High School Completion Longitudinal Study Highlights
High School Completion Longitudinal Study (Full Study)

The purpose of this study, which supports the Alberta High School Completion Initiative, is to better understand the local contexts and factors that may affect high school completion. This information can be used to develop more effective policies and programs directed at helping students complete high school. The study involves a comprehensive analysis of provincial Student Information System data and other data sources (e.g., Statistics Canada 2001 census data).

The findings in this report are based on the cohort of 32,721 Alberta students who started Grade 3 in 1995-1996 and entered Grade 10 in 2002-2003. These findings can be used by education practitioners who need evidence-based information to support the development of policies and strategies targeting high school completion at a school, jurisdiction or provincial level.

The initial analysis supports the proposition that high school completion is actually a prolonged process rather than a single occurrence or event.

Alberta's High School Completion Rate

Alberta's three-year high school completion rate has been increasing, rising to 72.6 per cent in 2010 from 71.5 per cent in 2009.

The percentage of students completing high school within five years of entering Grade 10 has remained stable at 79 per cent over the past few years.  The Government of Alberta wants to see this increase to 81 per cent by 2012-2013 and to 90 per cent in the long term.

Alberta High School Student Outcomes

Alberta Education calculates student results related to high school programs, Grades 10-12, each spring for the previous school year. These results include 3-, 4-, and 5-year high school completion rates, based on tracking Grade 10 students. For provincial information on Alberta High School student outcomes, click on the document links below:

• Alberta high school completion rates
• Annual dropout and returning rates for Alberta students
• Alberta high school to post-secondary transition rates
• Rutherford Scholarship eligibility rates for Alberta students
• Diploma Examination participation rates for Alberta students

These measures are part of the set of Accountability Pillar measures used to assess school jurisdiction performance.  The complete provincial Accountability Pillar report is available here. Jurisdiction rates are included in their three-year plans posted on the school board's website by the end of June and in their results reports which are posted on each jurisdiction website at the end of November each year.

• Alberta high school completion rates by jurisdiction
• Alberta drop out rates by jurisdiction

Updated: November 2011