Vital Signs community data, Prince Edward County - Data , EducationVital Signs community data, Prince Edward County - Data , Educationhttps://vitalsigns.thecountyfoundation.ca/data/educationThu, 05 Feb 2026 01:31:25 -0500http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Education]]>https://vitalsigns.thecountyfoundation.ca/data/post/educationEducational attainment | Early years development]]>

Vital Signs Data

Community
Location
Population
Sense of Belonging
Accessibility
Arts Culture Recreation
Quality of Life
Community Support
Economy
Sustainable Economy
Industry Composition
Income
Employment / Workforce
Poverty Reduction
Collaborative Impact
Education
Educational Attainment
Educational Support
Collaborative Impact
Environment
Climate Resilience
Protection of farmland
Food Security
About Food Insecurity
Food Programs
Collaborative Impact
Health
Health Characteristics
Healthcare Services
Housing
Household Characteristics
Affordable Housing
Owning
Renting
Homelessness
Safety
Community Safety
Transportation
Transportation Services
Collaborative Impact

Educational Attainment

Updated December 4, 2025

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
SDG 4.2: Ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education.

Never stop learning - blackboard
Educational Attainment
Graduation Rates
Standardized Tests
Early Years/Childcare
Educational Attainment

​Adult educational attainment

Education begins before school, through child care and early learning, and continues beyond high school into college, university, apprenticeships, and lifelong learning. It helps people adapt to a changing world.


Educational attainment measures the highest level of formal schooling community members have completed.  As of 2021, 90.8% of PEC adults aged 25 to 64 have earned a certificate, diploma, or degree, up from 85.7% in 2006. 


Although adult educational attainment has been rising, the changing demographics of new residents may be a contributing factor.


  • More PEC students pursue college or non-university diplomas than the provincial average (31.2% vs. 23.6%), while fewer pursue university degrees (24% vs. 36.8%).
  • Among youth aged 18 to 24 from Prince Edward County, 34.2% were attending postsecondary school, compared to 51.5% in Ontario and 50.2% in Canada overall.
  • In PEC, 820 people (6.7%) hold an apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma, down from 2,315 (12.2%) in 2011. This decline mirrors a broader provincial trend, with Ontario's rate at 5.1%.
More than ever before, higher education is essential for avoiding poverty and improving one’s well-being. Lack of education limits a person’s chances in life, including their earnings opportunities and economic security. Those with more years of schooling have longer lives, report a better health status with a lower occurrence of chronic diseases and disabilities, and are more likely to vote and participate in the community. (Government of Canada, Towards a Poverty Reduction Strategy)

Every gain in community educational levels makes a positive difference. A one percent increase in adult literacy would create an economic benefit of $67 billion in the gross domestic product for Canada (2018 prices).

Graduation Rates

​Grade 12 graduation rates

More students are graduating but an achievement gap persists. Historically, HPEDSB graduation rates lag behind the province. (Ontario Ministry of Education, School Board Progress Reports)

Challenges to success include:

  • increased absenteeism, in particular the Gr 12 and Gr 8 students. Gr 8 is most concerning.
  • high staffing needs across all positions – recruitment and onboarding within the school system due to large retirement numbers.

Hastings Prince Edward District School Board continues to work toward increasing graduation rates by implementing several strategies including Grade 9 de-streaming in core subjects, increased opportunities for alternative learning and secondary pathways and continued collaboration with Student Service Departments to ensure students with special education needs receive optimal supports.


The four-year and five-year graduation rate is calculated as the percentage of students who receive an OSSD within four or five years of starting Grade 9. High school graduation measures the percent of students who earn 18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits; pass the *OSSTL literacy requirement; and complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities.


Students are now required to earn two e-Learning credits to graduate from secondary school, beginning with every student who entered Grade 9 in the 2020-2021 school year.


*The literacy graduation requirement was waived for students graduating in the 2020-21 and the 2021-22 school years. This requirement was restored for students graduating in the 2022-23 school year. (Ontario High school graduation requirements)

Standardized Tests

Standardized test results

The provincial Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) tests offer insights into whether students are meeting curriculum expectations in reading, writing and math at key stages of their education, as well as students’ attitudes and habits towards learning. (EQAO assessment results)

Reading, writing, and math scores for students in grades 3 to 10 have historically fallen below the provincial standard in the HPE Board of Education, with math scores being particularly concerning—a trend reflected across Ontario. However, progress is being made in the post-COVID period.

