Saskatchewan's 2016/2017 high school graduation rate shows there was a slight increase compared to last year.

It showed in 2015/2016, stats were at 75.6% and moved up to 76.5% in the recent rates, but when you look back this has been part of a trend.

"You know the province has been stuck right on 76 for about twenty years, and it hasn't gone up or down and they've done all sorts of work trying to get that number to budge off 76 and have found that to be really challenging work," explained Tony Baldwin, Director of Education for Prairie South School Division (PSSD).

Baldwin even said they are having a harder time getting grad rates up. PSSD usually sits around 80%, but they actually managed to peak last year at 86.5%, the highest it has ever been.

He went on to say that this one percent increase hopefully begins a slow trend upwards, instead of staying at the mean level.

One thing schools are trying to do now is make connections with every single kid. Learn their strengths and weaknesses and understand how you can help them, which is a process that could take all of elementary school, but Baldwin went on to say that there are as many reasons why the grad rate is so low as there are kids. Attendance is a focus though, as they notice kids who manage to show up consistently are more likely to graduate.

The grad rates also showed a rise in the number of indigenous students graduating. It moved up close to two decimal points, from 41.8% to 43.2%. Baldwin said that the board and many others know they have underserved indigenous students in the past, but they now have a commitment to help those students, and every other in need, and improve those rates.

"Our focus more than on the cultural background of kids is on what specific kid need our [help], you know, what their strengths are," Baldwin said. "So we're trying to meet the needs of all of the kids whether they are First Nations kids or newcomers to Canada or kids whose families have lived in Moose Jaw for generations."

Baldwin added that their indigenous student's rates are in the low 60's. Better than the provincial average but it still needs tons of improvements.

Compared to other provinces, Saskatchewan is in the middle for rates. Quebec currently is the lowest with 64%, and Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia finished highest with 85%.