This release presents student achievement results on the following provincial assessments administered by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO):
- Primary and Junior (Grade 3 and 6) Reading, Writing and Mathematics
- Grade 9 Mathematics (Applied and Academic courses)
- Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
Looking at a 10-year continuum of results in the Primary and Junior assessments reinforces that gains are being made in Primary and Junior Reading and Writing. This year, students experienced gains the area of Primary Reading with small declines in Primary Writing and Junior Reading and Writing.
"We believe in our students' abilities and have confidence in our teachers who are striving to help all students achieve provincial standards in all grades and pathways," said Cathy Portt, Superintendent of Education. "We are committed to preparing all students for graduation, for their chosen career pathway and for life-long learning.
Primary and Junior results
Primary and Junior assessments were written by students in May 2017. They objectively measure student achievement in reading, writing and math in relation to a common provincial standard which is Level 3 or 4.
This year HPEDSB students made gains of 3 percentage points in Primary Reading, while continuing to show gains in Reading and Writing over a 10-year period.
Primary results: Reading 61% Writing 57% Math 47%
Junior results: Reading 67% Writing 62% Math 32%
Grade 9 Mathematics
The EQAO Grade 9 Math assessments are differentiated based on curriculum expectations in Applied and Academic Mathematics courses. They are administered near the end of each semester as a part of the course. Results are reported as the percentage of students achieving at provincial standard, Level 3 or 4, with Semester 1 and 2 results combined for the school year. Overall, the trends demonstrate that HPEDSB students have been holding steady over the past 10 years.
Academic Math course results: 76%
Applied Math course results: 41%
Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is administered once a year in the spring in Academic, Applied and Locally Developed English courses. All Grade 10 students are eligible to write it. Successful completion of the OSSLT is a graduation requirement.
The OSSLT is the only assessment in which students who are eligible to write it can be deferred to a later time. An increased percentage of HPEDSB students participated in the assessment in their Grade 10 year, as deferral rates decreased from 15% in 2011 to 4% in 2017.
Results of students taking Academic English have remained strong over time. Results for students taking Applied or Locally Developed English indicate ongoing needs in literacy.
Academic results: 90%
Applied course results: 42%
Locally Developed course results: 3%
Next steps
EQAO assessments are one type of assessment data used to inform planning at the school and Board levels. Ongoing classroom assessments and report card results in literacy and mathematics are also taken into consideration to present a more complete picture of student achievement.
A continued focus on literacy, building on the successes in elementary grades, is required to ensure that students meet literacy graduation requirements. This will help to ensure that students are well-prepared for today and their future careers.
The continued focus required in mathematics to address achievement gaps is a priority locally and provincially.
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For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, [email protected]