September 14, 2011
Student Success Evident on EQAO
Today’s EQAO release from the province reveals a strong trend of improved student success at the DSBN. Compared to last year’s results, students made gains in five areas measured by the assessment.
While congratulating students and teachers for their efforts over the past year, Superintendent of School Support Services Carol Germyn notes that the DSBN’s results over the past five years are especially significant. “Since 2006/07, success rates have increased in every single category measured by the assessment. In many cases, the DSBN’s improvement outpaces that of the provincial results.”
Over that five year time span, success rates for DSBN students in Grade 3 increased by 8% in reading, 12% in writing and 1% in mathematics. Grade 6 scores showed even more dramatic improvement, climbing 16% in both reading and writing, and 3% in mathematics. Students in Grade 9 applied math increased by 2% and Grade 9 academic math success rates rose by 8%.
To support student success, the DSBN has made literacy and numeracy its key priorities. Director of Education Warren Hoshizaki says the trends revealed in the success rates of the EQAO results are evidence that this determined focus is benefiting students.
“These results assist both schools and the Board in targeting areas of strength and areas of improvement. Schools also receive a detailed report from EQAO, which they analyze alongside other data to determine their literacy/numeracy focus and incorporate strategies designed to improve student learning,” adds Hoshizaki.
Superintendent Germyn says the EQAO assessment is one of many assessments that teachers, administrators and Board staff take into consideration when formulating plans and strategies to support students. “It is important to consider these results in conjunction with other forms of evaluation, such as classroom work, teacher observations and other important school data. It is this combination of assessments that give us a clearer picture of student learning.”
DSBN Chair Kevin Maves says these results are important indicators that the Board’s plan to support student success is working. However, he also says that “students spend 194 days learning in class each year. The EQAO represents one assessment, written on a single day; it is a snapshot of student learning. It is the outstanding work of our dedicated teachers and administrators to support student learning on those 193 other days that make improvements like this possible.”
The assessment provides a snapshot of students’ skills in reading, writing and mathematics according to the Ontario Curriculum Standards. To be successful on the test, students must meet the provincial standard, which is measured as Level 3 on a four-point scale. The EQAO identifies Level 3 as equivalent to a B grade.
For full school and Board results, please visit the EQAO website.
EQAO Highlights
Grade 3 Reading:
Success rates improved by 4% over last year’s results
These results represent a 8% increase over 2006/07 results
DSBN students achieved 2% above the provincial result
Grade 3 Writing:
Success rates increased by 6% over last year’s results
These results represent a 12% increase over 2006/07 results
DSBN students achieved at the provincial level of 73%
Grade 6 Reading:
76% of students were successful, which represents a 4% improvement over last year’s results
These results represent a 16% increase over 2006/07 results
DSBN students achieved 2% above the provincial result in 2010/11
Grade 6 Writing:
72% of students were successful, a 5% improvement over last year
These results represent a 16% increase over 2006/07 results
Grade 9 Academic Math:
73% of students were successful on the assessment
These results represent an 8% increase over the 2006/07 results
Grade 9 Applied Math:
Success rates improved 4% over last year’s results
English Language Learners (ELL):
Grade 3 results increased 21% in reading, 15% in writing and 15% in math over last year's results
Grade 6 results increased 9% in reading, 9% in writing and 12% in math over last year’s results
EQAO Results
