Prince Rupert high school trending upward on Fraser Institute’s rankings

Charles Hays Secondary School (CHSS) is trending upward on the Fraser Institute report card handed out to its B.C. schools on Thursday, June 27.

Charles Hays was ranked at a 5.4 out of 10, 0.6 down from last year’s ranking. Overall though, the school ranked 167 out of 251 schools included in the list. This an upward trend, after the average for CHSS over the past five years has been a ranking of 201.

Graduation rates rose by less than one per cent this year for an average of 91.2 per cent of students graduating. The average exam mark also rose to 67.8 per cent from 66.4 per cent in 2017.

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For elementary schools, Lax Kxeen saw the biggest improvement, having gone from a 3.4 out of ten in 2014 to a 5.6 this year. Overall it ranked 567 out of 955. In the past 5 years the school’s average has been 717 out of 805. Annunciation remains Prince Rupert’s highest performing elementary school by the institute’s standards.

Irene LaPierre, superintendent of School District 52 (SD52) said that she does not pay much attention to the report card, even when CHSS is reported to be doing well.

“It is about measuring [the student’s] strengths, determination, and resiliency. It’s not about a number,” she said.

Fraser Institute takes into account the amount of students and grades when putting together their report cards. The socio-economic conditions that students and communities encounter in their educational journey are not taken into consideration.

“We want to be ready for where the students are when they come to us and embracing their strengths,” said LaPierre.

LaPierre, who is serving her first year as superintendent, also said that overall SD52’s graduation rates are increasing including those of Indigenous students. This year SD52 has also implemented a literacy intervention program to help students read at the national standard by the end of Grade 3.

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Studies show that the more kids reading by end of Grade 3 means the more likely they are to graduate. Data from February to end of June shows that SD52 students are already improving on their reading skills.

“I am so proud of our students they are the picture of resiliency,” said LaPierre.

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