Ontario Students Struggle in EQAO Tests, Results Reveal Trends

Results from the latest provincial tests administered by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) reveal ongoing challenges for students across English-language schools in Ontario. The assessments, which cover mathematics, language, and literacy, were released on December 3, highlighting varied performance among school boards, including the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO).

According to the UCDSB, the board reported improvements in EQAO scores across all grades for the second consecutive year. On December 4, Director of Education Ron Ferguson stated, “Our school board has been focusing on the fundamentals and working hard to get students reading, writing, and doing math at grade level.” He emphasized that the back-to-basics approach is elevating student learning outcomes.

Mixed Results Across Schools

While the UCDSB as a whole shows positive trends, individual school performances tell a more complex story. For instance, Laggan Public School reported a rise in Grade 3 mathematics scores, with the percentage of students meeting or exceeding provincial standards increasing from 52 per cent in the 2023-2024 school year to 58 per cent in 2024-2025. Similarly, Grade 3 writing improved from 64 per cent to 69 per cent. However, other subjects experienced declines, particularly in Grade 6 mathematics, which plummeted from 44 per cent to 24 per cent.

At Pleasant Corners Public School, most grades saw decreased performance, with Grade 3 mathematics scores dropping from 94 per cent to 75 per cent and Grade 3 writing falling from 90 per cent to 75 per cent. The only positive change was seen in Grade 6 writing, which improved from 86 per cent to 91 per cent.

At the secondary level, Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute (VCI) reported a decline in Grade 9 mathematics, with the pass rate dropping from 38 per cent to 35 per cent. Furthermore, the success rate for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) decreased from 81 per cent to 71 per cent.

The results from Glengarry District High School were similarly mixed, with Grade 9 mathematics scores decreasing from 68 per cent in 2023-2024 to 59 per cent, although the OSSLT success rate rose from 83 per cent to 86 per cent.

Challenges in the Catholic District School Board

The CDSBEO faced comparable challenges, with a notable decline at St. Jude Catholic School in Vankleek Hill. Grade 3 mathematics scores fell sharply from 55 per cent in 2023-2024 to just 22 per cent in 2024-2025. Reading and writing scores also saw significant drops, with Grade 3 reading scores decreasing from 55 per cent to 35 per cent.

At St. Finnan’s Catholic School in Alexandria, the results were mixed. Although the school did not have data for the previous year, its 2024-2025 results showed 82 per cent in mathematics, 91 per cent in reading, and 82 per cent in writing for Grade 3 students. However, Grade 6 reading scores fell from 100 per cent to 83 per cent, while writing improved from 90 per cent to 100 per cent.

The latest EQAO results reflect a broader trend of fluctuating performance across various subjects and grades, prompting educators and administrators to re-evaluate teaching strategies. For more detailed information, the EQAO provides an assessment data tool available on its website at https://www.eqao.com/results/.

As schools continue to adapt to these challenges, the focus remains on enhancing educational outcomes for students throughout Ontario.