Academic Success at the CBE
Earlier this fall we shared the results of our 2015-16 provincial achievement test and diploma exam results. Overall, our students demonstrated strong academic achievement and we are proud of what they have accomplished. We also know there are areas that we need to focus on, and we are committed to doing that.
In fact, we use these provincial results as tools to help us celebrate and build on our successes, and to target areas for growth and improvement. To that end, I am very encouraged to see that areas we had previously targeted for growth have seen marked improvement in this year’s results. I am confident that this will continue in the areas we target in the future.
Provincial achievement testing is one of several ways the CBE measures student success. Other measures include report card data, student survey data and the province’s Accountability Pillar. When reviewing our academic results, it’s easy to focus on the charts and numbers. However, we know that behind every number is a student. And behind every student is a team of people, helping them reach their goals.
Thank you to everyone who is part of these teams – our parents, community members and our CBE staff – for all do to help students succeed. These results demonstrate that the resources, both human and financial, we are directing to students in the classroom are positively impacting student success.
Highlights
CBE students in Grades 6 and 9 outperformed the province at the acceptable standard and the standard of excellence on 18 out of 20 measures. Students’ results on diploma exams are also impressive. In 10 of 11 exams, CBE students outperformed the province at the acceptable standard and the standard of excellence.
More than 40 per cent of CBE students writing the Biology 30 and Chemistry 30 diploma exams have achieved the standard of excellence for four years in a row.
In Physics 30, more than 40 per cent of CBE students have achieved the standard of excellence for five straight years. This year they reached a new high with 47.9 per cent achieving the standard of excellence.
In Science 30, a subject that had been previously identified as an area for growth, results have increased at the acceptable standard and standard of excellence.
We have noted some improvements in math, and we want to support further improvement over time. Overall improvement in our Knowledge and Employability courses is also identified as an area for continued attention.
I invite you to review our CBE student results by visiting the Provincial Assessment & Reports page on our website.
David Stevenson
Chief Superintendent of Schools
