What does it mean for a community when almost 1/4 of the population does not have a high school diploma?
The length of involvement in schooling significantly impacts participation in criminal activity and the probability of incarceration. The table below tracks the percentage of residents in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo Census Metropolitan Area that do not have a high school diploma.
Story Behind the Numbers
In 2006, 23.8% of residents in the Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo CMA did not have a high school diploma. This is the exact same as the Ontario provincial average and slightly above the Canada average of 23.4%. However, when the results are examined for individuals under the age of 35, the Waterloo Region has more residents without a high school diploma than the Provincial average. This is significant because individuals under the age of 35 are at the highest risk of participating in criminal activity.
Read the Community Responses
- Waterloo Region’s Catholic Schools: Laying a solid foundation for student success by David DeSantis, Superintendent of Secondary Schools & Student Success, Waterloo Catholic District School Board.