Literacy test results released
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 25, 2013
GUELPH, Ontario — Secondary students in Upper Grand high schools who were eligible to write the EQAO Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) this year have achieved an 82% success rate.
While down two percent over last year, this achievement matches the provincial result which is unchanged from last year.
“This is good news,” said Mark Bailey, Chair of the Board. “We congratulate the students and their teachers who have consistently scored the same or higher than the provincial average, but there are lots of ways we can continue to improve.”
The OSSLT assesses the reading and writing skills students are expected to learn across all subjects by the end of grade 9. Successful completion of the test is a required for awarding of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
While the number of girls and boys who participated was equal, once again girls outperformed boys with 89% compared to 76%. Concentrating on improving results for boys will be a focus for the work done at the schools over the year. Special needs students (excluding the gifted) achieved a 42% rate and will be a continued target as well.
Schools will use their Literacy Teams, develop school improvement plans with the goal of higher achievement, and put more effort and strategies in place to help struggling students. The after school program, “Pass the Test” and mentor training for the target groups, including boys and special needs students, will be part of the ongoing support for students.
Results for individual schools are included and are based on all students who wrote the OSSLT.
Additional information is posted on the board’s website at www.ugdsb.ca/eqao and on EQAO’s website at www.eqao.com.
Note: results for English language learners (ELL) are not included in online reports due to suppression rules, as there are fewer than 11 students in this category in both academic and applied math.
For more information:
Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer
519-822-4420 ext. 725
[email protected]
Mark Weidmark, Administrative Officer – Communications
519-822-4420 ext. 544
[email protected]
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