The average graduation rate over the last three years at Sundre High School (SHS) is 91 per cent, which is the highest to date, according to principal Jason Drent.
“The three-year average that we have is the highest recorded that we've seen at Sundre High School,” said Drent.
“We're really excited about how well our kids are doing.”
The graduation rate for the 2013-2014 school year could reach 99-100 per cent, he said.
“That 90-plus per cent – that just doesn't happen by decisions that are made in the school. That happens by a community looking forward to that,” he said.
“One of the reasons why I think our grad rate has continued to climb is that parents have supported us by saying ‘you know, in order to participate in prom, you have to be a member of Sundre High School that's in a program that leads to graduation'.”
The average graduation rate in Alberta is around 77 per cent, he noted.
Students are busy preparing for May Queen next month and graduation in June. May Queen is an annual event at SHS that started in 1968. Students find jobs in the community to raise money for graduation and other things at the school.
“If it wasn't for May Queen, a lot of our sports teams wouldn't have the resources necessary to do what we do,” he said.
“It's (the money raised) all used for kids. It's not all used for graduation. There is a substantial piece that's used for graduation. But it does support a variety of education, academic, sports programs in the building.”
