Class of 2013 break record as more students stay in school from Year 8 until Year 12 THE proportion of students remaining in school from Year 8 through to Year 12 has topped 90 per cent for the first time, figures show. The statewide Year 12 retention rate this year is 91.9 per cent, up from 89.6 per cent last year. In public schools, 90.5 per cent of students stay to Year 12. Education Minister Jennifer Rankine has attributed the growth to government support programs and the popularity of school-based apprenticeships, while principals say a more flexible curriculum and raising the school leaving age to 17 have contributed. The retention rate among Aboriginal students rocketed 10 per cent over the same period, to 79.2 per cent. The gap between male and female student retention has narrowed after a 4.1 per cent increase in boys staying on to complete Year 12. That brings the male retention rate to 85.7 per cent, compared with 98.6 per cent of girls. More: Single-sex classes get better results SA Secondary Principals Association president Jan Paterson said this year's result reflected the hard work of teachers to make the new SA Certificate of Education successful "to keep kids in school and make it worthwhile for them." "The new SACE is much more flexible, which allows us to cater for students who have a vocational stream as well as academic," she said. Controversy surrounded the introduction to the new SACE of a compulsory Research Project and while a government evaluation received many submissions for the project to be dumped or made optional, it has been retained. Last month, the Liberal Party announced it would make the project optional if elected in March. The State Strategic Plan sets a target to increase the proportion of 15- to 19-year-olds who achieve the SACE or comparable qualification. This has been achieved yearly since 2006. "Students who stay on at high school have better further education and employment outcomes than those who don't," Ms Rankine said. "So engaging young people in education has been a key priority for us. ," Ms Rankine said. I am particularly pleased that the retention rate for Aboriginal students has increased. This is fantastic progress. Five years ago the State Government pledged more than $10 million to keep "at risk" teenagers in school, including funding the Innovative Community Action Networks program, which supports 5000 students who are identified as being at risk of not completing their schooling.