DCDSB 2025-2026 EQAO and OSSLT Results

Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) has received the latest reports from the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), which provide valuable insights into student achievement across the province. The 2025-2026 results include data from Primary and Junior assessments, Grade 9 Mathematics, and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). These reports, alongside report card grades, learning skills, and classroom evaluations, help educators, students, and families celebrate successes and identify areas for growth to support student achievement.

Overall, the DCDSB results are stable and consistent with previous years. EQAO assessments provide valuable insight into student achievement; however, they are only one measure of learning. Combined with classroom assessments, observations, assignments, and evaluations throughout the year, this data helps schools understand student needs, identifies support required, and informs instruction practices to ensure continued student success throughout their educational journey. 

DCDSB 2025-2026 EQAO and OSSLT Results at a Glance

• Grade 3 Reading and Writing: Student achievement in writing increased to 65%, representing a 4% improvement from 2024-2025. Reading achievement was 72%, a decrease of 3% from the previous year.
• Grade 3 Math: Students exhibited a gain of 1% from 2024-2025, with 61% of students meeting or exceeding the provincial standard.
• Grade 6 Reading and Writing: Results remained strong with 88% of students meeting or exceeding the provincial standard for reading which shows a gain of 1% over last year. Writing results also remained consistent, with 86% exceeding the standard, consistent with the 2024-2025 results.
• Grade 6 Math: 45% of students met or exceeded the provincial standard, which is a 3% decrease from 48% in 2024-2025.
• Grade 9 Math: Achievement increased slightly, with 56% of students meeting or exceeding the provincial standard, a 1% increase from the previous year.
  •    OSSLT: 86% of first-time eligible students passed the OSSLT, which is above the provincial average and remains consistent with previous OSSLT data for the board.

Next Steps

While DCDSB celebrates the improvements in EQAO results, reducing the achievement gap in literacy and numeracy between students with and without special education needs remains a key priority. In 2026-2027, all schools will share a common School Improvement Goal focused on closing this gap through evidence-based instructional practices, targeted supports, and aligned professional learning.

To support this goal, DCDSB will provide professional learning sessions for Grade 3 and 6 teachers, Grade 9 mathematics teachers, Grade 10 English teachers, principals, and senior administrators, with a focus on effective literacy and numeracy instruction and intervention. Common assessments in Grades 3, 6, 9, and 10 will be administered through the Wayground digital platform to help identify student needs and provide timely intervention. Tutoring opportunities will also be offered in elementary schools to address identified achievement gaps.

Targeted support will continue through Literacy Intervention Teachers and an enhanced Math Intervention Teacher model that serves both ministry-identified priority schools and other schools requiring extra assistance. School leaders will continue analyzing EQAO, report card, and screening data to identify trends, monitor progress, and guide instructional strategies. Successes and effective practices will continue to be shared across the system to strengthen student achievement in all schools.

The insights provided through EQAO data, together with other assessment and evaluation information, will continue to inform school and system improvement efforts aimed at enhancing student learning and well-being. Individual school, board, and provincial results are available through the EQAO website at EQAO Results.