Report Gives 24 GTA Elementary Schools Top Ranking

While their kids’ final report cards won’t be issued for a few months GTA parents will be pleased to learn the results of another province-wide report card.

On Sunday the Fraser Institute, a right-wing think-tank, released its annual report on the state of Ontario’s elementary schools and 37 campuses tied for first place, including 24 in the GTA.

English and French, public and separate schools were included in the group’s rankings, which are based on province-wide tests conducted by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) on students’ skills in reading, writing and mathematics.

“The report card shows parents how each school is doing in academics, not just in one year, but, most importantly, over a number of years,” the report’s co-author Peter Cowley said.

“The report card also enables teachers and administrators as well as parents to compare results for their schools with those of other similar schools across the province. By demonstrating what can be accomplished, such comparisons can make a useful contribution to each school’s on-going improvement efforts.”

But not everyone’s sold on the report’s relevance or appropriateness.

“Excuse me Mr. Fraser Institute, you can’t measure those kids the same way,” said Sheila Cary-Meagher, Toronto District School Board Trustee for Beaches-East York.

“What are you ranking them on? You are ranking them on a flawed test to begin with.”

The Fraser report comes as the province looks to change curriculum in high schools by replacing the standard Grade 10 weather unit with one that focuses on the study of climate change.

“I think that the government’s going in the right direction,” said TSDB Trustee Josh Matlow.

“This has been something that activists, educators and environmentalists alike have been asking for several years and I think the government is finally starting to get it and go in the right direction.”

The plan to implement climate change as an area of study throughout the high school curriculum would follow, according to Education Minister Kathleen Wynne.

“We know there’s more to do and we’re going to be introducing new initiatives on that front,” she said.

“This is the first step in a really specific approach to changes in the science curriculum.”

The new curriculum could be in classrooms by the fall of 2008.

    AcadDemie de la Moraine – Richmond Hill
    Arbor Glen – Toronto
    Bayview Glen – Thornhill
    Bellewood – Windsor
    Bishop Strachan – Toronto
    Cornell – Toronto
    Courcelette – Toronto
    Denlow – Toronto
    FrGere AndrDe – London
    Gregory A Hogan – Sarnia
    Harrison – Toronto
    Hillmount – Toronto
    Jeanne SauvDe – Stratford
    Kennedy – Toronto
    La Source – Orleans
    Milliken – Toronto
    Monseigneur Jean Noel – Windsor
    Oneida Central – Caledonia
    Rippleton – Toronto
    Roy H Crosby – Markham
    Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys – Markham
    Saint-Jean-Baptiste – L’Orignal
    Sathya Sai – Toronto
    Seneca Hill – Toronto
    St Clement – Toronto
    St James – Tottenham
    St Jude – London
    St Justin Martyr – Unionville
    St Martin of Tours – Stoney Creek
    St Michael’s Choir – Toronto
    St Padre Pio – Woodbridge
    St Rose of Lima – Mississauga
    St Sylvester – Toronto
    Transfiguration of our Lord – Toronto
    University Heights – London
    William Berczy – Unionville
    Winston Churchill – Kingston

To read the full report, click here.

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