Innisfail High School (IHS) students achieved above-average results in last June's provincial exams, marks that are earning the praise of Chinook's Edge School Division.
“Compared to last year, Innisfail High School students have exceeded educational objectives in many categories,” said Kurt Sacher, superintendent of Chinook's Edge School Division, who cited statistics from the annual provincial Accountability Pillar report. “From Grade 9 to Grade 12 there are many positives we have drawn from the last round of test results.”
The superintendent noted at the Grade 9 level the students were above the provincial average with 74.5 per cent, -- an “acceptable” grade, and 19 per cent of students were deemed “excellent” by the government standard, which matched the provincial average.
“We noticed that the high school students had the great improvement in their test performances,” said Sacher. “Nearly 81 per cent of students were ‘acceptable' compared to last year when only 80 per cent made that level while 11.5 per cent of writers were excellent compared to 14.5 per cent this last June.”
Sacher added IHS had 79 per cent of students who started Grade 10 complete their Grade 12 year. This compares to 75 per cent provincially, which pleased the administrator.
“With more students graduating with above-average marks from IHS, it is a testament to the teachers and administration of the school,” said Sacher. “They work hard with and for their students to make sure they excel, whether it is team or individual instruction.”
He also noted that 65 per cent of graduating IHS students have exceeded Alexander Rutherford Scholarship qualifications with a standing of 75 per cent in grade 10 through 12 classes, while provincially 60.9 per cent of Alberta students qualify.
“We are really pleased with IHS's results, and are now starting to see the rewards of excellence throughout the education system from kindergarten onward,” said Sacher.
Narsh Ramrattan, vice-principal of IHS, noted there has been steady improvement over the last couple of years, particularly in English and biology.
“We continue to focus as a school on collaborative days for provincial achievement tests and diploma exams and our results are showing that this strategy is working,” said Ramrattan.
