Student achievement in Chilliwack appears to be on the upswing.
After years of struggling with below average completion rate statistics, Chilliwack school district's numbers improved across the board in the 2010-11 school year.
Of all students who started Grade 8 in Chilliwack, 71.6 per cent completed in the school district six years later – a 2.5 per cent increase from last year.
"This is the best result we have had in five years for all students graduating," said superintendent Michael Audet.
Of all male students, 71.9 per cent completed in six years, an almost three per cent increase from last year. And of all female students, 71.4 per cent completed in six years, a 2.2 per cent increase from last year.
Completion rates for aboriginal students jumped more than 10 per cent from 45.4 per cent completion last year to 55.6 per cent this year.
"This is a good news story," said Audet.
However, Chilliwack still lags 10 per cent below the provincial average of 81 per cent.
"I am not suggesting for one minute that we are satisfied with these numbers," said Audet. "This is still not good, but it's better than it's been.
"Is this a trend? I don't know, it's only one year," of statistics. "But I think that it's an indication of the work that's been done ... the last couple of years is now starting to bear fruit."
The Ministry of Education is releasing a comprehensive breakdown of the provincial six-year completion rate results today, Nov. 10.