SURREY — The number of students graduating from Surrey high schools went up in the most recent school year, with 88.8 per cent of all students completing their education.

The that figure is up 2.7 per cent from the previous year and continues a trend that’s seen Surrey graduation rates steadily rise since 2009. At that time, the rate was 82.1 per cent.

Female students had a higher graduation rate than their male counterparts at 91.4 per cent compared to 86.4 per cent, both numbers were also up compared to previous years. According to the district, this is the first time the female graduation rate has broken into the 90s.

Aboriginal students saw a significant rise as well, with 61 per cent graduating in the most recent school year compared to 48.2 per cent the year prior.

English language learner students also had an increase of 2.6 per cent over the previous year with 92.6 per cent for 2013/2014, and special needs students saw a slight bump from 59.2 per cent to 60.2 per cent.

“A second successive year of significant improvements in our six-year completion rate for all students is a testament to all the hard work put in by students and staff in Surrey Schools,” said Shawn Wilson, Surrey Board of Education chair in a statement.

“The board is pleased to see improvement in the graduation results for aboriginal students and hopes to see that continue as there is still a long way to go.”

Surrey’s rates are higher than nearly all of the provincial graduation rates, save for aboriginal and special needs. While the province’s aboriginal graduation rate is just .6 per cent higher than the district’s, the special needs rate is 1.6 per cent higher. For all other categories, Surrey outpoints the province by at least four points.

Surrey Now