WINDSOR-ESSEX CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Continued Success - Students exceed EQAO standards two years in a row

For the second year in a row, students in the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board have exceeded Ontario averages in all standardized provincial assessments, the board announced on October 4.

"We're thrilled that our students have exceeded provincial scores in all eight areas of EQAO," said Melissa Farrand, Executive Superintendent of Student Achievement. "We're especially proud of our results in mathematics, where over the past three years, we've seen a steady increase in the percentage of students achieving or exceeding the provincial standard. Making sure that students are proficient in math and are meeting curriculum expectations is an extremely important priority for our Catholic school board, as well as the Ontario Ministry of Education."

In Grade 3 and Grade 6 reading, writing and math EQAO assessments, WECDSB students exceeded provincial averages by anywhere from 4 to 13 percent. In Grade 9 math, they exceeded provincial averages by 4 per cent, and on the Grade 10 literacy (OSSLT) assessment, they outperformed the rest of Ontario by 6 per cent. Detailed data can be found in the attached graphs.

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Elementary School, where the board announced its results, students in Grade 3 and Grade 6 exceeded provincial averages in all of those categories by anywhere from 7 to 29 percent.

"These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students and educators at this school," Farrand said. "Parents also play an extremely important role in their children's academic journey and we've seen how the results of their support at home have improved outcomes in the classroom here."

All of the data gathered from EQAO assessments is analyzed by the board's administrators, teachers and support staff and used to guide learning through intentional programming that's tailored to the needs of schools and individual students, according to Michelle Evon, the WECDSB's Assessment and Evaluation Consultant.

The board will continue to use its data to identify those schools that require additional supports, but also by determining what strategies work best for each student, she added.

"It's all about figuring out what works best for individual students and providing them with the help they need," Evon said. "The focus is on getting to know our students, their strengths and areas that need improvement, and then working as a team to create a plan to support them in bridging the gaps in their learning."