Graduation rates at Catholic high schools across Windsor-Essex continue to climb, even surpassing the provincial average. Last year, 89% of Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board high school students graduated in five years, up from 87% in 2014. The provincial average is 85.5%. Within four years, 82% of high school students graduate, up from 79% in 2014 while Ontario's average is 78.3%. Superintendent of Student Achievement Emelda Byrne says keeping students engaged is key to a high graduation rate. "We do have a lot of innovative programs that engage students into different programs, such as access to cooperative education, OYAP (the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program), dual credits," she says. Byrne says students are more aware nowadays about the importance of a high school diploma. "They do need that Grade 12 diploma in order to kickstart their future," she says. "It doesn't matter if it's a apprenticeship program, going into college or university, but they do really need to have that starting point."
The Greater Essex County District School Board's four year high school graduation rate has increased 1% to 76% in 2015 compared to the previous year.
