99.2% for Marlie Mount’s girl, as top GSAT students shine in Old Harbour

For the first time for Old Harbour News, we are able to highlight all 10 primary institutions of learning within the Old Harbour space in general. The girls continue to outperform the boys, with the boy coming out on top at only two schools.

However, the star performer came from Marlie Mount Primary’s Kyona Cunningham. The top girl, who is heading to the all girl school of Immaculate Conception High, just missed out on a perfect score with scores of 98 per cent in science and social studies being her lowest marks. Top boy Christopher Allison will continue his education at Campion College, after impressing with a 97 per cent average.

It is one of the best performances overall in the last few years for Marlie Mount Primary, registering “approximately a four per cent increase in overall average this year”. According to its principal Calvin Harris 208 students scored 90 per cent or higher in at least one subject, while 30 students averaged minimum 90 per cent or above.

This year’s batch, though weaker than last year’s group, did slightly better overall at Old Harbour Primary. The school improved in three subject areas – language arts, communication task, and social studies – had a steady score for math but a slight decline in science. More than 130 students recorded 90 per cent or higher in at least one subject, a marked improvement on the 89 students who achieved the feat last year.

“So the quality of the scores are better even though it was a weak batch,” said principal George Goode, who also believes moving to the single shift system, after operating on double shift for more than 40 years, had a positive impact on the performances as well.

Approximately 90 students sat the annual national exam at Old Harbour Bay. A little more than 30 students of that cohort averaged in their 80s and have been placed in some of the nation’s top traditional high school such as St Jago, The Queen’s High School for girls, Glenmuir High among others.

The performances at Spring Village was a bit underwhelming this time in comparison to last year and 2016, noted Shernet Bedward, the principal. Based in a community with one of the toughest socio-economic environments in Old Harbour, top girl Judeen Hinds still made the community and school proud with an average of 82 per cent. However, her opposite number on the boys’ side, Jermaine Madden saw his average plummet significantly after falling ill during his social studies exam.

Despite a slight dip in averages, Divine Gardner and Cajene Cummings did Davis Primary proud – both averaging in the 90s.

Monsignor Colin Bryan Preparatory delivered big yet again with “more than 80 per cent” of their cohort placed at their school of choice. “Sixty per cent obtained passes of 90 and above in one or more subject areas,” said Angeline Brown, principal of the only private school of this type in Old Harbour. “Thirty-five per cent scored within the 60-80 percentile.”

She added: “We commend the effort of all the staff as they have all in one way or another contributed to the success of the graduands.”

Jinelle Bell of Bellas Gate performed excellently, averaging 96.2 per cent and will certainly be one to watch when she continues her academic sojourn at St Catherine High School. Bryanna Douglas and Iseannie Morrison topped their respective girl and boy categories at Brown’s Hall, with St Jago and Calabar the beneficiaries of such obvious talent.