K-12 Schooling Data

​NWT students are not achieving academically at the same level as the rest of Canada. One measure currently used is the Alberta Achievement Test (AAT).  

AAT data shows there are students struggling in all NWT communities, including regional centres and Yellowknife.  Yet, a big gap exists between the achievement of Aboriginal students and non-Aboriginal students. This is more obvious in small community schools where the student population is close to 100% Aboriginal.  

In 2014, on average 55% of NWT Aboriginal students graduated, compared to between 82% of non-Aboriginal students. These low levels of academic achievement are linked to bigger challenges that students have to overcome in their personal, family, and community lives.  They likely find some of their roots in the legacy of residential schooling. The efforts of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the healing work happening at the local level, and the development of northern teaching and learning resources focused on this legacy are important parts of a new beginning in the NWT.