School District #35 completion rates highest ever

February 22, 2016

For immediate release February 22, 2016

School District #35 completion rates highest ever

Langley, BC – School completion rates in the Langley School District have reached their highest levels ever as 87.4% of students receive their Dogwood Certificate.

Each school year Superintendent of Schools Suzanne Hoffman provides the Board of Education with information on the Langley School District’s six-year school completion results. Six-year completion rates are a provincial indicator that illustrates the proportion of students who complete school with a Dogwood Certificate within six years from the time they enter grade 8. The provincial trend has been on an upward trajectory from 81% in 2010-2011 to 83.9% in 2014-2015. Results in the Langley School District roughly mirror the provincial results on their positive trend, rising from 78% in 2008 to 87% in 2015. The District’s six-year completion rate of 87.4% for 2014-2015 is the highest ever with 90% of female students completing and 84.8% of males completing. Combined completion rates for Aboriginal students is 78% in Langley Schools and also on the rise, improving from 59% in 2010-2011 for female Aboriginal students to 89% and from 65% in 2010-2011 for male Aboriginal students to 67% in 2014-2015.

Superintendent Hoffman commented, “…this is a good news story and something that the students and staff of Langley Schools should be proud of. Ideally all students would complete school, and there is some work to do, but these results are encouraging”. Hoffman went on to explain that support will continue to be offered to Aboriginal students in support of raising their completion rates as well continued support for students with Special Education Designations that may face challenges to six-year completion. Students with Special Education Designations completion rates are on a positive trend with 67.6% earning a Dogwood. Some students in the District receive a School Completion Certificate, known as an Evergreen, when they have met the goals of their educational program other than graduation. These students are usually on an Individualized Education Plan and are not included in the provincial or local completion results.

Contact: Ken Hoff, Communications Manager, School District No. 35: 604-534-7891