Local School Boards Celebrate Gains in Standardized Testing Results

The latest standardized test results have revealed encouraging trends for local school boards in the Grey-Bruce region, leading to a sense of optimism among officials. The Bluewater District School Board reports a consistent upward trajectory in its results, as released by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). Notably, the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board also reported significant improvements, including a remarkable 14 percent increase in Grade 3 reading scores.

The EQAO, an independent agency of the Ontario government, conducts annual assessments that measure students’ performance in reading, writing, and mathematics at key educational stages. These assessments not only provide a snapshot of academic achievement but also gather data on students’ attitudes toward their learning experiences. This year, the EQAO assessed over 574,000 students across both English and French educational systems.

Improvements Across Grades

The Bluewater District School Board highlighted significant advancements in Grade 3 assessments. Success rates in reading improved from 62 percent in the 2022-2023 academic year to 68 percent in 2024-2025. Writing scores saw an increase from 50 percent to 57 percent, while mathematics jumped from 48 percent to 62 percent—a notable 14 percent gain over three years.

Impressive gains were also evident in Grade 6 assessments, where reading scores rose from 76 percent to 79 percent. Writing improved from 73 percent to 78 percent, although mathematics scores held steady at 39 percent.

In contrast, Grade 9 mathematics scores dipped slightly to 49 percent from 52 percent, a decline that nevertheless remains above the 48 percent recorded three years prior. The Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) results showed a decrease to 82 percent of students meeting the provincial standard, down from 86 percent the previous year, but still higher than 75 percent in 2022-2023.

Superintendent of Education Keith Lefebvre expressed pride in the progress made, stating, “These results are a testament to the dedication and resilience of our students, educators, and school communities. The steady upward trend in literacy and mathematics achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to evidence-based instruction and targeted supports.”

Comparative Results and Future Focus

While the Bluewater board’s results are generally below provincial averages, the gap is narrowing. The Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board reported significant improvements as well, with Grade 3 reading scores climbing from 69 percent to 79 percent above the provincial standard. Grade 3 writing also improved from 56.5 percent to 62.5 percent, and mathematics rose from 53.4 percent to 58.4 percent.

Grade 6 results for the Bruce-Grey Catholic board were even more promising, with 89 percent of students achieving at or above the provincial standard in reading. However, Grade 9 results revealed a decrease to 48.5 percent meeting the standard, the lowest in three years, compared to a provincial average of 57.8 percent.

In a letter to parents, the Bruce-Grey Catholic district emphasized the positive trends resulting from the hard work of students and staff. The board reiterated its commitment to a “back-to-basics” approach in literacy and numeracy, highlighting the importance of continuous improvement.

In response to the EQAO results indicating insufficient progress for students in grades 3, 6, and 9, the provincial government announced plans to appoint an advisory body to evaluate the current assessment strategies. A detailed report on the board-and-school-level results is scheduled to be presented to the Bruce-Grey Catholic Board of Trustees on December 15, 2024.

As local school boards celebrate these positive trends, they remain focused on addressing achievement gaps and ensuring that every student has the resources needed to succeed.