Full-time apparent retention rate in NSW government schools by level of schooling and gender (2001-2023)

The full-time apparent retention rate (ARR) measures the proportion of a cohort of full-time students that moves from one grade to the next, based on an expected rate of progression of one grade per year. It does not track individual students through their final years of secondary schooling.

Data Notes:

• The ARR is the ratio of the total number of full-time school students in a designated year (e.g. Year 12 in 2014) divided by the total number of full-time students in a previous year (e.g. Year 7 in 2009). This would be the Year 7 to 12 apparent retention rate in 2014.

• From 2020, students in mainstream support classes (previously excluded from this table) are reported by their underlying grade of enrolment. This has resulted in an increase in apparent retention rates across all years. As a result, data from 2020 onwards is not directly comparable to previous years.

• With the New School Leaving Age legislation coming into effect in January 2010, the Year 12 cohort in 2012 is the first group of students who were required to complete Year 10. This means that the Year 10 enrolment figure was higher than in previous years, resulting in a relative decline in Year 10 to Year 12 apparent retention in 2012, despite the Year 7 to Year 12 apparent retention rate increasing slightly.

• All enrolments are reported in full-time equivalent units, and include full-time and part-time students. Students enrolled in distance education classes are included with their appropriate grade levels.

• ARRs can exceed 100 per cent due to factors including student migration from interstate and overseas and between school sectors.

• Retention Rates are ‘apparent’ as they do not track individual students through their final years of secondary schooling.

Data Source:

• Schools and Students: Statistical Bulletin. Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation.