NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE MUSKOKA CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
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Wednesday, the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released its province-wide testing results for schools and school boards. The results for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) are as follows:
- Grade 3 reading - 71 per cent meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
- Grade 3 writing - 67 per cent meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
- Grade 3 mathematics - 51 per cent meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
- Grade 6 reading - 82 per cent meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
- Grade 6 writing - 77 per cent meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
- Grade 6 mathematics - 39 per cent meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
- Grade 9 applied mathematics - 34 per cent meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
- Grade 9 academic mathematics - 77 per cent meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
- Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test - 74 per cent of first-time eligible students meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
- Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test - 40 per cent of previously eligible students meeting or exceeding the provincial standard
The new provincial government recently announced widespread consultation and a review of EQAO testing; assessment, evaluation and reporting practices; and foundational mathematics.
“We welcome the government’s proposed review because there seems to be a disconnect between how students are performing on these tests compared to the results we are seeing in other assessment areas,” said Brian Beal, director of education. “We know that our teachers are doing an excellent job and that our students are working extremely hard - these scores in Grade 6 mathematics do not reflect the learning and achievement that takes place every day in our classrooms.”
“I have witnessed first-hand the dedication of our staff and students and I know that some of these results may be disheartening,” said Carol Corriveau-Truchon, board chair. “We don’t want our students to lose confidence in their abilities. Families need to recognize that the EQAO test is only one, very limited, tool to measure student outcomes. The government has recognized that there are limitations and concerns right across the province with the EQAO, which is why they are conducting a review.”
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