Early Years/Childcare

​Early years development

Early child development sets the foundation for lifelong learning. Early vulnerability predicts a child’s lifelong health, learning, and behaviour.  Children in low socioeconomic communities are almost twice as likely to be behind in early development skills as high-socioeconomic status peers. (Pan-Canadian Public Health Network)

Almost 4 out of 10 Hastings Prince Edward (HPE) preschoolers are vulnerable in one or more domains of early development, compared to their Ontario peers at about 3 out of 10 (as of 2018).


Little progress was made since Cycle 1 of EDI testing in 2003, with the exception of improvements in the domain of Communication Skills and General Knowledge. Physical health and well-being is the domain with the largest gap compared to Ontario peers. (Government of Ontario Data Catalogue.  Early Development Instrument (EDI) Cycles 1-3 and Cycle 4 (2004 to 2015)

Early Development Instrument (EDI) test results above show vulnerabilities in one or more domains of early development. (Early Development Instrument Snapshot 2018, Public Health Ontario)
An October 2024 directive from the Canadian Pediatric Society calls on doctors to regularly screen children for reading difficulties and dyslexia, calling low literacy a “serious public health concern” that can increase the risk of other problems including anxiety, low self-esteem and behavioral issues, with lifelong consequences. (Canadian Pediatric Society)

Early Development testing measures:

  • Physical Health and Well-Being: Children are happy, healthy, rested each day.
  • Social competence: Children play and get along with others, share, show confidence.
  • Emotional maturity: Children are able to concentrate on tasks, help others, show patience, are not often aggressive or angry.
  • Language and thinking skills: Children are interested in reading and writing, can count and recognize numbers, shapes.
  • Communication skills and general knowledge: Children can tell a story, communicate with adults and other children.

Childcare

The Hub Child & Family Centre offers 176 full-time spaces across its two sites in Picton and Massassauga-Rednersville, and through home childcare. The waiting list has increased significantly since 2014, driven by an increase in the population ages 0-9.  Capacity for registered full-time child care is constrained by both staffing and space limitations. After-school childcare is also available at public schools: Kente, St. Gregory’s, CML Snider, Sophiasburgh and PECI.

"Difficulty accessing child care has caused about one-third of respondents to adjust work or study schedules, reduce hours, or delay returning to work."  (Statistics Canada 2023)

Canada ranks 33rd out of 35 OECD countries for early childhood education enrollment. (Early Years Study 4: Thriving Kids, Thriving Society)

]]>Mon, 24 Oct 2022 16:48:07 -0400<![CDATA[Education: Support for Learners]]>https://vitalsigns.thecountyfoundation.ca/data/post/support-for-learnersSchools & Educational supports]]>

Vital Signs Data

Community
Location
Population
Sense of Belonging
Accessibility
Arts Culture Recreation
Quality of Life
Community Support
Economy
Sustainable Economy
Industry Composition
Income
Employment / Workforce
Poverty Reduction
Collaborative Impact
Education
Educational Attainment
Educational Support
Collaborative Impact
Environment
Climate Resilience
Protection of farmland
Food Security
About Food Insecurity
Food Programs
Collaborative Impact
Health
Health Characteristics
Healthcare Services
Housing
Household Characteristics
Affordable Housing
Owning
Renting
Homelessness
Safety
Community Safety
Transportation
Transportation Services
Collaborative Impact

Educational Support

Updated July 22, 2025

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
SDG 4.2: Ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education.

— Photo provided by ROC Youth Services
Schools & Educational Institutions
Preschool
Adult Education
Community Programs
Supporting Success
Schools & Educational Institutions

​Schools & Educational Institutions

Post-secondary

Prince Edward County is in close proximity to five educational institutions in Kingston, Tyendinaga, and Belleville including Queen’s University, the Royal Military College of Canada, First Nations Technical Institute, St. Lawrence College and Loyalist College.

Primary and Secondary Schools

The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board serves approximately 15,000 students at 39 in-person schools (32 elementary, two K-12; four 7-12, one secondary) and a K-10 virtual school. The district covers a geographic area of 7,220 square kilometres bordered by Maynooth to the north, Deseronto to the east, Prince Edward County to the south and Quinte West to the west.


The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board serve students of the Roman Catholic faith. Their schools cover the area from Whitney to the north, Kingston to the east, Prince Edward County to the south and Quinte West to the west.


Sonrise Christian Academy is located in Picton and offers K-6 education to families in Prince Edward County.


Preschool

​Preschool

The HUB Child & Family Centre provides licensed child care and early learning through a number of programs and services that focus on children infant to 13 years old and their families.

