Results improve for literacy and math

Limestone Learning Foundation
Results improve for literacy and math
Posted on 09/19/2018
Image of EQAO logoGrade 3 and 6 students in the Limestone District School Board have shown an improvement on the provincial assessment for both reading and writing according to results released by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) on September 19, 2018. 

Achievement among Grade 3 students continues to improve with 67% meeting the provincial standard in reading and 62% in writing. Achievement results in reading for Grades 6 students increased to 76%, stayed steady for writing at 70%.

In math, the Grade 3 student achievement stayed steady at 47% while Grade 6 results declined to 31%.

Results in Grade 9 academic math in Limestone stayed similar to previous years with 76% meeting the provincial standard. Student achievement at provincial standard in Grade 9 applied mathematics increased to 44%. Students with special needs, particularly in the applied math course, had an increase of 16% meeting provincial standard. 

“We are pleased to see students continue to improve in some key areas such as elementary literacy and secondary math,” says Director of Education Debra Rantz. “We know there is still much work to do to increase students’ understanding of and proficiency in math and our staff are working diligently to focus on teaching strategies that will promote student success.”

The Board continues to allocate resources and development opportunities to increase learning and focus on the fundamentals of math for all students. The Board also has math leads or coaches in every school to support teacher and student learning. Teaching staff will also use at least one Professional Activity Day this year to focus on fundamental math skills.

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.

Limestone had 96% of their students fully participating in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) which is consistently higher then the province at 93%. Student achievement at provincial standard for the OSSLT decreased from previous years with 68% meeting provincial standard. Limestone students who receive Individualized Education Plan accommodations on the literacy test continue to show improvement, with a 22% increase from last year. Limestone stands above the province for students with an Individual Education Plan accommodations student meeting provincial standard by 4%. 

“We are encouraged to see that students with special needs continue to receive the support they need to improve their achievement, particularly in math,” says Rantz. “It’s also important to recognize that, despite our gains, these results are a snapshot in time. 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 they supports they need to succeed.”

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

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