Learning
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Kingston is about average on lifelong learning
A measure of lifelong learning is the Composite Learning Index (CLI), created in 2006 by the Canadian Council on Learning. The CLI is Canada’s annual measure of progress in lifelong learning. It is based on a combination of statistical indicators that reflect the many ways Canadians learn, whether in school, in the home, at work or within the community. A high CLI score means that community possesses the kinds of learning conditions that foster social and economic well-being. Kingston’s CLI score placed it on par with the provincial and national average. Other Ontario communities like Ottawa and Guelph had higher scores.
Education levels
More than half the people of Greater Kingston have a post-secondary education – a degree, diploma or certificate. Kingston is slightly higher than the national and provincial average. Meantime, the number of people who have not completed high school continues to drop.
Education is big business
Queen’s University has 23,800 students. More than 14,000 are full-time undergraduate students and 3,500 are full-time graduate students. The University has 7,254 employees, including full- and part-time. Their annual payroll is worth more than $331 million. The overall annual economic impact of Queen’s University on the local economy is more than $1.4 billion. St. Lawrence College has 4,400 full-time students. The College estimates that each student spends $15,000 annually in the community. They also have 297 full-time employees and 550 part-time employees in Kingston, with an annual payroll of $30 million. The overall impact of the College on the Kingston economy is estimated to more than $300 million. The Royal Military College has some 1,700 students – 600 of whom are graduate students. They also employ 195 full time faculty members.
Source: Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College& RMC
The Limestone District Public School Board serves 20,000 students at 54 elementary schools, 11 secondary schools across and a number of community education centres – almost 40 of these are located in the City of Kingston. The school district covers a geographic area of 7,719 square kilometers with an overall population of 136,663 public school supporters. The School Board’s operating budget was $244,428,000 and its capital budget was $42,588,000 for the 2011-2012 year.
Source: Limestone District Public School Board
The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board serves more than 12,000 students at 36 elementary schools, five secondary schools and a number of adult learning centre sites – 21 of which area in the City of Kingston. The School Board serves a wide geographical area of more than 16,000 square kilometres from Whitney in the north to Picton in the south to Seeley's Bay in the east and Trenton in the west. The Board’s annual budget is $124 million.
Source: Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board
The Tri-Board Student Transportation Services transports 35,000 students from the Limestone District School Board, Hastings and Prince Edward county and Algonquin and Lakeshore over 97,553 kilometers daily across the region.
Source: Limestone District Public School Board
University and college students make a difference in the community
Almost half of Queen’s University’s undergraduate students – some 9,800 – volunteer in the community before they graduate. About 2,000 first-year students volunteer or perform community service work by the end of their first year. Queen’s students provide breakfasts at local elementary schools, mentor high school students, raise money for the United Way, deliver more than 600 meals a week to needy families and more. At St. Lawrence College, most of the full-time programs involve hands-on experience outside the classroom. The College estimates that every year, their students provide more than 300,000 placement hours in the community, much of it in Kingston. Placement includes working for local hospitals, businesses, public sector organizations, social service agencies and more. Students at RMC also contribute to the community. Every year, they take part in a number of fundraising events. Every class also does a community project each year. These include food drives, green areas clean-up and more.
Source: Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College& RMC
