Report Cards

The primary purpose of assessment and reporting is to improve student learning. Schools provide report cards to parents, which provide information about:

  • student achievement of the curriculum expectations (grade and comment)
  • student demonstration of specific learning skills
  • student attendance including times late and days absent if applicable,
  • information about second language programming and special learning needs

Secondary school progress reports are provided in October and March just prior to student/teacher/parent conferences, with midterm reports in November and April and final reports distributed in February and July.

Education Quality & Accountability Office (EQAO)

Annually, students in elementary and secondary schools write provincial assessments in reading, writing and mathematics. The assessments are developed and scored by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). Each student that completes a provincial assessment receives an Individual Student Report (ISR) which describes the student's achievement. School and board achievement data is used to improve teaching practices and to support student learning. Each school develops a School Improvement Plan that focuses on strategies to promote positive learning and encourage students to be actively involved in their learning. More information about the provincial assessments can be found at www.eqao.com.

How students are assessed and evaluated

Assessment and evaluation happens throughout the semester. It's the process of gathering and evaluating information that accurately reflects how a student is doing in the course. Students are evaluated based on the provincial curriculum expectations and achievement levels outlined in curriculum policy documents. All curriculum documents are available at the school. You can also download curriculum documents from the Ministry of Education's website at www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum.

Students will be asked to complete a variety of assignments, including presentations, writing assignments and quizzes or tests. Teachers strive to provide feedback quickly so that the assessment can be used for learning—it's important for students to have an opportunity to understand and correct errors.

Final grades are determined as follows:

  • 70 % of the grade is based on evaluations conducted throughout the course.
  • 30 % of the grade is based on a final evaluation administered towards the end of the course. This evaluation will be based on evidence from one or a combination of the following: an examination, a performance, an essay, and/or another method of evaluation suitable to the course content.