Results released today from the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) show Halton District School Board students outperforming the province in Gr. 9 Academic and Applied Mathematics, and Grade 10 Literacy (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, or OSSLT).
The Grade 9 Mathematics assessment measures the mathematics skills the Ontario curriculum expects students to have learned by the end of Grade 9. Different versions of the assessment are administered to students in the academic and applied courses.
There were 3,198 students enrolled in the Academic Math course in 2012-2013 at the time of the assessments. On the Grade 9 Academic Math assessment, 92% of students achieved the provincial standard, increasing 1% over the previous year's result. The province remained unchanged with 84% of students achieving the provincial standard. Over the past five years, the Halton District School Board results for Academic Mathematics have increased 6% overall.
For the 706 students in the Applied course, 47% attained the provincial standard in 2012-2013, a one-year decrease of 7%. The province remained unchanged with 44% of students achieving the provincial standard. It is important to note that 84% of Grade 9 students met the provincial standard in their program of choice (Academic and Applied).
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) results for 2012-13 were also released today. HDSB achieved an outstanding 98% participation rate in the OSSLT, its highest rate ever. This is the fifth year in a row of 97% or better participation. HDSB's success rate for students writing the test for the first time this year remained at 89%. 82% of students in the province met with success on the OSSLT.
"84% of our students have reached a B or better standing in a test of a very rigorous math curriculum" - David Euale, Director of Education
“We are very pleased to see the results for our secondary school students. The literacy standard is a requirement for graduation. With 89% of our students successful on the first attempt, combined with the success of students who write the test a second time or take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) means that Halton has virtually eliminated literacy as a barrier to graduation” states Director of Education, David Euale. “We are also pleased to see that 84% of our students have reached a B or better standing in a test of a very rigorous math curriculum.”
Note: The provincial standard is Level 3 & 4, or a B grade or above.