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The Renfrew County District School Board says student achievement improved in five of eight provincial assessments during the 2025-26 school year.
The results from the Education Quality and Accountability Office, or EQAO, mark the second consecutive year the board has reported overall improvement.
EQAO assessments measure the percentage of fully participating students who meet or exceed the provincial standard in Grade 3 and Grade 6 reading, writing and mathematics, as well as Grade 9 mathematics. Results for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test are reported separately as successful or not yet successful.
The board says reading achievement remained stable in Grades 3 and 6, while writing results have improved over time. Mathematics continues to show the greatest growth in both elementary and secondary grades.
RCDSB Chief Executive Officer Kristen Niemi says the results, along with other data, indicate the board is making progress, although there is still work to be done.
The board has been investing in early reading screeners designed to identify students who may be at risk of reading difficulties before problems emerge. Educators can then use targeted interventions to provide additional support.
The RCDSB says improvements in those early assessments last year could contribute to stronger literacy results from Grades 3 through 6 and into Grade 10 over time.
School and central staff are also working to ensure students receive high-quality core classroom instruction, while identifying students who may need additional support.
The board plans to conduct a more detailed review of the EQAO results to identify areas of success and those requiring further work. A full report is expected to be presented at the October board meeting.
(Steve Berard)
