Literacy results below provincial average

Grade 3 students in local public schools improve in reading, math in provincewide tests

Student results in standardized testing improved in some areas and declined in others, according to the latest EQAO test results.

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released their numbers Wednesday.

Students in Grades 3 and 6 were tested in reading, writing and math, students in Grade 9 were tested in math, and students in Grade 10 were tested in literacy.

Both the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board issued statements Wednesday about the scores of their students.

Compared to last year, the public board’s primary students fared better in reading and math but stayed the same in writing. Junior students improved in reading and writing but dropped in math.

“We’re certainly pleased to see the level of progress our students are experiencing across most subject areas,” said Diane Lloyd, the public board’s chairwoman.

There was no change in grades to Grade 9 students taking academic, but applied math dipped slightly.

Grade 10 students completed Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) at a level below the provincial average of 79 per cent.

The public board’s results:

• Grade 3: reading up 5 per cent, writing stayed the same, math up 1 per cent

• Grade 6: reading up 2 per cent, writing up 5 per cent, math down 2 per cent

• Grade 9: academic math stayed the same, applied math down 2 per cent

• Grade 10: of the students who wrote the literacy test for the first time, 74 per cent were successful

The Catholic board’s students in both primary and junior grades scored lower than last year in all areas, but Grade 9 students tested better.

Michael Nasello, director of education for the Catholic board, said there’s still work to be done to improve math skills.

“We are pleased to see our Grade 9 math results continue to surpass the provincial average, however, we share the concern that primary and junior math scores across Ontario continue to decline,” Nasello stated in a release. Grade 10 students at the local Catholic high schools scored below the provincial average of 79 per cent on the OSSLT, nearly mirroring the public board’s results.

The Catholic board’s results:

• Grade 3: reading down 1 per cent, writing down 1 per cent, math down 3 per cent.

• Grade 6: reading down 5 per cent, writing down 3 per cent, math down 8 per cent.

• Grade 9: academic math up 1 per cent, applied math up 15 per cent.

• Grade 10: of the students who wrote the literacy test for the first time, 74 per cent were successful.

NOTE: To see all EQAO reports, go to www.eqao.com