Seven area high schools are ranked in the top 100 schools in Alberta, according to the Fraser Institute’s Report Card on Alberta’s High Schools 2010.
Springbank Community High School ranked 12 overall and Edge School in Springbank came in at 18. The report card shows whether schools are improving or declining academically, based on Grade 12 province-wide exam results and grade-to-grade transition data.
Springbank High School principal Leslie Anne Collings said she had not even seen the report.
“I look more to Alberta Education for my information,” she said.
“It is really important for parents to look at the report from the school and Alberta Education for a solid indication of how the school is doing. Provincial achievement exams and diploma exams are only a snapshot. Parents need more of a breadth of understanding. You don’t ever want to look at things from only one perspective”
Despite her skepticism, Collings said she attributes the schools high ranking to the students’ dedication to academics.
“The kids come to school ready to learn,” she said.
“Another important component is the fact that our parents value education.”
Springbank Community High School’s overall rating was 8.7 out of 10.
Edge School principal Tim Main attributes the school’s overall rating of eight out of 10 to the successful balance of athletics and academics.
“Our model teaches children so many skills including time management and commitment to excelling in anything they do,” he said.
“We are really pleased our model is being accepted more widely.”
Main said the report is only one scale to measure the success of the school, but it is a useful tool for parents to compare schools.
“It is a standardized type of measurement,” he said.
Edge School has 290 Grade 6-12 students and delivers sports in an integrated model. The school improved from a rating of 6.9 over the past five years.
Airdrie Koinonia Christian School ranked 29, St. Martin de Porres Catholic School in Airdrie came in at 44, Bow Valley High School in Cochrane fell in 73rd place, George McDougall High School in Airdrie ranked 92 and Cochrane High School squeezed into the top 100 at number 99.
According to the report, more Alberta high school students received a failing grade on their provincial examinations in 2009 than in 2008. This year’s results show that 18.1 per cent of tests written by Alberta high school students in 2009 received a failing grade, compared to 15.8 per cent in 2008. In fact, this measure of student achievement has shown a statistically significant deterioration since 2005.
“The value of the Fraser Institute report card is exemplified by the fact that it identifies for parents and educators this trend of declining exam results,” said Peter Cowley, Fraser Institute director of school performance studies and co-author of the report card.
“Educators can identify areas in which improvement can be made and can seek advice from similar schools that have improved academically. The report card helps connect schools that may need help with those which have improved.”
Visit www.fraserinstitute.org for more information or to view the full report.
Fraser rankings:
Here is how local schools were ranked in the Fraser Institute Report:
o 12 - Springbank Community High School - (rating 8.7/10)
o 18 - Edge School - (rating 8/10)
o 29 - Airdrie Koinonia Christian School (rating 7.7/10)
o 44 - St. Martin de Porres High School in Airdrie (rating 7.4/10)
o 73 - Bow Valley High School (rating 7/10)
o 92 - George McDougall High School (rating 6.8/10)
o 99 - Cochrane High School (rating 6.7/10)
o 112 - St. Gabriel the Archangel in Chestermere (6.6/10)
o 138 - Beiseker Community School (rating 6.2/10)
o 144 - Chestermere High School (rating 6.1/10)
o 173 - W.G. Murdoch School (rating 5.7/10)
o 173 - Bert Church High School (rating 5.7/10)
