed, they have been really amazing at maintaining the course and working through those challenging times.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno