September 23, 2016

Sudbury  – The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released earlier this week the results of Ontario’s grade 3 and 6 students from the 2015-2016 provincial testing. The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) notes that its elementary students (grades 3 and 6) have shown a steady improvement in reading, writing and mathematics over the last five years. 

Since 2011-2012, reading results of CSCNO grade 3 students increased to 75% (2% increase). Writing stands at 74% (9% decrease) and mathematics results attained 75% (3% decrease). Whereas the progression of grade 3 students appears to have levelled off, we note that the performance of grade 6 students is still increasing.

Grade 6 students have also demonstrated steady improvement since 2011-2012. Reading results have attained 91% (8% increase), writing results stand at 79% (1% increase) and mathematics results sit at 87% (a 2% decrease). This group of CSCNO students particularly stands out in mathematics as they well ahead of the 85% provincial average in mathematics. The CSCNO explains that the energy dedicated to reading and writing may explain the improved performance in these skills as well as steady results in grade 6 mathematics.

The success rate of grade 9 students in the academic mathematics program stands at 64%. In the applied mathematics program, 36% of students attained levels 3 or 4. Seven of the nine CSCNO secondary schools improved their performance in the academic program. The five following schools surpassed 75%: ESC Trillium, Chapleau (78%), ESC Champlain, Chelmsford (79%), ESC Franco-Ouest, Espanola (80%), ES Notre-Dame-du-Sault, Sault Ste. Marie (80%) and ES Saint-Joseph, Wawa (100%). As one of the priorities set by the Ministry of Education (OME) is to improve the performance of students in this strand through the renewed math strategy for Ontario, the CSCNO will offer targeted schools either an intensive or increased support according to the procedures set out by the Ministry of Education.

Grade 10 students reached new heights in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Results indicate that 86% (increase of 5%) of grade 10 students met or exceeded the province’s French-language standards. While seven of nine secondary schools improved their results, the following seven schools had a score above 75%: ES Saint-Joseph, Wawa (78%); ESC Champlain, Chelmsford (79%); ES du Sacré-Cœur, Sudbury (84%); ESC l’Horizon, Val Caron (89%); Collège Notre-Dame, Sudbury (89%); ES Notre-Dame-du-Sault, Sault Ste. Marie (92%); and ESC Franco-Ouest, Espanola (100%). Achieving such a result in linguistic minority setting is quite an accomplishment and the CSCNO takes pride in standing out among French language school boards in Northern Ontario.

“As reflected in our yearly results, our elementary level students are making and sustaining great progress in both reading and writing, our grade 3 and 6 students also excel in mathematics. Without a doubt, they greatly benefit from our teaching strategies, continued support and pedagogical initiatives,” explained Mrs. Nicole Sonier, Executive Director of Learning at the CSCNO. “Our grade 9 and grade 10 testing components indicate that although we are succeeding at high level in the language strand, there is a need to continue to work with our staff and support our students to improve their performance in math.”

“The commitment of our school staff enables us to offer quality programs that stand out”, stated Mrs. Lyse-Anne Papineau, CSCNO Director of Education. “Motivated by the desire to remain a top performing school board, we will work to perfect our teaching strategies in order to increase our students’ success rate and to offer to our families the quality French Catholic education that they have come to expect for their children. Our objective, as always, is assisting each of our students in reaching or exceeding provincial standards as they move forward to taking their place in society.” 

The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario offers a French Catholic Educational Program that is widely recognized for its excellence. The CSCNO provides a quality learning environment and academic program that runs from early childhood to adult education, with some 7,000 students in 27 elementary and 10 secondary schools.

Source:

Paul de la Riva
Interim Assistant Director of Communications and Community Development
Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario
(705) 673-5626, ext. 294
(705) 677-8195 – cell phone