tonodiaz / Depositphotos.com
Halton’s school boards are celebrating strong results on this year’s provincewide EQAO assessments, with students in both the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) and Halton District School Board (HDSB) outperforming provincial standards across most subjects.
Both boards released their 2024–2025 results this week, showing high achievement in literacy and steady gains in mathematics from Grade 3 through Grade 9. The HCDSB reported that its students met or exceeded the provincial average in all EQAO testing areas, including Grade 3 and Grade 6 Reading and Writing, Grade 9 Math, and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Results show 84% of Grade 3 students met or exceeded the standard in Reading, 77% in Writing and 76% in Math, while Grade 6 students scored 90% in both Reading and Writing and 61% in Math. In Grade 9, 69% of HCDSB students achieved the provincial benchmark, and 88% of first-time eligible students passed the OSSLT.
HDSB results also show performance above the provincial standard in every testing category, along with year-over-year improvement. Grade 3 students exceeded provincial averages in Reading (80%), Writing (71%) and Math (71%), with gains in Reading and Math compared to last year. Grade 6 results showed 92% meeting the standard in Reading, 91% in Writing and 62% in Math, all surpassing provincial levels. In Grade 9 Math, 74% of students met the provincial benchmark, while 91% of Grade 10 students were successful on the OSSLT.
Both boards emphasized that EQAO provides only one measure of learning, noting that classroom assessments and other data sources are used to guide instruction and support student needs. HDSB’s release also highlighted new Fraser Institute rankings showing several Halton schools among Ontario’s highest-rated secondary schools this year, including Abbey Park and Iroquois Ridge (both 9.3/10), Oakville Trafalgar (9.2/10) and White Oaks Secondary (8.8/10).
“We are very proud of our students as they continue to meet or exceed the provincial standards,” says HCDSB Director of Education John Klein, noting that ongoing analysis is used to strengthen teaching practices and support student success.
HDSB Director of Education Curtis Ennis said the board’s strong results reflect “the skill, dedication and hard work of our educators” and the partnership between schools and families, adding that continued efforts will be guided by the board’s 2024–2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan.
If you have a news tip or story idea, you can now send us a heads up via email at:
- News1013@LocalRadio.ca (Milton)
- News1015@LocalRadio.ca (Orangeville)
- News92@LocalRadio.ca (South Simcoe)
- Rick.Sargent@LocalRadio.ca (Bolton)
If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.
