Published July 18, 2024

By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban

The English Montreal School Board has secured the highest graduation success rate in the province. According to the latest education ministry numbers, from 2022-2023, the EMSB’s graduation rate stands at 95.9%, up from 92.7% the year prior.

While most students graduated within five years, the Ministry allows for a two-year extension to ensure students have ample opportunities to earn their diplomas or obtain their initial qualifications. The province-wide success rate of this seven-year cohort including public and private school results, stands at 84.2%. (The public system’s average is 81.7%, while the private sector reaches 93.5%.)

EMSB chair Joe Ortona said the numbers are particularly impressive given that this cohort was affected by the pandemic. “The province reinstated uniform exams in June 2022. It is reassuring to note that student achievement has remained stable in the courses required for graduation, and academically, COVID does not appear to have had a marked effect on these students.”

The board actually exceeded the overall average, and the private networks as well, added EMSB director general Nick Katalifos. “The pandemic years were extremely challenging for all of us. Everyone rose to the occasion. The results stem from a collective effort — our teachers, in-school administrators, support staff, and professionals from all of the departments at the board.”

The results continue to improve and far exceed the francophone school service centres — surpassing the Centre de services scolaire de Marguerite Bourgeoys which posted Montreal’s highest French sector rate at 90.4%, (the Centre de services scolaire de Montreal at 81.5%). This, as the board continues to lead the fight against the CAQ scheme of abolishing school boards and replacing them with said service centres.

Last summer a Superior Court judge ruled that much of Bill 40 infringes on the English-speaking community’s constitutional rights to manage and control its education institutions. With more than 35,000 adult and youth sector students, the EMSB is Quebec’s largest English public school board. n

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