Ontario students have shown improvement in math performance compared to the previous year, although the percentage meeting provincial standards remains relatively low. The latest data from provincial standardized tests, released by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) for the 2025-26 academic year, provide insights into student achievement in math, reading, and writing.
Across all categories in English-language schools, there has been a slight increase in scores. Notably, math scores have been a key focus for successive governments due to the ongoing challenge of a low percentage of students meeting the provincial standard. Results for the 2025-26 school year reveal that 52% of Grade 6 students, 65% of Grade 3 students, and 59% of Grade 9 students met the math standard, each showing a one-percentage-point improvement from the previous year.
Math scores for Grade 6 students in EQAO tests have consistently hovered around the 50% mark, indicating that only approximately half of the students are meeting the provincial standard. Over 569,000 students in Grade 3, Grade 6, and Grade 9, attending both English and French-language schools, were evaluated in Ontario.
Regarding reading and writing skills, the report shows steady performance from elementary through secondary school levels, with slight enhancements over the past three years. The percentage of Grade 3 students meeting reading and writing standards increased to 75% and 67%, respectively, while Grade 6 students maintained a high level at 86% and 85%, respectively. In the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test taken by Grade 10 students, 86% of first-time eligible students met the standard, a one-percentage-point rise from the previous year.
Results from French-language schools generally outperformed those from English-language schools in various categories. Education Minister Paul Calandra acknowledged the progress but highlighted persistent challenges, stating that more efforts are needed to address student struggles and achievement gaps. Calandra emphasized the importance of leveraging the test results to provide necessary support for student success.
The opposition has raised concerns about funding levels impacting EQAO scores. NDP education critic Chandra Pasma criticized the government for not adequately funding schools, attributing the results to the Minister of Education’s shortcomings. Ontario Liberal interim Leader John Fraser expressed alarm over the results, attributing the educational shortcomings to the government’s handling over the past eight years, including issues like large class sizes, underfunding of special education, and unaddressed mental health challenges in schools.