DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD OF NIAGARA
DSBN Students Make Gains in EQAO & OSSLT Results Exceeding Provincial Averages in all Areas

Each year, the Education, Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) conducts an assessment for Grades 3 and 6 students in reading, writing and math, while Grade 9 students demonstrate their understanding of math. The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) for Grade 10 students is a literacy assessment and a requirement for graduation.

DSBN is extremely pleased with our Board's results. We know that the success of our students affirms the positive impact of instruction and support that has been provided during the school year.

Grade 3 and Grade 6 Results

Grade 3 students topped the provincial averages by as much as 20%, with reading at 88% and writing and math at 81%.

Grade 6 students showed similar success, improving in all areas since 2022/2023 and performing above the provincial average; topping provincial scores in reading by 10%, writing by 12% and math by 18%.

"Staff have demonstrated such incredible dedication to professional development and provide a blend of outstanding core classroom instruction with targeted intervention support. Although EQAO is only one small piece of the assessment picture, our continued improvement across reading, writing and math highlights this commitment well," said Marian Reimer Friesen, Superintendent of Student Achievement and Well-Being (K-8).

Grade 9 Math & Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

For students in Grade 10, the OSSLT measures whether students are meeting the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9. Completing the OSSLT successfully is also one of students' requirements to graduate from secondary school. DSBN's overall results have remained strong and steady since 2022/2023.

"Literacy and math continue to be areas of focus in our secondary schools and students have made great progress in both. We are very pleased with the results in our 16 secondary schools for the Grade 9 Math EQAO. We observed a 7% increase in our Board scores compared to the previous year and Grade 10 OSSLT results have remained strong and steady since 2022/2023. This success is a testament to students' hard work and classroom teachers' dedication to the learning journey," said Neil Sheard, Superintendent of Student Achievement and Well-Being.

"We are so impressed with the collective effort of students and staff who participated in EQAO last Spring. The data we receive from EQAO and OSSLT provides additional insight into strengths but also what students need, in both literacy and mathematics. Even with strong results, there is always work to be done. We will look closely at the data over the upcoming months to support specific schools andindividual students who require differentiated support to ensure all students and staff have access to the resources they need to achieve their very best," said Kelly Pisek, Director of Education.