School Retention

Indicator Rationale

School retention rates can be influenced by a range of factors, such as the social climate, government policies, socio-economic circumstances and job prospects.

Data Source

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006 Census data available on request.

Measures

Three measures have been derived giving information on two aspects of school retention: whether 17-year-olds are participating in school education; and whether 20-24 year-olds have obtained a qualification at least equivalent to completing Year 12. The data are based on place of usual residence.

People Aged 17 Years Still Attending Secondary School

People Aged 17 Years Not Attending Any Educational Institution

At age 17, young people may be completing Year 11 or Year 12 at secondary school. The proportion of people of this age who are still at secondary school can provide an indicator of school retention. Some 17-year-olds will have already left school, and may be attending a non-school institution (such as TAFE or university) or may not be attending any educational institution. The two measures specified are expressed as a percentage of people aged 17 years.

In the 2006 Census, information sufficient to determine their participation in education was not obtained from 8.7% of Victorians aged 17 years ('not stated' category). These people were excluded from the population prior to the calculation of proportions.  Rates of non-response across LGAs ranged from 3.6% to 25.7%.

People aged 20-24 Years with Year 12 or Higher Qualification

By age 20, the vast majority of young people will have completed the secondary phase of education, and some may have already obtained a higher qualification. The proportion of people in the 20-24 years age cohort who have attained at least a Year 12-level qualification can provide an alternative indicator of school retention. The measure specified is expressed as a percentage of people aged 20-24 years.

In the 2006 Census, information sufficient to determine their educational attainment was not obtained from 11.0% of Victorians aged 20-24 years ('inadequately described' and 'not stated' categories). These people were excluded from the population prior to the calculation of proportions.  Rates of non-response across LGAs ranged from 4.2% to 19.6%.

Census Questions

The data have been derived from the following census variables: Type of Educational Institution Attending and Level of Highest Educational Attainment.

See also: Highest Year of School Completed and Non-School Qualification - Level of Education.

These variables were derived from responses to a number of questions on the 2006 Census form:

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006 Census of Population and Housing - Reference and Information.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Standard Classification of Education, 2001.