Applied courses put some high school students at a disadvantage: report

TORONTO – Ontario high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to take simplified courses in core topics like math despite a link to lower graduation rates, according to a new report by an education advocacy group.

People of Education says its analysis of provincial data reveals that high schools in poorer neighbourhoods are much more likely to have students opt for “applied” Grade 9 classes versus “academic” classes.

Annie Kidder, executive director of the advocacy group, says the link between poverty and participation in the basic courses is “shocking,” and suggests it is possible disadvantaged students are being lumped together based on their perceived ability.

According to Kidder, that practice — known as streaming — was formally ended by the province in 1999 after being criticized for separating minority, immigrant and low-income groups into simpler classes, while other students were placed in more advanced courses.

The report cites research that shows while roughly 85 per cent of students in academic Grade 9 math and English finished school within five years, graduation rates plunged to under 60 per cent for those in “applied” courses.

Kidder says the province should look into how students and parents decide with the help of teachers which of the two approaches to English, math and science to take.

“What we’re seeing is really something that looks pretty close to streaming,” she said.

Kidder said the data flies in the face of the common view that applied math classes — which emphasize practical lessons over abstract problems — are easier to pass.

“They think they’re going to be easier but in fact the data show that they’re more likely to fail,” Kidder said.

Kidder added that students who opt to take applied Grade 9 classes are not likely to switch to academic classes the following year. They face lower odds of going on to pursue college or university.

“Our worry is there’s a sort of no exit — you make this choice in Grade 8, you picked applied, and it’s very hard to get out of that.”