EQAO Results Released for Catholic Board

EQAO Results Released for Catholic Board
Posted on 09/21/2016
September 21, 2016 - BARRIE, ON: Today, the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released its province-wide testing results for school boards and schools. The results for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) are as follows:
  • Grade 3 reading - 67% meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
  • Grade 3 writing - 72% meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
  • Grade 3 mathematics - 57% meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
  • Grade 6 reading - 78% meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
  • Grade 6 writing - 76% meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
  • Grade 6 mathematics - 42% meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
  • Grade 9 applied mathematics - 31% meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
  • Grade 9 academic mathematics - 74% meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
  • Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test first time eligible students - 79% meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
  • Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test previously eligible students - 51% meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
In response to the downward trend in mathematics results across the entire province, the Ministry of Education just released a renewed math strategy, which will be implemented for students in all grades beginning this year. Both provincial and international assessments show that students understand basic math concepts, but need help applying their knowledge and skills to solve problems - this is also true of elementary students at SMCDSB. In addition, at the secondary level, the SMCDSB recognized the need to refocus efforts on Grade 9 applied mathematics, resulting in a new board-wide math program called ICAN math, which was launched last year.

"We know that our students and staff work extremely hard all year, in every subject area, and we are particularly proud of those students who spend many hours writing the EQAO test each spring - they put a lot of effort into their work and they should be commended," said Brian Beal, Director of Education. "We recognize that in some cases our board and school results are lower than we may have anticipated, but I think it is extremely important for parents, students and staff to understand that EQAO is only one tool we use to measure student outcomes. EQAO is useful to help identify trends so that the province and the school board can put programs and strategies in place, enabling every student to achieve to their God-given ability." 

"The vast majority of our students who are currently not meeting the provincial standard are very close to where they need to be - that is, they are at the high end of level 2 and approaching the provincial standard (level 3). We continue to provide professional development to staff and implement literacy and numeracy programs and supports so that those students do meet or exceed the province's expected standards."

For more information about Ontario's renewed math strategy, please visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/memos/april2016/min_math_strategy.html