Hamilton public school board struggles on EQAO tests, Catholic board mostly above average

Hamilton Public School Board scores below the provincial average in the latest EQAO report, while the Catholic Board excels. Photo Credit: Pexels

 

New data released by Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) shows that Hamilton public school board (HWDSB) scores are below the provincial average and have decreased from the previous year’s results.

Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Catholic school board (HWCDSB) matched or exceeded provincial averages in almost all subject areas.

Hamilton’s public school board saw only 42 per cent of Grade 3 students score a 70 per cent or above in EQAO math assessments.

Province-wide, 60 per cent of Grade 3 students scored 70 per cent or above. 

At Hamilton’s Catholic board, that number was 64 per cent.

Grade 6 scores for the public board are even lower, with only 35 per cent of Grade 6 students achieving a score of 70 per cent or above, compared to 48 per cent for the Catholic board and 50 per cent province-wide.

A statement from HWDSB Director of Education Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini appeared to at least partly blame the pandemic for the board’s low test scores.

“We are acutely aware of the ongoing impacts the pandemic’s learning disruptions continue to have on student achievement,” she said.

However, since all students across the province were impacted by the pandemic, her explanation fails to address exactly why the Hamilton public board’s scores were so poor.

The statement adds that “mathematic achievement will be a focus” at the board, also she does not provide specifics.

Robinson Petrazzini also says that “HWDSB has been implementing programs solely designed to enhance student experience and equitable learning outcomes.”

In terms of literacy scores, some HWDSB results were also well below the provincial average.

Reading results for Grade 6s showed 73 per cent of Hamilton public school students achieving the target, compared to 85 per cent of Catholic school students, and 84 per cent province-wide.

Meanwhile, the Hamilton Catholic board’s Grade 3 writing results were a full 8 per cent above the provincial average with 73 per cent of Grade 3s achieving the target, compared to 53 per cent of public school students  and 65 per cent province-wide.

Ontario-wide EQAO results show an upward trend in math across all grade levels in both English and French when comparing the 2022-23 scores to 2021-22 scores.

The results also show stable or increased literacy achievement across grade levels including improved success rates for the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

Ontario’s Minister of Education Stephen Lecce attributed the improved results to his government’s “historic investments in public education” and “unwavering focus on keeping kids in class with back-to-basics education.”

Grade 3 Results – Math

Ontario: 60% of students at or above provincial standard of 70%

Hamilton Public Board: 42%

Hamilton Catholic Board: 64%

 

Grade 6 Results – Math

Ontario: 50% of students at or above provincial standard of 70%

Hamilton Public Board: 35%

Hamilton Catholic Board: 48%

 

Grade 9 Results – Math

Ontario: 54% of students at or above provincial standard of 70%

Hamilton Public Board: 45%

Hamilton Catholic Board: 50%

 

Grade 3 Results – Reading

Ontario: 73% of students at or above provincial standard of 70%

Hamilton Public Board: 62%

Hamilton Catholic Board: 78%

 

Grade 6 Results – Reading

Ontario: 84% of students at or above provincial standard of 70%

Hamilton Public Board: 75%

Hamilton Catholic Board: 85%

 

Grade 3 Results – Writing

Ontario: 65% of students at or above provincial standard of 70%

Hamilton Public Board: 53%

Hamilton Catholic Board: 73%

 

Grade 6 Results – Writing

Ontario: 84% of students at or above provincial standard of 70%

Hamilton Public Board: 73%

Hamilton Catholic Board: 86%

 

Grade 10 Literacy Test

Ontario: 85%

Hamilton Public Board: 77%

Hamilton Catholic Board: 77%