The performance of students in French schools in Ontario continues to improve

Tracking results shows that success observed early in schooling often translates into similar results in high school; at the same time, failure to pass early in school, if left unchecked, can worsen year after year.

The Ontario Office for Quality and Responsibility in Education (OQRE) estimates that French-language schools in the province are improving the way they teach literacy and math skills. These findings come from the analysis of the results of the EQAO tests, which measure the performance of students in reading, writing and mathematics in relation to the expectations and learning content prescribed in the The Ontario Curriculum.

At primary

Among the highlights, at the elementary level in reading, we find that 78 % of 3rd grade students and 89 % of 6th grade students are now reaching the provincial standard in reading, which represents an increase of 12 points for the two years of studies in the past five years.

In writing, 83 % of 3rd grade students and 86 % of 6th grade students can now be assured that they are understood well in writing, and that they are using grammar, spelling and punctuation at the expected level. . This is an increase of 7 points from the past five years for Grades 3 and 6 students who have met the provincial standard in writing.

Regarding mathematics, 78 % of students of 3^e year reached the standard in 2013 compared with 66 % in 2009; as for students of 6^e Yearly, these standard scores stand at 81 % for 2013 and 80 % for 2009. However, compared to five years ago, fewer students are improving to the point of reaching the standard.

In 2009, among grade 3 students who had not met the standard in math, 60 % had improved to the point of reaching it in grade 6. In 2013, there was only an improvement of 55 % in the same context.

In secondary

On the secondary side, in mathematics, 81 % of students enrolled in the Theoretical math has reached the standard this year, an increase of 13 points over the past five years. As for the Applied Mathematics course, 51 % of enrolled students met the standard this year, an increase of 11 points over the past five years. This is the first time that half of the students enrolled in this course have met the standard.

Interestingly, 88 % of those students who had met the standard for the theoretical mathematics course in Grades 3 and 6 also achieved it in Grade 9. On the other hand, 66 % of students who had not reached the standard in either year 3 or year 6 did not achieve it in year 9 either. In applied mathematics, 72 % of students who did not reach the standard in either year 3 or year 6 who did not reach it in year 9 either.

What about the Provincial Language Proficiency Test (OSSLT), administered in 10^e year? 88 % of students passed it on their first attempt. About two-thirds (65 %) who took the OSSLT but failed on their first attempt this year also failed to meet the provincial reading standard in grade 6.

Source: EQAO press release