Research has shown that the successful completion of 16 credits by the end of grade 10 keeps students on track to graduate with their peers and less likely to drop out of school.
Credit accumulation has served as a key indicator of the Ministry of Education’s Student Success/Learning to 18 initiative since its inception in 2003. A student is deemed to be “on track” to graduate with their peers within five years of commencing secondary school if they have accumulated at least: eight (8) credits by the end of grade 9, 16 credits by the end of grade 10, and 23 credits by the end of grade 11. A minimum of 30 credits is required for graduation from Grade 12.
Credit accumulation data is an important indicator of student achievement and is reviewed annually. The examination of credit accumulation data in combination with identity data allows for the establishment of key strategies for how we move forward as a District to improve achievement outcomes for all students as it relates to graduation.
2019-2020 Credit Accumulation Data
Historically, as part of the Annual Student Achievement Report (ASAR), the OCDSB reports credit accumulation rates for students completing grades 9, 10, and 11. For several years, this data has been disaggregated for specific groups of students including English Language Learners (ELL), students who identify as Indigenous (INDG), students with special education needs (SPED) and students residing in lower-income neighbourhoods (SES).
In 2021, this year, for the first time, the credit accumulation data has been analyzed using District-level identity data, collected during the 2019-2020 school year. Reporting this data in alignment with the requirements under the Anti-Racism Act and accompanying Data Standards allows for a deeper analysis of additional groups of students based on self-reported Indigenous identity, race, gender identity, and disability from the Valuing Voices – Identity Matters! Student Survey.
Read the full report