As the new school year begins, the Lambton Kent District School Board is reflecting on another successful season of summer programming, with more than 1,800 students participating across a range of courses and opportunities.
The board said 1,837 students were enrolled in 2025, an increase from 1,511 the year before. Programs included full-credit online courses, credit recovery and rescue, co-operative education, cultural learning opportunities and language instruction.
Full online learning once again drew the largest number of students, with nearly 1,500 completing 36 courses at a success rate of 92 per cent. Fifty-two Grade 8 students advanced into secondary-level studies, while 818 students from outside the board also registered, underscoring the program’s reputation. An additional 194 LKDSB students earned credits through online courses offered by other school boards.
For those requiring additional support, credit recovery and rescue courses provided a second chance to earn 94 credits across three secondary schools. Experiential opportunities were also offered, including a Travel for Credit program in which 52 Grade 9 students completed Civics and Careers courses while taking part in an educational trip through Ottawa, Montreal and New York City.
The Summer Co-op Program engaged 136 students in workplace placements, with many fulfilling requirements for the Specialist High Skills Major program and gaining practical experience tied to their career interests.
New offerings this year included programs to support equity and inclusion. A Chatham-based English language learner program was launched, while students also participated in an Eelünaapèewii Lahkèewiit Lenape language course. Credit recovery opportunities were hosted in Aamjiwnaang First Nation and Walpole Island First Nation, where students collectively reclaimed nearly 50 credits. More than 40 Indigenous students also took part in the FNMI Integrated Arts Program, which blends land-based education with the transition to secondary school.
Elementary learners joined the International and Indigenous Languages Program, with 143 students participating in 16 classes covering Arabic, Urdu, Malayalam and Mandarin.
Board officials said the success of the summer session reflects a commitment to providing diverse, flexible and supportive opportunities for students, whether completing diploma requirements, preparing for post-secondary pathways or exploring cultural and workplace learning.
