Literacy and Numeracy

Literacy

Measure: Grade 10 students who were successful on the OSSLT

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) conducts standardized assessments of the literacy (reading and writing) and math skills of Ontario students at set intervals during their school years. The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a measure of the literacy levels of grade 10 students. Students are considered "successful" if their responses show they have achieved the level of literacy expected across all subjects by the end of grade 9.^[5] The results below only include students who wrote the test for the first time (first-time eligible).

Key Findings

The percent of Wellington County students who were successful on the OSSLT ranged from 76% to 84% from 2011/12 to 2017/18. In Guelph, the percent of students who were successful on the OSSLT ranged from 82% to 86% from 2011/12 to 2017/18. In Dufferin County, the percent of students who were successful on the OSSLT ranged from 75% to 81% of students from 2011/12 to 2017/18. A larger proportion of grade 10 students in Guelph successfully completed the OSSLT when compared to students in Wellington and Dufferin County.

* Wellington County does not include the City of Guelph in this table

Source: EQAO. 2011-18. Grade 10 Provincial Testing Results. Prepared by Health Analytics Team, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. Last updated June, 2019.

Why is Literacy Important?

People with high levels of literacy are more likely to attain higher education^[3] and gain a well paying job with opportunities for training; whereas people with low literacy skills are more likely to be unemployed, or to have a low wage job or one with difficult working conditions. Literacy impacts everyday tasks like grocery shopping, following a recipe, and communicating with a child's school. A more literate workforce increases a country's ability to compete in the global economy.^[4]

Limitations

Local data about adult literacy are not available. This is a measure of the literacy of students and not the literacy levels of the entire population. Students who were absent on the day of testing were not included in these data. 

Looking for more information?

Please download the excel file below for more information about grade 10 literacy or visit the WDG Report Cards on the Well-being of Children website, for more information about:

• Senior Kindergarten literacy skills
• Grade 3 reading and writing levels
• Grade 6 reading and writing levels

Download Full Dataset

Numeracy

Measure: Grade 9 students who achieved or exceeded the EQAO applied and academic math standard.

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) conducts standardized assessments of the literacy (reading and writing) and math skills of Ontario students at set intervals during their school years. The Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics evaluates students' math skills. Students who achieve a level 3 or 4 on the test have met or exceeded the grade 9 math skills that they are expected to know.^[5]

Key Findings

There was a general upward trend in the percentage of students achieving or exceeding the provincial standard (Level 3 or 4) across Wellington, Dufferin, and Guelph for the applied math test from 2011-12 to 2015-16. In 2016-17, the percentage of students achieving or exceeding the provincial standard for the applied math test decreased across all regions and then increased slightly in 2017-18. From 2011-12 to 2017-18, the percentage of students that achieved or exceeded the provincial standard on the academic test showed a general upward trend (from 87% to 91%) when looking at Wellington, Guelph, and Dufferin together. Table 1 shows local results for the Applied Math Test; Table 2 shows local results for the Academic Math Test.

* Wellington County does not include the City of Guelph in this table.

Source: EQAO. 2011-18. Grade 9 Applied Math Test. Prepared by Health Analytics Team, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. Last updated June 2019.  

* Wellington County does not include the City of Guelph in this table.

Source: EQAO. 2011-18. Grade 9 Academic Math Test. Prepared by Health Analytics Team, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. Last updated June, 2019. 

Why is Numeracy Important?

Numeracy skills are connected to better wages and increased likelihood of employment.^[6] Numeracy is also an essential skill for daily life.^[7]

Limitations

Local data about adult numeracy are not available. This is a measure of the numeracy of students and not the numeracy levels of the entire population. Students who were absent on the day of testing were not included in these data.

Looking for more information?

Please download the excel file below or visit the WDG Report Cards on the Well-being of Children website, for more information about:

• Senior kindergarten numeracy skills
• Grade 3 math skills
• Grade 6 math skills

Download Full Dataset