Secondary school students throughout Wellington County are improving and also topping provincial averages in math and literacy testing.
UGDSB
Results released on Sept. 21 indicate that in applied math 71 per cent of Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) Grade 9 students successfully met provincial standards for the 2015-16 Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) test, compared to 67% in 2014-15. In academic math 89% reached the provincial standard, compared to 90% the year before.
In the Ontario Secondary School Literacy (OSSLT) test 82% of first-time eligible students in the UGDSB were successful, compared to 80% last year.
“For the past five years Upper Grand DSB has been either the same as or within one or two percentage points of the provincial average,” board officials stated in a press release.
WCDSB
Students in the Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) were also successful. There was a 57% success rate in EQAO tests for Grade 9 students enrolled in applied math last year compared to 55% in the 2014-15 school year. And there was a 90% success rate for students in the academic stream last year compared to 86% the year before.
“We are very pleased with our overall results which have historically exceeded the provincial results,” said director of education Tamara Nugent in a press release. “Our ongoing analysis of data by board, school and student helps us to personalize our professional development and instruction, enabling the greatest success possible for each one of our students.”
The same number of Grade 10 students (87%) met OSSLT provincial standards for the 2015-16 school year and for the previous year.
“Assessment data which includes EQAO data provides us the necessary information to develop and refine school improvement plans,” said Brian Capovilla, superintendent of education.
“Our consistently high success rate shows that the work our teachers, support staff and principals is making a difference.”
Provincial averages
Provincially, 45% of Grade 9 students in an applied math course exceeded provincial benchmarks during EQAO testing, while 83% in academic math exceeded provincial standards. As a provincial average 81% of first-time eligible students taking the OSSLT were successful.
UGDSB school results
– Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute, math: academic 94%, applied 70%; literacy: 91%;
– Centre Wellington District High School, math: academic 85%, applied 71%; literacy: 84%;
– College Heights Secondary School, math: academic no data, applied 82%; literacy: 32%;
– Erin District High School, math: academic 91%, applied 59%; literacy: 87%;
– Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute, math: academic 94%, applied 67%; literacy: 88%;
– John F. Ross Collegiate and Vocational Institute, math: academic 91%, applied 94%; literacy: 87%;
– Norwell District Secondary School, math: academic 83%, applied 77%; literacy: 70; and
– Wellington Heights Secondary School, math: academic 76%, applied 68%; literacy: 71%
WCDSB school results
– Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School, math: academic 92%, applied 38%; literacy: 90;
– Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School, math: academic 92%, applied 81%; literacy: 83%; and
– St. James Catholic High School, academic 87%, applied 52%; literacy: 89%.
