Niagara students exceeding provincial testing averages

The results of standardized tests taken by Niagara students in mathematics, reading and writing have been calculated and spelled out.

With Grade 3 math students in District School Board of Niagara, 76 per cent of them met or exceeded the provincial standard, representing a two-point improvement over 2016-17 results.

The public board’s Grade 3 results are 15 percentage points above the provincial average and Grade 6 math results saw a similar two-point improvement over the previous year’s results.

In 2017-18, 61 per cent of students achieved at least a Level 3 on the test, which is 12 points above the provincial success rate, says a DSBN news release.

In the secondary panel, students experienced similar success, as 84 per cent of Grade 9 pupils were successful on the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) tests, which represents a four-point improvement over the previous year’s results. Academic math performance mirrored the provincial result with applied students experiencing a four-point gain and 56 per cent of students surpassing the provincial standard. Applied results are now 11 per cent above the provincial results, DSBN said.

Students in the public board also continue to demonstrate a high proficiency in literacy. Grade 3 reading scores increased one point to 84 per cent, which is nine points above the provincial success rate. Students maintained strong performance in writing with 83 per cent of students successful on the test.

Writing results came in at 11 points above the provincial average. In the last academic year, 87 per cent of Grade 6 students were successful on the reading assessment, an increase of two percentage points over the previous year, and five points above the provincial result. Students improved their progress in writing, with 84 per cent of them successful on the assessment.

Results decreased on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), as in 2017-18, 77 per cent of students were successful on the test, nine points below the 2016-17 results. The provincial success rate this year was 79 per cent.

“Math has been identified as an area of focus at the DSBN, and across Ontario,” said board education director Warren Hoshizaki. “We have devoted significant resources and effort to supporting our students and teachers in this critical area.”

Niagara Catholic District School Board grades 3 and 6 students continue to exceed the provincial results in primary and junior reading and writing assessments. Results for Grade 9 academic and applied mathematics assessments exceeded provincial results and results for the OSSLT equaled the province.

Seventy-nine per cent of Grade 3 students in the Catholic board achieved or exceeded the provincial standard in reading, compared to 75 per cent of the provincewide cohort. Seventy-eight per cent of Grade 3 students achieved Level 3 or higher in writing, compared to 72 per cent across Ontario. Sixty-one per cent of students obtained a Level 3 or 4 in mathematics, equal to the provincial results.

In the junior division, 83 per cent of Niagara Catholic Grade 6 students achieved Level 3 or higher in reading, one per cent higher than the provincial results. In writing, 81 per cent of Grade 6 students obtained a Level 3 or 4, compared to 80 per cent in Ontario with 47 per cent achieving the standard in mathematics.

Eighty-five per cent of Niagara Catholic students in Grade 9 academic mathematics were successful, one per cent above the provincial results.

Forty-nine per cent of students enrolled in Grade 9 applied mathematics met or exceeded the provincial standard, four per cent higher than the provincial figure. Seventy-nine per cent of Niagara Catholic students were successful on the OSSLT, which is equal to the province.