Students improve in Grade 6 and 9 mathematics

Limestone Learning Foundation
Students improve in Grade 6 and 9 mathematics
Posted on 09/25/2019
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The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released reports on the 2018–2019 provincial assessments for each publicly funded school board in Ontario today.

In Limestone, we value looking at EQAO data as a piece of the full picture of our learners but also want to recognize that it needs to be seen alongside classroom assessment results, demographic data and student voice.

The elementary school report provides assessments of reading, writing and mathematics written by students in Grades 3 and 6. The secondary school report provides similar information relating to the Grade 9 assessment of mathematics and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

In 2018, EQAO made changes to its accommodation policies, including eliminating the requirement for an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, to access accommodations students normally receive during regular classroom instruction.

Limestone students continue to improve in some key areas, including Grade 9 academic and applied level mathematics as well as improvements in Grade 6 mathematics.  

“We are pleased to see improved student engagement and achievement, and we will continue to use all data, including EQAO results, to support rich learning environments and improved achievement for every student,” says Director of Education Debra Rantz.

Grade 3 and 6 Reading & Writing 

According to the EQAO questionnaire which offer insights into students’ attitudes, perceptions and contexts, the majority of students in Grade 3 and 6 see themselves as good readers.

In Grade 3, student achievement in Limestone continues to stay consistent with last year with 67% meeting the provincial standard in reading and 56% met the provincial writing standard, a six-percentage point decrease from last year.

In Grade 6, 72% of students met the provincial reading standard, a four-percentage-point decrease from last year, and 71% met the provincial writing standard one-percentage-point increase over last year.

Grade 3 and 6 Mathematics 

More than half of the Grade 3 students like mathematics and see themselves good at math (54% and 57% respectively) than do Grade 6 students ( 47% and 50%).

In Grade 3, 45% met the provincial math standard, a two-percentage-point decrease from last year. In Grade 6, 33% met the provincial standard, a two-percentage-point increase from last year.

Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics 

Results in Grade 9 academic math in Limestone increased by 6% with 82% of students meeting the provincial standard. When tracking student achievement in relation to the provincial standard in Grade 6 to Grade 9 mathematics, Limestone had 34% of students who did not meet the standard in Grade 6 but met the standard in Grade 9.  This demonstrates significant improvement.  

A higher percentage of Grade 9 students enrolled in the applied course like mathematics at 43%, 8 percentage points above the province. Similarly, 41% of students see themselves as good at mathematics, 9 percentage points above the province.

Student achievement at the provincial standard in Grade 9 applied mathematics increased to 45%, just above the province at 44%. When tracking student achievement in relation to provincial standard in Grade 6 to 9 mathematics, Limestone had 39% of students who did not meet the standard in Grade 6 who did meet the standard in Grade 9. Like the academic results, this demonstrates significant improvement.  

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test 

Limestone had 96% of their students fully participating in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test which is consistently higher than the province at 93%. First-time eligible student achievement at provincial standard for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test increased by one percentage point from the previous year with 69% meeting provincial standard. This compares to 74% across the province.

“It is important to remember that results are a snapshot in time,” says Rantz. “Boards combine EQAO results with report card grades and classroom assessment to provide a complete picture of student knowledge so we can move forward and implement strategies that will ensure all students are given the support they need to succeed.” 

Over the coming weeks, principals will share school results with their school communities and will analyze the results in detail to identify next steps. All parents or guardians with a child who participated in the assessments will receive their child’s individual results in the next month, and will include school, board and provincial results.

Students in all publicly funded schools in Ontario are required to write provincial assessments, administered by EQAO, a provincial body that tests students’ skills in literacy in Grades 3, 6 and 10 and math skills in Grades 3, 6 and 9 in relation to Ontario Curriculum expectations. Successful completion of the literacy requirement is one of the requirements to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

For more information, please contact:
Jane Douglas, Communications officer
Communications Officer
613-544-6925 x 311 | 613-328-0916 mobile
Karen Smith, Communications Officer
613-544-6925 x 314 | 613-328-0947 mobile

 

 

 

 

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.