St. Paul Education Regional Division had a feather to put in its cap this last week, as not just one, but two of its schools were recognized among the top 10 fastest improving schools in the province. In its annual report cards on Alberta’s schools, the Fraser Institute ranked Ecole Mallaig School as first in the province for school improvement, while St. Paul Regional High School was declared the fourth fastest improving school in the province over the last five years.
The think tank’s news release made special note of the fact that the data shows any school is capable of improvement, regardless of where it is, the type of school, or the backgrounds of students, pointing out, “Despite having 25 per cent of its students identified as special needs learners, Mallaig’s overall rating has steadily improved to 7.7 (out of 10) in 2015 from 3.5 in 2011.”
It has been a long road for the local school division as it has made student achievement a major goal. Nearly a decade ago, the division had among the lowest student achievement scores in the province, and had set their sights on doing better. That goal seems to be bearing fruit. The results highlight a truth that is universal to all people and institutions: that improvement is always possible, and that students can meet the bar of high expectations with the support to make it happen.
Many teachers and education professionals remain dubious about the Fraser Institute and its marking system. No doubt there are lots of measures of success, including things far more difficult to gauge than diploma marks and completion rates, including whether a school develops students’ good citizenship, kindness and responsibility and whether a school helps students reach their potential in several areas, be it academics, athletics, music, drama or art.
But that does not mean the institute’s rankings should be ignored completely, but rather put in its place as just another measure that local schools are on the right track and that St. Paul and area’s students are capable not just of achievement, but greatness, the rewards of hard work and effort.
