Provincial test scores reveal declines among younger students in local French-language schools

Students continue to struggle in provincial mathematics, language, and literacy tests at local French-language schools within the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) and the Conseil de district catholique de l’Est Ontarien (CSDCEO). On Wednesday, December 3, the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released standardized test results for school boards across the province.

EQAO tested students in Grades 3 and 6 on mathematics, reading, and writing, while Grade 9 students were assessed in mathematics only.

Students in English-language school boards are required to complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) in Grade 10. French-language Grade 10 students, meanwhile, are tested through the Test provincial de compétences linguistiques (TPCL), a similar but distinct language assessment.

Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO)

École élémentaire publique Nouvel-Horizon in Hawkesbury reported declines across all subjects except Grade 6 mathematics, which improved from 35 per cent in 2023-2024 to 38 per cent in 2024-2025. Grade 3 mathematics results declined from 63 per cent to 43 per cent, while reading fell sharply from 92 per cent to 46 per cent, and writing from 76 per cent to 34 per cent. Grade 6 reading scores declined from 96 per cent to 83 per cent, while writing decreased from 67 per cent to 64 per cent.

Student scores declined across all grades and subjects at École élémentaire publique Terre des Jeunes in Alexandria, except Grade 6 mathematics, which improved from 60 per cent in 2023-2024 to 62 per cent in 2024-2025. Grade 3 mathematics results declined from 82 per cent to 78 per cent, while reading declined from 94 per cent to 72 per cent, and writing from 59 per cent to 44 per cent. Grade 6 reading dropped from 100 per cent to 94 per cent, and writing from 70 per cent to 62 per cent.

École secondaire publique Le Sommet in Hawkesbury reported Grade 9 mathematics results declining from 60 per cent in 2023-2024 to per cent in 2024-2025, while TPCL results improved from 98 per cent to 100 per cent.

Conseil de district catholique de l’Est Ontarien (CSDCEO)

On December 4, CSDCEO reported that students within the board exceeded the provincial averages in Grade 6 reading and writing, Grade 9 mathematics, and the Grade 10 TPCL. CSDCEO stated that the results are a continuation of concerted and strategic work within the board, implementing proven teaching practices supported by specialized resources and targeted interventions to meet the diverse needs of students.

CSDCEO Director of Education and Secretary Lyne Racine said, “The results achieved demonstrate the remarkable commitment of our staff to supporting the success of each student. We are also proud to see our students’ excellence in French-language skills.”

Although improvements were observed in some subjects compared to the 2023-2024 school year, the 2024-2025 data indicate that a majority of younger Grade 3 students continue to struggle to meet provincial standards across all tested subjects.

École élémentaire catholique Elda-Rouleau in Alexandria reported declines across all Grade 3 subjects. Grade 3 mathematics dropped from 57 per cent in 2023-2024 to 48 per cent in 2024-2025, reading from 73 per cent to 52 per cent, and writing from 53 per cent to 33 per cent. Grade 6 students showed improvement in mathematics, rising from 52 per cent to 70 per cent, and in writing, which increased from 62 per cent to 70 per cent. Grade 6 reading scores declined from 97 per cent to 85 per cent.

Results were mixed at École élémentaire catholique Paul VI in Hawkesbury, with Grade 3 mathematics scores improving from 28 per cent to 42 per cent, reading declining slightly from 56 per cent to 55 per cent, and writing dropping from 39 per cent to 31 per cent. Grade 6 students improved on all subjects, with mathematics rising from 35 per cent to 54 per cent, reading from 96 per cent to 100 per cent, and writing from 61 per cent to 92 per cent.

Students at École élémentaire catholique Saint-Grégoire in Vankleek Hill made significant gains across all Grade 3 subjects. Grade 3 mathematics scores rose from 64 per cent of students meeting or exceeding provincial standards in 2023-2024, to 95 per cent in 2024-2025. Grade 3 reading rose from 77 per cent to 95 per cent, while writing scores rose from 64 per cent to 95 per cent.

Grade 6 results were unavailable for the 2023-2024 school year; however, in 2024-2025, 50 per cent of students met or exceeded mathematics standards, while 69 per cent did so in both reading and writing.

École élémentaire catholique Saint-Paul in Plantagenet reported an increase in students meeting provincial mathematics standards, with Grade 3 rising from 57 per cent in 2023-2024 to 64 per cent in 2024-2025, and Grade 6 improving from 33 per cent to 43 per cent. Grade 3 reading scores declined sharply from 95 per cent in 2023-2024 to 55 per cent in 2024-2025, while writing also fell from 48 per cent to 41 per cent. Grade 6 reading scores remained unchanged at 100 per cent, and writing improved from 71 per cent to 79 per cent.

Grade 3 mathematics results at École élémentaire catholique Saint-Jean-Baptiste in L’Orignal declined from 74 per cent meeting or exceeding provincial standards in 2023-2024 to 67 per cent in 2024-2025, while Grade 3 reading improved slightly from 87 per cent to 88 per cent. Grade 3 writing results also improved, rising from 78 per cent to 96 per cent. Grade 6 results declined across all subjects, with mathematics falling from 96 per cent to 85 per cent, reading from 100 per cent to 97 per cent, and writing from 96 per cent to 91 per cent.

École secondaire catholique régionale de Hawkesbury reported a slight decrease in Grade 9 mathematics results, from 62 per cent to 61 per cent, while TPCL scores improved from 97 per cent to 100 per cent.

Students at École secondaire catholique de Plantagenet showed improvement in Grade 9 mathematics, rising from 47 per cent in 2023-2024 to 69 per cent in 2024-2025. TPCL results declined slightly from 96 per cent to 95 per cent.

École secondaire catholique Le Relais in Alexandria reported significant improvement in Grade 9 mathematics, rising from 38 per cent in 2023-2024 to 70 per cent, while TPCL scores declined from 91 per cent to 82 per cent.