Edmonton's Enterprise - Edmonton Public Schools system

School Administrator, May, 2001 by Emery Dosdall

In 2000, an even higher percentage of students achieved the acceptable standard and the standard of excellence for the majority of courses. In the International Baccalaureate program, our district average continues to exceed the world average. This has been a consistent pattern for the past five years.

We've also seen our provincial scholarship winners increase. In 2000, we had 1,049 students qualify for almost $2 million worth of provincial grants for college studies, compared with 1,007 students and $1.8 million in 1999 and with 827 students and $900,000 in grants in 1995. This year, we will complete a benchmark study that will show the direct correlation between our programs of choice and our student achievement results.

In a recent survey, we learned that 91 percent of parents are satisfied with the programs and courses we offer and that 93 percent are satisfied with the quality of education we provide to their children. These results, in addition to our student achievement results, are made public and are favorable to public education.

The future of public education depends on our ability to focus on student achievement. We must continue to be accountable to the public, parents and, most of all, our students.

At Edmonton Public Schools, we will continue to find innovative ways to help those students who are not successful today find success in the future. We are committed to remaining responsive to changing parental expectations, economic realities and cultural shifts. We believe that providing alternative programming is just one of the crucial elements in providing a quality education to all students.

Emery Dosdall is superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools, One Kingsway, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5H 4G9.

Edmonton's Wide Array of Programs

Edmonton Public Schools offer a comprehensive array of 31 program choices. Of the district's 209 schools, more than 80 have adopted at least one of these specialties.

A handful of Edmonton's schools operate as magnets with strict entrance requirements. These typically are the dance schools and cadet programs. Most offer one or more specialty programs that run parallel with their regular academic program.

The programs offered in the most locations include French immersion, Logos and Nellie McClung.

Because additional specialty programs are adopted throughout the school year, the school district uses its Web site for the most current information: www.epsb.edmonton.ab.ca.

These are the current program choices available to Edmonton students.

Aboriginal Program-Awasis: Elementary and junior high programming that enables students to increase their knowledge and appreciation of native cultures and traditions. Cree language instruction is also available.

Aboriginal Program-Rites of Passage: Designed for aboriginal students of junior high age at risk of dropping out, this program stresses basic academic skills, while providing cultural teaching and second language instruction in Cree and Ojibway. Classes are small and students work at their own pace and can enroll at any point in the year.