The EarlyON program at the HUB offers free, high-quality drop-in programs for families and children from birth to 6 years old. Parents can learn and play with their children, meet people and get advice from early childhood professionals.

https://www.thehubcentre.ca/



Adult Education

​Adult Education

Prince Edward Learning Centre is dedicated to helping adult learners acquire the skills needed to achieve their personal learning and employment goals. Support is provided to:

  • Upgrade Literacy & Essential Skills
  • Finish High School
  • Prepare to write the GED
  • Prepare for Work or a Career
  • Prepare for College
  • Prepare for Apprenticeship & Training
  • Develop Skills for Personal Independence
  • INSPIRE paid workplace training and placement program.

Loyola School of Adult and Continual Learning, Picton campus
Earn high school credits.


Loyalist College – College Prep. Program, 613-969-1913 Belleville
Literacy and Basic Skills program – continuous intake literacy and adult upgrading program. Ages 18 yrs and up. Apply at Pioneer Building. No fees; covered by Employment Ontario.

Community Programs

​Community Programs

For girls aged 6 / 7 years 8 / 9 years

Reaching for Rainbows program for girls aged 6 / 7 years 8 / 9 years builds confidence and self-esteem in young girls and nurtures a sense of belonging.

Serving the needs of low income families and at risk children

County Kids Read addresses the link between poverty and literacy by providing books to children and youth in need in Prince Edward County. Access to books can have a lasting, positive impact on children’s socio-economic and academic outcomes.

Youth grades 7 through 12

theROC Youth Services  provide opportunities, mentorship and programs in a safe environment that encourages youth success and contributes to a healthier community. ROC offers snacks and taxis when funding allows for it. There is no-cost to participants.

All ages

PEC Library is located in six locations through PEC. Their resources can be used to support the Ontario curriculum and learning adventures! Services are open to teachers, home educators, and anyone who’s interested in learning.
Supporting Success

​Pillars for Youth Well-being and Success

Compared to the richest 29 countries in the world, Canada ranks 17 in overall child and youth well-being. Indicators include educational achievement, health, and happiness. Youth sense of well-being is the predominant influence on how well they live their lives – mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically, in connection with others and with the places they live.

The Greater Than Theory of Change, developed by Greater Than County Youth Collective through a series of workshops, youth surveys and research, includes these five pillars to support youth success:

  • Well-being: Youth are physically, emotionally and mentally well.
  • Empowerment: Youth feel valued in their community and have a voice.
  • Education Support: Youth are engaged in their learning.
  • Career and Employment Support: Youth see the relevance of their education to their future.
  • Family Care-Giver Peer Support: Youth feel connected to their family care-givers and peers.

​Barriers to Success

  • Students and teachers are still grappling with the long-term effects of COVID-19 disruptions. Many children and youth have experienced disengagement, chronic attendance problems, declines in academic achievement, and decreased credit attainment during the pandemic, with the impact far deeper for those already at-risk. (Whitley, Beauchamp, Brown 2021)

    In the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDPSB), absenteeism remains a challenge, especially among Grade 12 and Grade 8 students, with Grade 8 being the most concerning.

  • Remote learning has further revealed inequities in household internet access and technical capabilities. Low income households are significantly less likely to have home internet and multiple internet-enabled devices. (Canadian Science Publishing)
  • Transportation is a barrier to accessing services and activities.
  • Bullying, including cyberbullying threatens mental well-being. Most vulnerable are racialized groups, LGBTQ2SIA+ youth, persons living with disabilities, and those living in poverty.  (Greater Than County Youth Collective youth surveys 2017, 2019, 2021) In a 2022 survey of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) conducted by All Welcome Here, 100% of BIPOC students at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute reported being victim to race-based bullying.
  • Canada’s high school dropout rates average 5–14%, rising to 50% or more in marginalized communities. Youth in these areas face barriers including limited access to nutritious meals, financial instability, inadequate educational resources, transportation issues, and language barriers.  (Pathways to Education)
  • Children in low socioeconomic communities are almost twice as likely to be behind in early development skills as high-socioeconomic status peers. (Pan-Canadian Public Health Network) Early literacy skills are linked to better outcomes in personal and economic well-being throughout a child's life and into their adulthood. (Deloitte, An Economic Overview of Children's Literacy in Canada) Canada ranks 33rd out of 35 OECD countries for early childhood education enrollment. (Early Years Study 4: Thriving Kids, Thriving Society)
  • HPEDSB school suspension rates have historically been high compared to provincial rates. (Ontario, Suspension rates by school board)  The concern is that suspended students may not return to complete their education
]]>Mon, 24 Oct 2022 02:23:24 -0400<![CDATA[Education: Collaborative Impact]]>https://vitalsigns.thecountyfoundation.ca/data/post/education-collaborative-impactEducation: Collaborative Impact with Greater Than Youth Collective]]>

Vital Signs Data

Community
Location
Population
Sense of Belonging
Accessibility
Arts Culture Recreation
Quality of Life
Community Support
Economy
Sustainable Economy
Industry Composition
Income
Employment / Workforce
Poverty Reduction
Collaborative Impact
Education
Educational Attainment
Educational Support
Collaborative Impact
Environment
Climate Resilience
Protection of farmland
Food Security
About Food Insecurity
Food Programs
Collaborative Impact
Health
Health Characteristics
Healthcare Services
Housing
Household Characteristics
Affordable Housing
Owning
Renting
Homelessness
Safety
Community Safety
Transportation
Transportation Services
Collaborative Impact

Education: Collaborative Impact

Updated August 7, 2024

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
SDG 4.2: Ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education.

