Graduation rates in Langley high schools have reached an all-time high.
Rates of students graduating with their “Dogwood” diploma have risen to 87 per cent in 2015 from 78 per cent in 2008.
While there is still a gender gap, with male completion rates at 85 per cent and female completion rates at 90 per cent, that gap has narrowed from nine per cent in 2010 to five per cent in 2015. Aboriginal completion rates are also on the rise, from 51 per cent in 2007 to 78 per cent in 2015.
The improved graduation rates in the district mirror the upward trend provincially.
Langley School District Superintendent Suzanne Hoffman said she was pleased that rates were going up but added a 100 per cent completion rate is obviously the ‘ideal.’
“This is a good news story and something that the students and staff of Langley schools should be proud of,” she added.
Hoffman provided the report to trustees at the last Board of Education meeting in January.
Hoffman expressed concern that not all students are completing school. District strategies will focus on Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal males and special education behaviour designation students to reach the attainable goal of 93 per cent completion as outlined in the District Achievement Contract.
Completion rates for female Aboriginal students in Langley are improving and have gone from 59 per cent in 2010-2011 to 89 per cent in 2014-2015, bringing them within one per cent of the female non-Aboriginal student completion rate. Male Aboriginal student completion rates are also on the rise from 65 per cent in 2010-2011 to 67 per cent in 2014-2015.