The latest results from Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) reveal mixed outcomes for students in grades 3 and 6. While math scores have shown slight improvement, reading and writing performance has declined compared to the previous year.

Key findings from the 2023-24 school year include:

1. Grade 3:
   • Reading: 71% of students met the provincial standard, down by 2 percentage points.
   • Writing: 64% of students met the standard, a slight drop from 65% the previous year.
   • Math: 61% of students met the standard, marking a 1% increase over each of the last two years.
2. Grade 6:
   • Reading: 82% of students met the standard, a 2-point decline from the previous year.
   • Writing: 80% of students met the standard, down from 84%.
   • Math: Only about half of Grade 6 students met the provincial standard, showing a stubbornly low performance.
3. Grade 9 Math:
   • Results remain low, with only about half of students meeting the standard, similar to Grade 6 math results.
4. Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (Grade 10):
   • 85% of students passed, maintaining the same percentage as the previous year.

Despite the mixed results, Ontario’s Education Minister Jill Dunlop emphasized that student learning is “stabilizing” after pandemic disruptions, thanks to the government’s focus on core learning, including significant investments in literacy and math. Notably, some school boards made remarkable improvements in math, with the Limestone District School Board showing a 14-point increase in Grade 3 math, and the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board achieving a 12-point increase in Grade 6 math.

Dan Koenig, CEO of EQAO, noted that reading achievement remains strong, but writing needs more attention. He emphasized the importance of EQAO data in helping educators address learning gaps and support students.

These results reflect both challenges and progress in Ontario’s education system, with continued efforts to improve math outcomes and address declines in literacy.