Speaker
Description
Rural schools across Ontario are often smaller and less connected to nearby postsecondary institutions, which can make it difficult to staff specialized courses. As a result, students in these schools may face more limited access to senior STEM subjects [1,2].
This study examines the factors underlying urban-rural differences in students’ postsecondary readiness. Using descriptive analysis of Ontario enrolment data from 2006 to 2023, it focuses on the availability of senior STEM courses, the frequency with which they are offered, and student achievement within those courses.
By combining descriptive trends with regression techniques, this project moves beyond identifying patterns to exploring the systemic and structural conditions that produce them. In doing so, it highlights how school location and size intersect to shape both access to and success in senior STEM courses across Ontario.
[1] Looker, D.E. Regional Differences in Canadian Rural-Urban Participation Rates in Post-Secondary Education, (2019). A MESA Project Research Paper. Toronto, ON: Educational Policy Institute.
[2] Nielsen, W. Accessing senior science courses in rural BC: A cultural border crossing metaphor, (2004). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Society for Studies. Winnipeg, May 2004. https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v53i2.55261
| Keyword-1 | High School Physics |
|---|---|
| Keyword-2 | Educational Access |
| Keyword-3 | Urban-Rural Education |