By Staff

October 2nd, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

Results released from the Ontario Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) show Halton District School Board (HDSB) Grade 3, Grade 6 and Grade 9 students perform above the provincial average based on assessments completed in the 2023-2024 school year.

These results demonstrate that HDSB students are well above the provincial standard (Level 3 and 4, or a B grade or above) in Grade 3 and Grade 6 Reading and Writing, as well as Grade 9 Mathematics and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (Grade 10).

Grade 3 results

In Grade 3 Mathematics, 69 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Math exceeded the provincial average by eight per cent.

With this kind of activity no wonder the ranking is above 77%

In Grade 3 Reading, 77 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Reading exceeded the provincial average by six per cent.

In Grade 3 Writing, 71 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Writing exceeded the provincial average by seven per cent.

Grade 6 results

Teaching math has always been a challenge. The subject is not one that the average student gets excited about. The difference in my experience is the teacher. I recall so very vividly the teacher tell me that he was going to teach me how to find two unknowns in an algebra class. I was hooked

In Grade 6 Mathematics, 62 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Math exceeded the provincial average by 12 per cent.

In Grade 6 Reading, 88 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Reading exceeded the provincial average by six per cent.

In Grade 6 Writing, 87 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Writing exceeded the provincial average by seven per cent.

Grade 9 results Mathematics

In Grade 9, 70 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Math exceeded the provincial average by 16 per cent.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

In the Grade 10 OSSLT, 92 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the requirements, exceeding the provincial average by seven per cent.

EQAO assessment results expand upon the current knowledge about student learning, and serve as an important tool for improvement at the individual, school, school board and provincial levels. The Board uses this data at the school and Board level, along with a variety of other student assessment data, to focus efforts toward continuously improving student achievement.

HDSB 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan

The 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan (MYP) that lays out five areas of focus, with the overall purpose of setting direction and prioritizing the collective actions of all stakeholders to ensure our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support the more than 65,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community.

HDSB staff told the Gazette that “Earlier this year, students, parents/guardians, staff and community members were invited to share their thoughts and identify areas of focus for the HDSB’s 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan through community engagement sessions and an online questionnaire.

“We heard from more than 3,000 parents, guardians, caregivers, students, teachers, school staff, administrators, trustees, senior leaders, community partners, organizations, and members through various methods including focus groups, world café-style town halls, interviews and surveys.

“Trustees are in the process of finalizing the new Multi-Year Strategic Plan with the goal of approving it later this fall.”

Interesting to note that there isn’t much about the fundamentals: Reading, Writing, Math and Science. The province has changed where they want to focus. We will watch to see how the HDSB reacts to the changes called for at the provincial level.

Background resources

Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) Curriculum

2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan