Are you curious about how Ontario's high schools stack up? A recent report has unveiled the rankings of hundreds of secondary schools across the province, offering a fascinating glimpse into their performance. The Fraser Institute, a well-known research organization, analyzed 747 public, Catholic, and independent high schools in Ontario, using seven key indicators derived from provincial test results.
This year, a select group of schools achieved a perfect score, and remarkably, they're all located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). These top-performing schools include St. Robert Catholic High School in Thornhill, St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School in Richmond Hill, St. Augustine Catholic High School in Markham, and St. Michael’s Choir School in Toronto.
On the other end of the spectrum, some of the lowest-ranked schools in Toronto include Westview Centennial Secondary School, George S. Henry Academy, and Emery Collegiate Institute. It's worth noting that Emery Collegiate Institute showed improvement compared to its five-year average, while the other two schools experienced declines.
The Fraser Institute's aim is to provide parents with crucial information about school performance over time and how schools compare to each other. They highlight that schools can improve student performance, regardless of the communities and students they serve.
But here's where it gets interesting... The report also showcases two GTA schools that have made significant strides. Central Technical School in Toronto saw its score jump dramatically, and Abbey Park High School in Oakville also demonstrated impressive progress.
The Fraser Institute points out that Central Technical School's improvements occurred despite a high percentage (29.7%) of students with special needs. Similarly, Abbey Park High School achieved its success with a considerable number (13.9%) of English language learners.
Paige MacPherson, a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute, emphasizes that all types of schools, with diverse student populations, are capable of improvement.
The rankings are based on data from the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) tests, which assess literacy and mathematics skills. The report's authors suggest that these rankings help parents identify schools with effective academic programs and track their progress over time.
The act of publicly rating and ranking schools can create motivation. Schools that perform well or improve consistently are applauded, while underperforming schools generate concern. This attention encourages everyone involved with a school to focus on student results.
Here's a look at the top and bottom-ranked schools in Ontario, according to the Fraser Institute:
Top 10 Ranked Schools (Including Ties):
- St. Robert Catholic High School (Thornhill)
- St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School (Richmond Hill)
- St. Michael’s Choir School (Toronto)
- St. Augustine Catholic High School (Markham)
- Ursula Franklin Academy (Toronto)
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School (Markham)
- Olive Grove High School (Mississauga)
- Iroquois Ridge High School (Oakville)
- Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts (Toronto)
- Abbey Park High School (Oakville)
- Gaétan-Gervais Secondary School (Oakville)
Bottom 10 Ranked Schools:
- Westview Freedom Academy (Windsor)
- Iroquois Falls Public School (Iroquois Falls)
- Westview Centennial Secondary School (Toronto)
- Ridgetown District High School (Ridgetown)
- Hanmer (Hanmer)
- Espanola High School (Espanola)
- Trenton High School (Trenton)
- Queen Elizabeth High School (Sioux Lookout)
- St. Lawrence Secondary School (Cornwall)
- Bernie Curtis Secondary School (Hamilton)
What do you think about these rankings? Do you agree with the methodology used? Do you think these rankings accurately reflect the quality of education? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
