Education by the Numbers

August 17 , 2006

VICTORIA – As more than half a million students get ready to return to school on Sept. 5, the following provides a snapshot of B.C.’s school system – by the numbers:

Increased Funding

  • $5.196 billion education budget – a 12.95 per cent increase from 2000-01.
  • $7,207 in estimated per student funding in 2006-07 – the highest ever, a $114 increase from 2005-06 and $991 more since 2000-01.
  • $4.055 billion in estimated operating funding in 2006-07 – a $20-million increase from 2005-06. This does not include any funding increases that will result from the teachers’ and support staff collective agreements.
  • $7.7 million for continuous entry distributed learning.
  • $488-million increase to B.C. public schools since 2000-01: $335 million in operating grants and $153 million in one-time grants.
  • $1.5 billion for seismic upgrades to schools – 95 of the highest priority schools will be proceeding over the next three years.
  • Directing $700 million in capital funding over the next three years to renovate, replace or build schools.

Fewer Students

  • 560,741 public school students estimated for 2006-07 – 7,082 fewer than in 2005-06 and 37,000 fewer than in 2000-01.
  • 57,413 English-as-a-second-language students (est. 2006-07) – 172 fewer than in 2005-06.
  • 50,083 Aboriginal students (est. 2006-07) – 248 fewer than in 2005-06.
  • 20,274 students with Level 1, 2 and 3 special needs (est. 2006-07) – 148 fewer than in 2005-06.
  • 9,589 adult students (est. 2006-07) – 133 fewer than in 2005-06.
  • 2,017 schools – 1,662 public and 355 independent – in 2005-06. In 2004-05, there were 2,014 schools – 1,666 public and 348 independent.
  • 1,177 additional teachers hired at B.C. public schools in 2005-06.
  • In 2005-06, the student-to-educator ratio was 16.9 to 1 – down from 17.4 in 2004-05.
  • Since 2001, the Province has invested $967 million on 26 new schools, 27 replacements, 140 additions and 28 renovations.
  • By the end of 2007-08, the Province will have invested more than $2.2 billion in school capital and maintenance projects across British Columbia, having built or approved 32 new schools and 287 replacements, additions, new sites, renovations or seismic upgrades.

Record Levels of Achievement

  • 79 per cent of students graduated last year – a B.C. record high for the second year in a row.
  • Both Aboriginal and ESL completion rates are at their highest ever – 48 per cent of Aboriginal students and 83 per cent of ESL students completed secondary school last year.
  • B.C. students are among the best in the world in math, reading and science, according to results from the 2003 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
  • B.C. students are among the best in Canada in science, according to results from the School Achievement Indicators Program in 2004. Only Alberta outperformed B.C.
  • B.C. is leading the way in Canada in the development of knowledge, skills and values according to the Composite Learning Index-second only to Alberta.
  • 4,840 students received scholarships in 2004 for scoring high marks on Grade 12 provincial exams.
  • 90 per cent of Grade 7 students met or exceeded expectations in writing in 2004-05.
  • 93 per cent of Grade 4 students met or exceeded expectations in writing in 2004-05.
  • 78 per cent of Grade 12 students and 71 per cent of Grade 10 students say they feel safe at school most of the time or all of the time.

Investments in B.C. Schools – 2005-06

  • $13.22 million for literacy programs – bringing the total investment since 2001 to $53.5 million. This year’s funding included:
    • $5 million to support innovation literacy programs for the second year in a row.
    • $3 million to support Ready, Set, Learn for the second year in a row.
    • $1.8 million to support literacy programs at B.C. libraries, train library staff in early literacy and acquire technology that will help libraries participate in electronic opportunities in the future.
  • $9.3 million more to support students with special needs, including $8.3 million to fully fund students with special needs at independent schools.
  • $3 million to help schools purchase new trades-training equipment so that students can learn with the latest tools.
  • $3.8 million to improve the health of B.C.’s students through: Action Schools! BC, a provincial network of healthy schools and new physical activity equipment.