Editor:
I would like to congratulate the students and teachers at Chemainus Secondary School and Ladysmith Secondary School for their great academic achievements as recognized by the Fraser Institute’s Annual Secondary School Report Card 2014 for B.C. published on April 8.
This report card takes into account student exam marks in provincial exams, graduation rate, and delayed advancement rates, and is based on the 2012/2013 academic year.
Chemainus Secondary School (CSS) is the highest ranked public secondary school in Cowichan Valley School District 79 for the sixth time in the last seven years, with a rating of 6.3 and a ranking of 125 out of 293 schools in B.C.
Ladysmith Secondary School (LSS) is the second highest ranked secondary school in Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District 68, with a rating of 6.5 and a ranking of 106 out of 293 schools. LSS is considered one of the 30 most improved secondary schools in the province by the Fraser Institute and is listed as an example of improvement in its report. Wow!
Obviously these schools have seriously taken on the responsibility of improving education for our children. Out of the 21 public secondary schools on Vancouver Island north of Victoria, LSS and CSS ranked third and sixth respectively. LSS and CSS ranked seventh and 10th, respectively, out of the 27 public and private secondary schools on Vancouver Island from Sooke north.
I trust that all parents recognize the high quality of secondary education available in our communities.
I hope that School District 79 provides Chemainus Secondary School with the support the students and teachers need to continue to improve.
I also hope that the students and teachers of Ladysmith Secondary School are able to build on their success, in spite of the challenges School District 68 has placed on them.
Lorena Mueller
Ladysmith