In reporting declining numbers of Kootenay Lake students completing Grade 12 or an equivalent, the Star erred in its description of what those numbers mean.
Statistics released last month show only 69 per cent of students in School District 8 graduated during the 2016-17 school year. Those students are ones who completed their graduation within six years of enrolling in Grade 8, and the overall stat should be considered the six-year completion rate.
Although that was reported accurately by the Star, we mistakenly also referred to that number as the graduation rate, which is a separate statistic and only pertains to students who begin and complete Grade 12 in one school year.
The Star has requested the Ministry of Education provide SD8 graduation rates, as well as completion rates by each school. We’ll publish a follow-up story once those are made available.