Students in both Chinook's Edge School Division and Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools fared well against their provincial counterparts in provincial achievement tests and diploma exams written in June.In the CESD, 83 per cent of students who wrote the tests in Grade 3, 6 and 9 met the acceptable standard as defined by Alberta Education, compared to 79 per cent for other students across the province. A total of 85 per cent of students who wrote diploma exams in the CESD in June met the acceptable standard, compared to 83 per cent across the province.ìWe've got many strategies Ö for continued success and improvement and schools right now are analyzing exam results and teachers and school leaders are working collaboratively to share ideas about success for all students,î said Ray Hoppins, the division's associate superintendent for systems services.Hoppins said the division hopes to improve on the number of students that achieve the standard of excellence, as defined by Alberta Education.ìWe believe that through working together Ö that we will have greater number of students meeting the standard of excellence,î he said.The division also received information about the dropout rate, the rate of students going on to attend post-secondary education and other data that it will be compiling in the division's annual education results report it hopes to have available on the CESD website (www.chinooksedge.ab.ca) by the end of the month.ìIn that document, we talk about all the data that we get that helps us provide feedback to school leaders and teachers. We're very proud of the efforts of our school leaders and teachers and educational assistants. They do an incredible job with kids in all of our communities and it shows in many, many areas,î Hoppins said.In addition to a division-wide plan, individual schools within CESD are also planning how to improve student achievement, Hoppins said.Students in RDRCS also fared well against their provincial counterparts in several measures. Students in the division achieved an acceptable standard in all Grade 3, 6 and 9 subjects tested except for Grade 9 French social studies. Division students were also above 2010 exam results in 10 of the 20 exam results measured.Students in RDRCS were below the provincial failure rate in 17 of 20 grade and subject areas measured. They achieved ìexcellentî results that exceeded the provincial average in all Grade 3 and 6 subjects except for French language arts and social studies.The division's students exceeded 2010 achievement excellence in Grade 3 French language arts, and math, Grade 6 social studies, all Grade 6 French subject areas, Grade 9 science and Grade 9 French science.Ryan Ledene, division principal and faith coordinator, said the results have continually improved each year.ìWe're well above the provincial average in pretty much every measure that there is. We've maintained that and if we compare our results to ourselves, we're seeing upward trends in most areas as well. We're very pleased with the results from last year and just the direction we've been going overall in the last five years,î he said.Across all test areas and grades, 88 per cent of RDCRS students achieved an acceptable result while the provincial average was 79 per cent.Ledene said while the board of trustees was pleased with the results, there is always room for improvement. The division is constantly evaluating the results and designing school improvement plans that will better the scores.ìEach of our school administration teams meet with our senior admin team and Ö we talk about strategies to improve,î he said.Some of the areas for improvement for 2010-11 at RDCRS include devising student engagement strategies, integrating technology into the classroom and continuing support with elementary and middle school math.
