Backgrounder

Highlights of 2008-09 EQAO Results

August 26, 2009

Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) provincial test scores from the 2008-09 school year show that overall, 67 per cent of Ontario Grade 3 and 6 students are meeting or exceeding the provincial standard in reading, writing and math. This is a 13 percentage point increase from 54 per cent in 2002-03. In addition, English-language Grade 9 math scores have increased by more than 10 percentage points in the same period.

Elementary Student Improvement from 2002-03 to 2008-09

 
GRADE 3
GRADE 6
English-language
French-language
English-language
French-language
Reading
50% – 61% (+11)
47% – 66% (+19)
56% – 69% (+13)
58% – 77% (+19)
Writing
55% – 68% (+13)
58% – 76% (+18)
54% – 67% (+13)
63% – 79% (+16)
Mathematics
57% – 70% (+13)
47% – 66% (+19)
53% – 63% (+10)
66% – 80% (+14)
Secondary Student Improvement from 2002-03 to 2008-09

 
GRADE 9 MATH
English-language
French-language
Academic
66% – 77% (+11)
66% – 68% (+2)
Applied
21% – 38% (+17)
20% – 40% (+20)

Numbers in parentheses indicate the percentage point increase from 2002-03 to 2008-09.

In addition, Ontario elementary students, including those with special education needs and English as a Second Language, have shown significant improvement over time in all subject areas in both grades 3 and 6.

Helping schools improve student achievement

The Ministry of Education has many programs and initiatives to help teachers, administrators and students improve achievement, for example:

  • Schools on the Move: This initiative, organized by the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat, celebrates schools that are making significant and sustained progress in student achievement. There are currently over 140 Schools on the Move.
  • Ontario Focused Intervention Partnership (OFIP): This is a key strategy by the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat which supports all elementary schools. Through OFIP, schools receive focused assistance to help them address particular challenges to improving achievement.
  • Primary Class Sizes: Thousands of new teachers were hired to create smaller classes in primary grades. In 2008-09, all Junior Kindergarten through Grade 3 classrooms had 23 students or less. This means younger students are receiving the individual attention they need to succeed.
  • Parenting and Family Literacy Centres: In 2009-10, there will be 144 Parenting and Family Literacy Centres located in schools across the province. These centres help prepare children for starting school and encourage families to be a part of their children's learning.
  • Student Success Strategy: The government’s Student Success programs are helping more students thrive at school by allowing them to tailor their high school experience to suit their individual strengths, goals and interests. Since 2003-04, 36,000 additional students have graduated with help from Student Success programs.

See also: