The NLSD enrolled 4,056 students and employed 280 teachers in 2019-2020. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

2019-2020

NLSD annual report shows low graduation rates and final marks

Apr 29, 2021 | 4:55 PM

Key indicators in the Northern Lights School Division’s (NLSD) 2019-2020 annual report show northern students continue to lag behind their southern counterparts.

For instance, when it comes to students graduating high school within three years, only 37 per cent of eligible NLSD students do so. The provincial average for 2019-2020 is 80 per cent.

When it comes to average final marks in selected secondary-level courses, NLSD continue to fall behind in every class. For example, the average final mark for english language arts A10 for NLSD is 54.3 per cent, while the provincial average is 75.1 per cent.

“We have work to do, and I acknowledge that things have stayed fairly consistent or the same, but we can’t be happy with that and we have to strive to do better,” said NLSD director of education Jason Young. “We’re looking at having an engagement meeting with our SCCs just talking about our results and what we can do to engage our students [and] communities.”

Young explained there were plans in place last school year to boost some of those key indictors, but those plans took a backseat when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. He said much of the school division’s attention shifted to supplemental learning, along with ensuring students and staff remained safe.

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Young mentioned it was important for the school division to ensure there was a sense of safety as there was a lot of anxiety about COVID. He added administration had to respond when there were outbreaks in northern communities such as La Loche.

“As I look back and reflect, I don’t want to go there because it brings up these unpleasant memories of the past and I just want to turn the page on that and look forward,” Young said. “Looking at where we are at now and how we can move into the future and plan for a more hopeful, brighter future. I guess that’s the hope we all have.”

The latest annual report also shows NLSD continues to experience a decrease in the overall number of students served by the division. Since 2015-2016, there’s been a drop of 150 students and Young expects the number to continue to fall next school year. The NLSD enrolled 4,056 students and employed 280 teachers in 2019-2020.

Young noted there are several reasons for the decrease including northerners leaving for economic opportunities, family or training. He said some are leaving the North for larger cities.

“That’s been a trend of ours and hopefully we see a stabilization of that soon,” Young said.

The 2020-2021 NLSD annual report can be accessed here.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno