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 Four-year high school
program hasn’t
worked for some students
Many parents ask me if their high school students should
return to school for a fifth year. Recently we learned that 30 per cent of our
students didn’t graduate and approximately one third returned to secondary
school.
The chance at a free secondary education to upgrade and be
involved with co-op and take a wide range of courses is enticing. The
universities and colleges tell us that they are seeking well-rounded students.
Why in heaven’s name did we go through the double cohort
trials and tribulations to find that many of our youngsters are not ready to
leave the comfort of their secondary school in four years?
The community college applications are due Feb. 1 with five school selections for $85.
Let me try and help you with the dilemma. Donna Derer,
manager of institutional research and planning, Fanshawe College, was very
helpful. She sent along a couple of graphs for the years 2000-04 showing the
percentage of students at Fanshawe College who successfully complete their
first semester .
High school students in 2004 who completed academic English
with an A/B average had an impressive 80 per cent success rate. With a C/D
average the percentage drops to 62 per cent. Only 41 per cent of students who
were registered in the college stream with a C/D average were successful.
The percentage of students completing their first year by
high school math scores are indicative of success/failure rates. Seventy-five
per cent of university level students with an A/B average were successful,
compared to only 52 per cent of students in the college level with a C/D
average.
If your son or daughter is in the college stream with C/D
average then it looks like it would may be in their best interest to save their
money and return to high school.
University applications are due Jan. 11 for 2006. You have
the option of choosing three choices of universities or programs with fees of
$100. Each additional choice will cost you $33.
Of the 70 per cent of successful Ontario secondary students
last year three out of four who were enrolled in the university level
courses were successful. Thirty-three
per cent of the academic level students went on to university.
Paul Davenport, president of Western, when I interviewed him
for The Londoner was very proud of the retention success rate of his
undergraduate students. The minimum cutoff last year for admission was 80 per
cent with mandatory credits counted in the average. The retention consortium
for student retention data exchange shows that in the school year 2002-03 the
University of Western Ontario had a 92 per cent retention rate.
Many of the college level bound students are in jeopardy of
not receiving their high school diploma. It seems that average marks do not
bode well for completing a community college program. Not fair. A fifth year
upgrading may improve their success rate.
Gerard Kennedy, Ontario’s minister of education, is not
planning on changes to the curriculum until 2006. Too little, too late for this
year’s crop of hopeful students.
The university level students have done well with the new
curriculum and have a very high success rate at Fanshawe and Western. With
decent marks, strong work ethic and motivation students should be able to
complete their high school education in four years and find success in post
secondary programming.
Parents please take the time to discuss the options with
your children.
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