Best results ever in Junior EQAO assessments in Rainbow Schools

Rainbow District School Board continues to show growth in EQAO results. While Primary reading and writing remained relatively stable, significant gains were made at the Junior level where the Board recorded its best results ever. 

A total of 71 per cent of Grade 6 students achieved at or above the provincial average in reading (up by three percentage points) and 68 per cent of students achieved at or above the provincial average in writing (up by four percentage points). Primary and Junior math results followed provincial trends, with fewer students ranking in levels 3 and 4.

“Rainbow District School Board’s scores over the past five years continue to follow the provincial trend,” said Director of Education Norm Blaseg. He added: “We are particularly pleased with the gains made in Grade 6 reading and writing. We will continue to use EQAO trend data over time to identify areas for continuous improvement.” 

EQAO results provide a measure of how well students understand the expectations outlined in The Ontario Curriculum. Student assessment is most effective when data is interpreted in context, examined over time to determine trends in performance, and used to inform professional dialogue and school improvement planning.

Director Blaseg thanked educators for their ongoing efforts and congratulated students on their achievement. He added: “Assessment results are used to enhance student learning. The data helps us determine areas of focus in literacy and numeracy for school and board improvement planning by answering two important questions: How are we doing? and What can we do next to improve student learning? As always, we will build on our efforts.”

Learning Cycles, Co-teaching and Framework Schools are three of a number of strategies that continue to have a positive impact on student success. In Learning Cycles, teachers work in teams to focus on the needs of their students.  Special attention is placed on assessment for learning and differentiated instruction strategies. Teachers monitor student learning over time and adjust strategies to support growth. 

Co-teaching is a professional learning strategy that involves a group of teachers working together to plan a lesson based on curriculum expectations and student needs, co-teaching the lesson and co-reflecting on the lesson and planning the next instructional steps.

Framework Schools, meanwhile, receive additional support for professional learning in the area of literacy and numeracy. During the 2012-2013 school year, teachers at seven elementary schools received release time to work with a Consultant. A team of principals, superintendents and federation representatives visited these schools in the fall and spring to provide ongoing feedback and support.

Primary and Junior reading, writing and mathematics tests were written in late May and early June 2013.  A total of 810 students participated in the Primary assessment and 953 students participated in the Junior assessment. Very few students were exempt from the assessments. 

The Ministry of Education has set Level 3 as the provincial standard.  Students in Level 4 have demonstrated a very high to outstanding level of achievement (80% to 100%). Achievement is above the provincial standard.  Students in Level 3 have demonstrated a high level of achievement (70% to 79%). 

Copies of EQAO results are available at www.eqao.com. 

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EQAO assessment results are reported in two ways – “All Students” and “Participating Students”. The “All Students” method reports results that are based on all students registered in the program.  The “Participating Students” method excludes students in the “exempt” and “no data” categories of the assessment. 

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor, 

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning, 

Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7217.