Two Sault schools lauded for achievements

ABRIDGED NEWS RELEASE

EDUCATION QUALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

************************* Sault Ste. Marie's Pinewood Public School and St. Mary's College profiled by EQAO

NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO, September 17 - Today the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) published Ontario Student Achievement: EQAO's Provincial Report on the results of the 2007-2008 primary division (Grades 1-3) and junior division (Grades 4-6) assessments, and the Grade 9 assessment of mathematics.

Two of the nine schools profiled for their success in the provincial report are located in Northeastern Ontario.

They are representative of the many schools across the province that have been successful at improving their students' achievement in reading, writing and mathematics and maintaining these gains over time.

These profiled schools share the strategies they use to improve student achievement, so that teachers, principals and school boards across Ontario can learn from their successful practices.

Key among their strategies is the use of EQAO and other data for evidence-based planning for their students.

Pinewood Public School

Through the analysis of EQAO data and the results generated by reading assessment resources, we observed that many of our students were struggling in literacy, especially in writing.

We also noted a significant gender gap in achievement levels.

Following this in-depth data analysis, we then decided to focus on writing, revising and editing tasks while supporting our at-risk students.

Roman Peredun, principal

St. Mary's College

We used a variety of tools to increase the success of our students on the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics.

Of course, we examined previous EQAO results to identify areas of need, did a question-by-question analysis of scores and then developed long-range plans to move Level 2 students to Level 3.

In addition, the teaching staff meets regularly throughout the year to keep the plans updated and mark student progress.

Cindy Salituri, principal "Over the years, the analysis of EQAO results has become an integral part of improvement planning at the school and board levels," said Marguerite Jackson, EQAO's chief executive officer. "Along with classroom results and other data, EQAO results provide important information about student achievement and help school communities celebrate their progress and identify areas for improvement."

By logging on to EQAO's website, school communities across the province are able to see the results of their collective efforts to improve student learning in the fundamental disciplines of reading, writing and mathematics.

Some of the common themes that schools identify as factors in addressing the literacy and numeracy needs of students are professional learning communities; data-driven decision making; cross-panel dialogue; a whole-school approach to literacy, numeracy and student achievement; small-group learning for language and mathematics; one-student-at-a-time strategies; high-quality teaching; parental involvement; the coordination of school and board improvement planning and the implementation of Ministry of Education initiatives.

Results for all publicly funded elementary and secondary schools and school boards in Ontario are available here. *************************