The Ministry of Education recently announced that the province-wide graduation rate has increased to 85.5 per cent - the highest level in the province's history. The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board's (SMCDSB) graduation rates also increased in 2015 to 89.3 per cent, an increase over last year and exceeding the provincial average.
In 2014, SMCDSB's four year graduation rate was 80 per cent and the five year rate was 86 per cent - this year, the rates increased to 83.5 per cent and 89.3 per cent respectively. The government has introduced a number of innovative programs through its Student Success Strategy that are credited with helping to sharply boost the graduation rate since 2004. At Catholic high schools in Simcoe County and the Districts of Muskoka and Parry Sound, programs such as Specialist High Skills Major, dual credits and expanded cooperative education have played a key role in helping more students to achieve their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
"Our staff is incredibly committed to helping every student achieve their God-given potential," said Brian Beal, Director of Education. "We know that not every student learns in the same way and that is why the programs we have introduced over the past decade have been so successful. We want to give our students every chance for success in their future and graduating with an OSSD certainly sets the stage. There also many students in our schools with special education needs who may not achieve a diploma - we are equally proud of their accomplishments. Some of these students may stay with us until age 21, learning skills and strategies to equip them for a bright future."