Region's high schools graded in new report

The Fraser Institute found schools across Waterloo Region collectively scored higher in academic performance than the province

A new report shows high schools across Waterloo Region are performing at a higher academic level compared to schools across Ontario. 

The data comes from the Fraser Institute Report Card, a tool used to encourage and assist schools in improving their performance.

Peter Cowley is the senior fellow at the Fraser Institute. He said schools in Waterloo Region averaged a performance score of 6.4 in comparison to the rest of the province, which is 6.

According to Crowley, the report scores schools across Canada and ranks them based on past academic performance across a series of tests, including  province-wide testing done in Grade 9 for mathematics.

Crowley said the data from these tests allows them to determine if a school's performance is declining or improving.

 "What we're talking about is if there is a real change here, or if it is a random fluctuation," said Cowley, "We're not so concerned about random fluctuation."

While the region collectively has a higher rating, there are two schools Cowley said that are seeing a downward trend in academic performance; St. David Catholic Secondary School in Waterloo and St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School in Kitchener.

According to Cowley, the Fraser Institute Report Card found St. Mary's score went from a 6.9 in 2015 to a 6.1 in 2020.

"That school's community should be very interested in that principal's improvement plan and what results will they see reflected in the report card." he said.

While Cowley said the Fraser Institute's report card receives criticism for being 'narrow' by only looking at test scores, he points out it can show a school's academic improvement, like at Cameron Heights in Kitchener.

"It [Cameron Heights] has 6.2 in 2015 to 7.6 in this most recent year, 2019." said Cowley, "It's sort of a path-finder school."

Overall, Cowley said the report shows residents that school's scores can change with time, and suggests schools should turn to each other for help.

"It is important in every area, for those that are interested, to ask what Cameron Heights has done over the last five or six years to have that improvement. It is a very important question."