For the first time, the province has released a breakdown of graduation rates by school board – and while some local school boards lead the class in getting diplomas to students, others are far behind.
In 2014, 76 per cent of Ontario students graduated high school within four years – up one per cent from 2013.
Of the five school boards to post the lowest graduation rates last year, four are in northern Ontario.
The fifth, the Brantford-area Grand Erie District School Board, saw 60 per cent of students graduate in four years.
Four years was enough time for 66 per cent of Waterloo Region District School Board students to graduate, while the Upper Grand District School Board and Avon-Maitland District School Board both posted marks of 69 per cent.
Higher graduation rates were posted by local Catholic school boards.
The Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board’s rate of 87 per cent of students graduating within four years was tied for the third-highest mark among English-language boards.
Eighty-five per cent of Wellington Catholic District School Board students were handed diplomas after four years, along with 84 per cent of Waterloo Catholic District School Board students and 83 per cent of Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic District School Board students.
When including students who graduated after five years, the provincial average sits at 84 per cent – again up one per cent from 2013.
Local school boards show similarly high numbers – with the Waterloo Region District School Board’s graduation rate increasing to 79 per cent.
At 72 per cent, the Grand Erie District School Board’s rate remains one of the lowest in the province, while the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board’s 93 per cent is the second-highest among English-language school boards.
