-9° News AB Politics COVID-19 Travel National Obituaries Newsletter Autos Contests Cannabis Jobs Trending Now Eighty-five per cent of students at Red Deer Public Schools graduated within three years of entering Grade 10, up from 79.9 per cent in the 2018-19 school year. (File photo by BLACK PRESS) Graduation rate increases for Red Deer Public Schools More eligible for Alexander Rutherford High School Achievement Scholarship SUSAN ZIELINSKINov. 23, 2021 2:58 p.m.LOCAL NEWSNEWS The number of Red Deer Public Schools students graduating within three years reached a 10-year high in 2019-20, according to the district’s latest Annual Education Results Report. Eighty-five per cent of students graduated within three years of entering Grade 10, up from 79.9 per cent in the 2018-19 school year. Red Deer Public also saw an increase in students graduating in both four and five-year time frames: 85.2 per cent within four years and 84.8 per cent within five years. During 2018-19, 82.8 per cent graduated within four years, and 81.6 per cent within five years. School board chair Nicole Buchanan said there were many reasons for the jump in graduations, including the dedication of staff when the pandemic struck in the spring of 2020. “Our board certainly recognizes and appreciates all the hard work that our staff did transitioning to at-home learning. (They) really stepped up to the plate in regards to making sure that our students were provided the best opportunity in an unprecedented school year,” Buchanan said. That spring students didn’t have to write diploma exams due to the pandemic which also could have impacted graduation rates, she said. Related: Alberta’s Education Minister has ‘safety concerns’ for schools that are piloting new curriculum Graduation within three years for First Nation, Métis and Inuit students was also the highest ever for the district at 70.6 per cent. “Not only was this the highest level of graduation we’ve ever seen for our Indigenous students, we were over eight per cent higher than the provincial average.” Students also excelled when it came to scholarships in 2020-21. The number of students eligible to receive the Alexander Rutherford High School Achievement Scholarship was at its highest level in the past seven years, with 66.9 per cent of students qualifying, a 2.2 per cent increase from the previous year and a 6.4 per cent increase from the previous three-year average. Related: Alberta’s Education Minister announces supports to help students catch up Buchanan said the school board allocated $1 million to focus on student learning gaps and mental health during the current school year to continue to support students. szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter RED DEER PUBLIC SCHOOLS Most Read Driver who offered man a lift near Mirror stabbed and has truck stolen More dangerous opioids caused 30 overdoses last week in Red Deer: OPS manager Forty-five per cent prepared to ditch social distancing at holiday gatherings: poll Web poll: Are you getting a flu shot this year? Cowboy Kicks fundraiser with Brett Kissel in Red Deer is rescheduled for March Previous Bashaw RCMP charge male for attempted murder Next Drop-in testing for sexually transmitted infection set for Nov. 26 in Red Deer Just Posted Parents can book youngsters for vaccinations starting Wednesday in Alberta More dangerous opioids caused 30 overdoses last week in Red Deer: OPS manager Drop-in testing for sexually transmitted infection set for Nov. 26 in Red Deer Graduation rate increases for Red Deer Public Schools Explore Red Deer Advocate NEWS SPORTS TRENDING NOW BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIFE COMMUNITY OPINION VIDEOS WEATHER OBITUARIES TRAVEL MARKETPLACE CONTESTS CONTACT US BLACK PRESS MEDIA Contact UsOur TeamPrivacy PolicyTerms of useSite MapRed Deer NewsRed Deer WeatherRed Deer Classifieds © 2021, Red Deer Advocate and Black Press Group Ltd.