2021-2022 EQAO Provincial Assessment Results

Limestone Learning Foundation
2021-2022 EQAO Provincial Assessment Results
Posted on 11/02/2022

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has released reports on the 2021–2022 provincial assessments for each publicly funded school board in Ontario. Results for the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) are similar to provincial results with achievement across some levels continuing to improve or remaining stable.
 

The elementary school report provides assessments of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics written by students in Grades 3 and 6. The secondary school report provides similar information relating to the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). The EQAO assessments have undergone significant changes, with the newest digital assessments offered entirely online through a digital platform for students as opposed to being offered on paper as they have in the past. The changes in assessment structure and administration pose a challenge for comparative analysis with historical EQAO data.
 

We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic and related learning, socio-emotional and well-being impacts due to school year disruptions may have influenced students’ performance on the 2021-2022 EQAO assessments. “Despite the ongoing interruption in learning over the past 3 years, Limestone students have displayed an improvement in literacy and math, as compared to the previous 4-year trend,” reports Krishna Burra, Director of Education. “The steady results, despite the challenges related to the pandemic, pave the way for continued growth moving forward.
 

Grade 6 student achievement in Limestone continues to improve with 81% meeting the provincial standard in reading and 76% in writing up 7% and 6% respectively compared to the four-year averages prior to the pandemic. In math, there was a 4% increase compared to the previous four-year average with 38% meeting the standard over last year.
 
 

“We are pleased to see improved student engagement and achievement and we will continue using this data to support rich learning environments for every student,” says Director Burra.
 

Grade 3 student achievement in Limestone continues to improve with 68% meeting the provincial standard in reading and 49% in math. In writing, the Grade 3 student achievement was slightly lower than the four-year average prior to the pandemic at 55%. Of significant note, is the continued gains in achievement in Grade 3 reading, and Grade 3 and 6 writing and mathematics made by Limestone students with special needs.
 

“It is important to remember that results are a snapshot in time,” adds Director Burra, Boards combine EQAO results with report card grades, classroom assessment, and student voice to provide a complete picture of student knowledge so we can move forward and implement strategies that will ensure all students are given the supports they need to succeed. We must remain focused and prioritize learning for all students to see improved outcomes.”  

 

2022 Highlights 

 

Primary Assessment (Administered in Grade 3):
 

Area of Assessment LDSB Province
Reading  68%  74%
Writing  55% 65%
Mathematics   49% 59%

Junior Assessment (Administered in Grade 6):
 

Area of Assessment LDSB Province
Reading  81% 85%
Writing  76% 84%
Mathematics  38% 47%

 

Grade 9 Mathematics Assessment: 

Results for the first year of Grade 9 de-streamed math in Limestone are similar to the provincial results. For all participating students in the Grade 9 math assessment, 46% achieved the provincial standard in Limestone and 52% achieved the provincial standard provincially. Results for students with special education needs achieving the provincial standard are 21% for Limestone and 26% for the province.

Grade 9 Mathematics Assessment LDSB Province
Grade 9 Math Course  46% 52%

 

“We have, and will continue, to make early literacy and math teaching and learning as well as gap closing a priority among our staff and students,” says Director Burra. “Early identification of students who are not meeting literacy and numeracy expectations continues to be a focus as we continue to support all students.”
 

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) (Administered in Grade 10): 

This year, 94% of first-time eligible Limestone students wrote the test, compared to 90% of the overall eligible students in the province. Limestone continues to prioritize providing as many students as possible with the opportunity to attempt the OSSLT in grade 10 to ensure flexibility for individual students in their given pathways in grade 11 and 12. With this high participation rate, 76% of all students were successful, an increase of 3% compared to the 2018-2019 school year and a higher rate overall compared to the five-year average success rate prior to the start of the pandemic. 

 

OSSLT results for students with special education needs showed an improvement of 12% this year, with 57% of Limestone students being successful on the assessment, a slightly higher rate than the province for students with special education needs.
 
 

Grade 10 OSSLT LDSB Province
Participation Rate  94% 90%
Success Rate  76% 82%

 

Students who are not successful on their first attempt are eligible to rewrite the test the following year, as previously eligible students, or to meet the literacy requirement by taking the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course. 
 

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.
 

Limestone District School Board is committed to offering support and strategies for students and families to close achievement gaps and improve educational outcomes for all students.
 

Instructional coaches have been introduced across elementary schools this school year to support educators in increasing awareness of and adoption of structured literacy practices that establish the foundation of learning how to read, and gap closing practices that support the fluency and the fundamentals in Math. Secondary schools also have instructional coaches this year to support educators with the implementation of Universal Design for Learning and high-yield instructional strategies that support all students in closing achievement gaps and raising the level of achievement across all de-streamed Grade 9 courses.
 

In addition to job-embedded coaching, Limestone has committed to supporting educators and administrators to deepen their understanding of early literacy instruction through professional learning sessions. For instance, over 400 educators chose to engage in asynchronous literacy courses that were funded by Limestone District School Board. Several professional learning sessions focused on early literacy and numeracy skills, are being offered to educational staff. Similarly, all elementary administrators are currently engaging in a 6-part learning series focused on leading structured literacy implementation.
 

LDSB is offering several tutoring opportunities and learning resources to students, including LDSB afterschool drop-in virtual tutoring sessions for students in Grade 1 to 6 to build literacy skills using phonological awareness and phonics activities, as well as homework help for students in Grade 7 to 10. There are also several third-party tutoring and learning resources available online to support students and families.
 

Over the coming weeks, principals will share school results with their school communities and will analyze the results in detail to identify next steps. 

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