Students in Ontario are continuing to struggle with math.
The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) and Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO) are both following the province wide downward trend in mathematics, according to the 2017 EQAO test results. The UCDSB saw their grade nine academic math scores hold steady, with 75 per cent of the students tested meeting the provincial standard, but the other three grades tested saw a decline. Grade nine applied was down two per cent to 39 per cent total. There was also a four per cent drop amongst sixth grade students, down to 39 per cent, and grade 3 students dropped four per cent as well bringing their total to 53 percent.
The numbers are similar for the CSBEO, who saw grade three math scores slip four per cent down to 60 per cent total and grade six scores fall six per cent for a total of 46. The grade nine scores were also down for both applied and academic. Applied was down 3 per cent to 50 and Academic dropped two per cent but was still the highest of all the math totals at 85 per cent.
Aside from math the trends are generally positive. Students in the third grade with the CDSBEO saw their reading score fall one percent, and their writing three per cent, but both subjects remained in the high 70s for provincial standards. The school board’s grade six students met the provincial standards at a rate above 80 per cent but their reading and writing scores drop one per cent from last year. When asked if they enjoyed reading and writing over 80 percent of sixth graders and 90 per cent of third graders said they at least sometimes.
That trend continued for the UCDSB, where over 85 percent of sixth and third grade students said they enjoyed reading and writing at least sometimes. Grade six writing and reading held steady in the high 70s for the UCDSB. Third grade reading held steady in the high 70s as well but there was a two per cent drop to the writing score. UCDSB Superintendent Valerie Allen says the school board has identified where improvements can be made and that they are actively working to make it so.
To see the complete scores for the UCDSB click here. The scores for the CDSBEO are here.
