September 25, 2013                                                                                         

EQAO Results Reveal Snapshot of Student Learning  

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) today released results of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) and the Grade 9 math tests written by students in the 2012-13 school year.

Overall, 80% of DSBN students who wrote the test for the first time met or exceeded the provincial standard, which is measured as Level 3 on a 4 point scale, equivalent to a ‘B’ grade. This represents an increase of 1% over the previous year’s results and 2% over the Board’s 2010-11 results.

Included in this year’s results, 11 DSBN high schools had success rates of 80% or above, while three schools achieved success rates of 90% and above. Seven schools increased their success rates compared to last year, while two schools maintained their positions.

“Overall, the OSSLT shows an encouraging trend of student achievement in literacy,” said John Dickson, Superintendent of School Support Services.

In Grade 9 Academic Math, 79% of DSBN students met or exceeded the provincial standard. These results show a 2% improvement over 2011-12 and 6% improvement over 2010-11. Grade 9 Applied Math results declined three percent from the previous year. In total, 39% percent of applied students were successful on the test.

“Provincially, and at the DSBN, we know there is work to be done in math. However, it is important to keep in mind that the EQAO is one assessment of many that we use to gauge student learning,” added Dickson.

DSBN Director of Education Warren Hoshizaki said that the Board is committed to providing students with the support they need to become successful in school. “The EQAO helps inform this process by providing each school with a detailed report which they review and analyze alongside other data to determine their literacy/numeracy focus,” said Hoshizaki.

For more information about the EQAO, please visit www.eqao.com.