“The experience students have is something we take far more seriously,”
That’s from School District 57 Superintendent Cindy Heitman after she questioned the metrics used by the Fraser Institute when comparing elementary schools in Prince George with the rest of the province.
Independent schools like Cedars Christian (133rd), St. Mary’s (141st), and Immaculate Conception (153rd) ranked in the top third while College Heights (862nd), Quinson (845th), Spruceland (821st), and Ron Brent (870th), ranked at or near the bottom.
The highest-rated SD 57 elementary school was Southridge (228th).
Heitman stated the Foundation Skills Assessment data collected was from the 2020/21 school year – something she believes is difficult to judge when looking at the success of a school.
“The experience that students have is something we really look at far more seriously than one metric.”
“I think it’s important for us to look at the school, look at the demographics of the school and it’s important to look at what the school is doing to support the needs of the students.”
School District 57 is in the second year of a five-year strategic plan focusing on the resources and strategies in learning, wellness, equity of access, and Truth and Reconciliation.
“So much of the intervention and the work we are doing is not only in the literacy and numeracy instruction – it’s also ensuring that student’s needs are met so that when they are coming to school they are feeling positive about being where they feel safe and they feel like they belong. Without those basics, students can’t learn.”
“So often, kids choose to not be at school because they don’t like it. When kids don’t like school and they don’t attend they can’t learn. Those are the kinds of things we are doing and I think the focus that our district has right now and the resources the board is putting into these schools is making a difference,” added Heitman.
Aside from the socio-economic issues that may exist, Heitman noted northern students face additional barriers in order to attend class on a consistent basis.
“We’ve got transportation, we have weather and so many of our kids are on buses – we see those things that are creating additions to a child’s day that schools in more urban settings don’t have.”
“When we talk about the difference between independent schools and private schools, we all teach the same curriculum and we have those requirements and measures but I think diversity in classrooms is something we really need to look at.”
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
