Adult Student Census

The Toronto District School Board's (TDSB) 2014-15 Adult Student Census has been acknowledged for its ground-breaking work because it is the first of its kind in North America. The Census results will help inform adult education programming and planning across the TDSB and support the province in developing evidence-based policies for adult students. The TDSB’s five adult high schools support students in achieving their academic goals, applying to post-secondary education, and entering chosen career fields. At the time of the Census, there were approximately 6,200 TDSB adult students registered at our adult high schools and nearly 4,800 wrote the Census; resulting in a 78% response rate. The Census results provide a wealth of information on the multi-faceted educational pathways of this diverse adult student population. By capturing data on the unique educational experiences and histories of adult students, we can accurately determine the best supports to help them reach the highest levels of academic and personal success. The Census reveals many areas of strength in our adult high schools but also the challenges and barriers that could impact student outcomes. In addition, various student groups who had plans to attend post-secondary after completing their courses were identified, with the main focus being on college. The effects of school climate and emotional well-being on post-secondary plans and admission confirmations were also examined. The results of this Census show areas in need of focused resources to make our system even stronger.