Projects & Research
Greater Than Collective Evolution
Projects & Research

Projects & Research

PEC Youth Calls to Action

1. A safe space in the community for LGBTQ+ Youth. A LGBTQ+ Community Support Network.

2. A commitment from local government, community organizations, service clubs, agencies etc. to meaningfully engage youth in their decision making. We want to help the community develop Youth Engagement Strategies.

3. Access to relevant sexual health education.

4. Parenting programs for young men, supportive programming for boys, access to positive male role models.

5. Timely and consistent access to mental health supports for youth. Youth to have knowledge of existing supports. People working with youth are clear on how to refer youth to appropriate supports.

6. Alternative learning environments for students who need extra supports.

7. Connect youth to community programming that exposes them to different careers and provides opportunity to connect with people in diverse fields.

8. Support for families for navigating systems and accessing entitlements and supports ie. social assistance, child benefit, daycare subsidies, hydro subsidies, housing benefits, food bank, Learning and Engagement Fund, Learning Enrichment Foundation, Jumpstart etc.

PEC Youth Calls to Action
Greater Than Collective Evolution

​Evolution of the Greater Than Youth Collective

Greater Than County Youth Collective consists of 28 organizations that partnered to form a collective impact group. Their goal is to raise the High School graduation rate in Prince Edward County to parity with the provincial average by 2026. greaterthancyc.ca

Education was prioritized

The 2013 Vital Signs Advisory Committee prioritized three issue areas from the report: Education, Food Security, and Transportation. Working groups were formed to define priorities and projects in these three areas.

commencing in 2015

Theory of Change

A theory of change was developed with youth and agency participation through a series of workshops, youth surveys and research. It outlines the strategies to increase the high school graduation rate to parity. Theory of Change Five “pillars of change” were identified.

2018

Measurement of youth well-being

Research was conducted into youth wellbeing as part of the Student Commission’s “Sharing the Stories’ project of national data collection. This means we have a baseline of measurement for youth wellbeing over these years.

2019

Youth support programs

Innovative programs were seeded, all of which are still operating today in some form. (see details below)
Youth Inclusion Program
Discover YOUth a safe drop-in group for LGBTQ2S+ youth
Making Systems Work for Me (Financial Empowerment)
Youth Support Navigation Service

commencing in 2019

Neighbourhood Outreach Program

ROC staff delivered the Care Kits and frozen meals to youth member families. This also served as an opportunity for wellness check-ins during this time of isolation.

2020/21

Youth Community Action Project (YCAP) Facilitator

A YCAP Facilitator was hired to support the development of youth-led projects to address the issues identified in the Shared Learning report. Funding was through the municipal Community Grants Program and Huff Family Fund – via The County Foundation.

2022/23

2015

Collective impact work was initated

Prince Edward County engaged in a collective impact project to support education, funded by the Laidlaw Foundation (Innoweave) and the Ontario Trillium Foundation with the County Foundation as the lead.

2018

Greater Than County Youth Collective was formed

Through the work of Greater Than, eight Calls to Action were determined through Participatory Action Research led by the Students Commission and the seven members of the embedded youth team.

2017, 2019, 2021

Mapping and alignment of programs

Mapping of youth community programs and services, according to the 5 pillars, was conducted.

commencing in 2019

County Care Kits project

The County Care Kits project was created, designed and executed by ROC’s Youth Advisory Committee in collaboration with The County Foundation, and with funding through RBC Future Launch program. A team of youth build “Care Kits” made up of basic/personal needs and educational items for youth.

2020/21 during Covid-19 restrictions

Community Action Research Project (CARP)

Youth well-being survey & recommendations during COVID 19, funded through federal Emergency Community Support funding (via The County Foundation)

2021

Communities Building Youth Futures (CBYF)

This collective impact project is funded by the government of Canada and implemented by Tamarack Institute in up to 20 communities across Canada. CBYF aims to better support youth facing barriers to complete high school and successfully transition to post-secondary, trades, or employment.

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