How Are We Doing Report highlights increase in Indigenous graduation rates in Surrey & White Rock

March 18, 2025

Surrey Schools’ graduation rates among Indigenous students are on the rise, according to the latest How Are We Doing Report, an annual provincial document tracking Indigenous student learning and success.

At the March public board meeting, the Surrey Board of Education heard that the five-year completion rate for the district’s Indigenous students increased from 50% in the 2022-23 school year to 57% in 2023-24, with the six-year completion rate increasing from 64% to 75% over the same period. The Ministry of Education and Child Care prepares How Are We Doing reports for all 60 of B.C.’s public school districts.

“The graduation rate is the gold standard across the province and what everyone looks at as the indicator of how successful the school districts are, in particular with Indigenous learners,” said Lyn Daniels, Director of Instruction with Indigenous Learning. “Thankfully, all of our efforts have seen improvement in our five-year completion rate, and as well as our six-year completion rate.”

Improving Indigenous graduation rates is one of the board’s key priorities in its strategic plan, having made a commitment to increase rates by 15 to 20% between 2023 and 2028. While the rate has gone up from 37% in 2002, both the board and staff have said they are determined to raise rates by instilling enhanced emotional and academic support for Indigenous students through a student-by-student approach.

Daniels noted the district has identified and taken a number of measures to support the board’s commitment to increasing Indigenous graduation rates, including:

1. making the commitment a priority across the organization;
2. hosting regular meetings with principals and vice-principals dedicated to Indigenous student success and reconciliation;
3. having Indigenous student support teams in every secondary school to monitor progress, provide necessary support, assist with career planning and foster a sense of belonging;
4. integrating the commitment into school plans for every school;
5. providing professional learning on embedding Indigenous perspectives and content into curriculum and lesson design;
6. collaborating and seeking guidance from the Semiahmoo and Katzie First Nations, who are the local Rights-holders, as well as other stakeholders such as FRAFCA and Métis Nation BC;
7. activating the voice of Indigenous youth through student forums and the district’s Indigenous Youth Student council; and
8. identifying and removing system barriers and providing professional learning on anti-racism, anti-discrimination and biases for all staff.

Vice-Chair Terry Allen and Trustee Laurie Larsen expressed their gratitude for district staff’s work to ensure their success in schools across Surrey and White Rock, with a look to continue focusing on school supports and early intervention in the district’s next steps. The district currently supports Indigenous students with graduation advocates, child and youth workers, inclusive education support workers, cultural facilitators, First Peoples in Residence, helping teachers and transition teams, as well as through ongoing equity scans and student leadership forums.

“This was a big issue for the school district, certainly for the board of education, and I can’t thank you enough to see that there has been some improvement,” said Allen. “Of course, we continue to hope that that pattern continues, but at the end of the day, we’re starting to see what the board really wants to see and what you want to see. I thank you and all your staff for the progress that’s been made on what the board considers to be one of its most important issues.”

“Seeing now it’s at an 11% increase, I’m certainly optimistic that it is achievable to get to the 15% or possibly 20%,” said Larsen. “I thank you and your department and all the communities that you work with. It is such a thrill to find out that it is on the upward swing, and so it should be, so thank you for your hard work.”

NT5