Public School Board does well on the Education Quality (EQAO) reports

By Gazette Staff

December 4th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

High-quality instruction, supporting student well-being and implementing evidence-informed teaching. 

Results released from the Ontario Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) show Halton District School Board (HDSB) students continue to perform above provincial standards in literacy and mathematics, with growing achievement year-over-year. These results highlight the HDSB’s ongoing commitment and focus on providing high-quality instruction, supporting student well-being and implementing evidence-informed teaching.

Independent rankings released by the Fraser Institute also place many HDSB schools among the highest-rated in Ontario. These rankings reinforce the HDSB’s consistent record of academic excellence and the impact of the skilled teaching and support delivered by HDSB educators.

While no single measure can capture the full scope of student learning, these results provide valuable insight into student achievement and help guide improvement at the individual, school, Board and provincial levels. The HDSB uses this data, alongside other measures of success, to focus efforts on continuously enhancing student outcomes.

HDSB schools continue to demonstrate sustained growth and improvement across both EQAO assessments and independent evaluations, reflecting a system that builds on achievement through student-focused supports and enhanced teaching strategies. These results highlight the strength of the partnership between dedicated staff and supportive families who contribute to student success every day.

Grade 3 EQAO results

• In Grade 3 Reading, 80 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards, a three per cent increase from the 2023-2024 school year, when 77 per cent of students achieved this level. 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 six per cent.
• In Grade 3 Mathematics, 71 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards, up from 69 per cent in the 2023-2024 school year. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Math exceeded the provincial average by seven per cent.

Grade 6 EQAO results

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  No single measure can capture the full scope of student learning.

  In Grade 6 Reading, 92 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards, reflecting a rise from the 88 per cent recorded in 2023-2024. 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, 91 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards, an increase from the 87 per cent of students who achieved this benchmark the previous year. The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Writing exceeded the provincial average by six per cent.
• 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 11 per cent.

Grade 9 EQAO results

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  The percentage of HDSB students who achieved level 3 or 4 in Math exceeded the provincial average by 16 per cent.

  In Grade 9, 74 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the provincial standards, showing growth compared to the 70 per cent reported in the 2023-2024 school year. 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, 91 per cent of HDSB students met or exceeded the requirements, exceeding the provincial average by six per cent.

Fraser Institute rankings of Ontario secondary schools

The Fraser Institute ranks secondary schools with an overall rating out of 10.

• Abbey Park High School scored 9.3, up from 8.1 last year, tying for eighth place in the province.
• Iroquois Ridge High School also scored 9.3, sharing the eighth-place ranking.
• Oakville Trafalgar High School scored 9.2, earning 12th place in the province.
• White Oaks Secondary School scored 8.8, tying for 29th place provincially.

HDSB Student Experience

Serving communities across Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills, the Halton District School Board (HDSB) consistently performs as one of the top school boards in Ontario. As one of the largest English-language public school boards in the province, we offer high-quality education for elementary and secondary students, as well as adult and continuing education programs to support lifelong learning and newcomer success. Learn more about the HDSB Student Experience.