EQAO results show some London students falling behind in reading and math

Students enrolled at the Thames Valley District School Board are falling behind in reading, writing and maths when their skills are compared to other Ontario students who completed standardized testing.

The decline in literacy rates is especially stark among Grade 3 students at the public board, according to provincial test results released Wednesday. They showed that 44 per cent of students in that cohort who wrote the test are not meeting the provincial writing standard.

In Grade 9, only 52 per cent of TVDSB students met the provincial average in math.

Students completed the annual Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) standardized tests last year to evaluate literacy and math skills in Grades 3, 6, 9, and 10.

Education Minister Paul Calandra delayed releasing the results this year, saying he wanted to take a "deep dive" before making them public, and said he found significant differences between boards.

At the London District Catholic School Board, Grade 3 writing scores showed 30 per cent of students fell below the provincial average (compared to 44 per cent at TVDSB). In Grade 9, math scores were low, with only 56 per cent of students meeting the provincial mark.

In Grade 6, only 50 per cent of students at both the public and Catholic boards in the London area successfully achieved the requirement to pass the math test.

In a statement, the TVDSB referred to some of its results as "historic gains" but noted that schools and senior administrators will review Grade 3 writing results in the weeks to come.

"We are grateful for the dedication and commitment of school leaders and educators, as well as the collaboration of Thames Valley parents and caregivers, who play an instrumental role in every student's success,” said Kevin Auckland, Superintendent of Student Achievement, in the statement.

In an email sent to Ontario parents, Callandra expressed disappointment in the results.

"We have a responsibility to make sure every student has the skills and confidence they need to succeed. You expect better results for your children, and so do I. We will continue taking whatever steps are necessary to improve student achievement," he wrote.

Calandra said he plans to name two people to an advisory body early next year to do a comprehensive review of the EQAO to determine why improvement is lagging. He says these appointees will also examine whether the curriculum and learning resources are clear, how well teachers are being prepared and whether students have the tools they need.

Results for the TVDSB can be found here. Find the LDCSB's results here.