District cites progress on achievement

NEWS/ SCHOOLS — If not an A, then maybe School District 73 can take credit for a B+ in its achievement contract, a broad, long-term measure for improving academic performance.

Kamloops-Thompson School Board was told that the district is meeting 76 per cent of its objectives in the contract, highlighted by a significant boost in the high-school completion rate. Seventy-two students graduated who would have otherwise dropped out, said Supt. Terry Sullivan.

“Seventy-two students recovered in one year, we’re happy about.”

The goal of an 85 per cent completion rate, set for 2015, was achieved this year. The rate increase was partly achieved through a recalculation. The Ministry of Education used to include in the measure international and special-needs students, which skewed the results for many districts, Sullivan noted.

In addition, progress has been made in numeracy, a district focus for some time.

Distance learning remains one area of challenge, a key concern since it’s expected to become more of a factor in years to come, Sullivan said.

“We’re not getting the levels of completion in DL that we’d like.”

As well, there are concerns about the low completion rate for Planning 10.

“People are unhappy with the curriculum in Planning 10 and the planning around schools. Planning 10 needs to be more embedded in schools.”