MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 11, 2008
Upper Grand students maintain a high level of achievement on the provincial literacy test
Grade 10 literacy test results in tables and graphs (Flash required)
GUELPH, Ontario – Of the 2,782 Upper Grand grade 10 students who wrote the Education Quality and Accountability Office’s (EQAO) Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) for the first time in March, 86% were successful. This represents a one percent gain over last year, is two percent higher than the provincial average of 84%, and maintains the high level of success shown over the past four years.
Although girls fared better than boys, with 89% of them successful first time writers, compared to 83% of the boys, the boys improved their success by two percent over last year. English language learners (ESL students) also made gains going from 39% in 2007 to 52% in 2008. Special needs students also improved their performance and surpassed the provincial averages.
Of the students in the academic program, 98% were successful. Seventy-three percent of students taking the applied program passed the test, as did 21% of those taking locally developed courses. The provincial averages for levels of study this year are: 95% academic, 62% applied, 20% locally developed.
“When we look at the improvements in the results for our students who study at the applied level and take locally-developed courses, we can see that focusing our efforts in these areas has made a difference,” said Bob Borden, chair of the board.The test shows the extent to which students are meeting the basic literacy standard expected by the end of grade 9 as set out in the Ontario curriculum. Successful completion is a graduation requirement. The testing has been in place for seven years, and over that time, board rates for those who are successful the first time they write the test has improved from 75% to this year’s 86%.
Students who are unsuccessful the first time they write the test are eligible to write it again, and they may take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC). Of the students who re-wrote the test this March, 51% of those were successful.
As in previous years, the board continues to provide supports and targets students who are having difficulty.
“Students need to be confident that they can write the test and pass,” Borden notes. “That’s where the identification of struggling students by the school-based literacy teams, test preparation activities, and other supports, such as assistive technology for special needs students, come into play in helping students white the test successfully.”
The board will continue to focus its efforts on the school population that studies at the applied level, take locally developed courses, English language learners, special education students and those who are rewriting the OSSLT.
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School by school results are below. Complete provincial results are provided on the EQAO website, www.eqao.com
Note: some of the data posted on the EQAO website and the board’s website for levels of study (applied, academic, LDC) may differ due to a data entry coding error. The board’s results have been corrected, and the EQAO data is currently being revised.
For more information: Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer, 519-822-4420, ext. 725, Maggie.mcfadzen@ugdsb.on.ca
On the following charts:
UGDSB: Upper Grand District School Board
CCVI: Centennial CVI, Guelph
CDDHS: Centre Dufferin, DHS, Shelburne
CHSS: College Heights SS, Guelph
CWDS: Centre Wellington DHS, Fergus
EDHS: Erin District HS
GCVI: Guelph Collegiate VS
JFR: John F. Ross SS, Guelph
NDSS: Norwell District SS, Palmerston
ODSS: Orangeville District HS
WHSS: Wellington Heights DHS, Mount Forest
WSS: Westside SS, Orangeville
Board Office
500 Victoria Road N.
Guelph, Ontario
N1E 6K2
(519)822-4420
For General Inquiries & Comments: email inquiry@ugdsb.on.ca