DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Continued strong EQAO reading and writing results for DPCDSB students

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has released the results of the 2017-18 annual assessments completed in Grades 3, 6, 9 and 10. The EQAO assessments and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) provide an indication of each student's achievement in reading, writing and/or mathematics at key points throughout their formal schooling.

The assessment results for elementary students report on reading, writing and mathematics at both the primary and junior levels of study. Grade 3 students participate in the primary assessments and Grade 6 students complete the junior assessments. The Grade 9 EQAO assessment focuses on mathematics achievement, while the OSSLT assesses students' proficiency in reading and writing. Successful completion of this test (or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course) is one of the 32 requirements necessary to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Results of the elementary EQAO assessments indicate continued high performance in terms of proportions of students meeting or exceeding the provincial standard (Levels 3 or 4) on the Grades 3 and 6 assessments of reading: almost 80% of students in Grade 3 met or exceed the standard, while 84% of students in Grade 6 achieved Level 3 or 4.

Consistent with the previous assessment year, high proportions of DPCDSB students in Grades 3 and 6 met or exceeded the provincial standard in writing.

Success rates on the 2017-18 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) for Dufferin-Peel students continue to be very high, despite a slight decline among students eligible to participate for the first time compared to the previous assessment year.

In elementary mathematics, the results indicate a decline in the proportions of both Grade 3 and Grade 6 students meeting or exceeding the provincial standard compared to the previous assessment year.

At the secondary level, the 2017-18 EQAO assessment results for Grade 9 mathematics indicate that DPCDSB students continue to demonstrate high levels of performance at the academic level of study. However, Grade 9 applied mathematics achievement has shown recent decline. Given the results in both elementary and Grade 9 EQAO mathematics assessments, the DPCDSB continues to dedicate a wide range of supports to schools to focus on improving learning in this key subject area for all students.

"As trustees, we are committed to allocating resources and supports to ensure that our students are put in the best position possible to succeed," said Mario Pascucci, Chair of the Board of Trustees. "While we are concerned about the recent trend in Mathematics, and we will look to address this, we are encouraged, overall, by this year's results. We give credit to our teachers, support staff, and administrators, under the leadership of our senior management team, for helping bring the vision of the Board of Trustees to fruition."

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