The Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) has demonstrated significant progress in the 2023-2024 Ontario Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) assessments, with students achieving at the same rate or improving at a greater rate than the provincial average in all indicators on a three-year trend.
The EQAO assessments, which took place at various times throughout the 2023-2024 school year, included testing in Primary (Grade 3), Junior (Grade 6), Grade 9 Mathematics, and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). The results from these assessments provide insight into student performance and progress within the LKDSB.
Most notably, the LKDSB saw a 10% improvement in Grade 9 Mathematics from the previous year (2022-2023), marking the highest rate of improvement among all medium and large boards across Ontario. This improvement underscores the board's commitment to enhancing students' mathematical skills and knowledge at the high school level.
"A ten percent increase is incredible to see," states LKDSB Superintendent Ben Hazzard. "But what that really means, at the heart, is that 150 more LKDSB students were able to achieve at this higher level. It means that more LKDSB students changed how they see themselves as learners, and more LKDSB students can take that with them as they move through their learning career."
In addition to Grade 9 Mathematics, the three-year trend data reveals positive growth across other areas as well. The OSSLT, which assesses students' literacy skills, saw gains of 4%, Grade 6 Mathematics saw an improvement of 9%, Grade 3 Reading increased by 3%, and Grade 3 Mathematics improved by 3%. These improvements highlight the board's continued focus on strengthening foundational skills from primary grades through to secondary education.
"The results from this year's EQAO assessments reflect the hard work, intentional focus and dedication of our students, teachers, and staff," states Hazzard. "We remain committed to providing the support and resources necessary to help all of our students achieve their full potential."
The EQAO assessments are used to evaluate student achievement in key subject areas and provide valuable data to inform educational strategies. The improvement across the
LKDSB serves as a positive indicator of the board's continued efforts in raising academic standards and ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education.
As the LKDSB continues to build on these achievements, and continues to commit to true and sustained change, the board is hopeful that this trend of improvement will persist in the coming years, further closing the gap between local and provincial performance levels.
