Secondary school students in the county generally exceeded or stayed within two per cent of average provincial scores on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) last year.
Reports released on Sept. 23 indicate Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) students fell 2% short of the provincial average, with a 80% success rate.
The Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB), on the other hand, saw 87% of participating students achieve successful scores.
“Our Catholic schools are committed to excellence and improving outcomes,” WCDSB director of education Tamara Nugent said in a press release.
“We are very proud of the academic achievement of our students and that our board results continue to exceed the provincial average. The dedication and commitment of our staff to assessment, analysis of results, and personalized instruction, ensures that our students remain among the top performers in the province.”
Neither board has fallen more than 2% below the provincial success rate in the last five years.
The OSSLT assesses the reading and writing skills students are expected to have learned in all subjects. Students in both the academic and applied streams take the same test. They must successfully complete the OSSLT and/or the Ontario School Literacy Course in order to earn their high school diploma.
Public schools
UGDSB students in the academic stream exceeded the provincial average of 93% with a 95% success rate. Students in the applied program achieved a success rate of 55%, breaking the board’s five-year downward trend and beating the provincial average of 50%.
UGDSB female students (84% success rate) outperformed males (77%).
“While the overall results are down a little, I am happy to see improvement over last year for students in applied and locally developed compulsory credit courses,” said UGDSB chair Mark Bailey in a press release.
“Several schools targeted achievement in this area through special projects and the use of technology to support student success in literacy.”
Results for UGDSB schools are as follows:
– Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute, overall 92%, academic 96%, applied 69%;
– Centre Wellington District High School, overall 81%, academic 93%, applied 58%;
– College Heights Secondary School, overall 28%, academic no data, applied 46%;
– Erin District High School, overall 86%, academic 95%, applied 67%;
– Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute, overall 87%, academic 97%, applied 52%;
– Norwell District Secondary School, overall 83%, academic 95%, applied 74%;
– John F. Ross Collegiate and Vocational Institute, overall 84%, academic 94%, applied 53%; and
– Wellington Heights Secondary School, overall 66%, academic 91%, applied 44%.
Catholic schools
WCDSB students who enrolled in the academic stream achieved a 94% success rate, while students taking the applied stream English class achieved 60%. Success rates for English language learners and students receiving special language supports improved in 2015.
Female students outperformed males, 90% to 84%.
Results for WCDSB schools are:
– Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School, overall 87%, academic 91%, applied 38%;
– Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School, overall 87%, academic 93%, applied 62%;
– St. James Catholic High School, overall 90%, academic 97%, applied 74%; and
– St. John Bosco Secondary School, overall 23%, academic no data, applied 10%.
