Division administration with Holy Trinity Catholic School Division is celebrating the fact that last year’s students in grades 4 to 8 exited their grades with higher math scores than when they entered.
Assessment data presented during a recent board meeting showed that when students started in September 2022, those who were at or above grade level were:
- 40 per cent of Grade 4s
- 44 per cent of Grade 5s
- 48 per cent of Grade 6s
- 32 per cent of Grade 7s
- 33 per cent of Grade 8s
Meanwhile, by the end of June 2023, the data showed those who were at or above grade level were:
- 88 per cent of Grade 4s
- 90 per cent of Grade 5s
- 78 per cent of Grade 6s
- 70 per cent of Grade 7s
- 58 per cent of Grade 8s
Meanwhile, the entry-exit data for Grade 2s was 93 per cent and 98 per cent, respectively, and entry-exit data for Grade 3s was 74 per cent and 91 per cent, respectively.
The division continues to see growth in students’ math abilities, so to capitalize on that, administration will continue to offer a math interventionist position and dedicate increased resources to the program, the board report said.
The focus of the interventionist position will be on middle-year students as the division prepares them for high school. To support that position, Holy Trinity will continue to use a Saskatoon-based math assessment tool three times a year to monitor grades 2 to 9.
The assessment is a screening device that helps teachers know with which outcome students need the most help, Mark Selinger, superintendent of learning and technology, told the board. Once the Ministry of Education rolls out its new provincial education plan (PEP), the division will rely on that to assess students’ math abilities.
“I’m excited about that … because then we can see how we are doing in relation to other divisions in the province. Very few collect that data that we do … so it’s hard for us to make that connection right now,” he continued.
The province has indicated the new plan will feature math assessments for students in grades 5 and 9 since the middle years have experienced the most challenges provincially, Selinger pointed out.
Writing data
Writing data from June showed that 52 per cent of Grade 4s, 63 per cent of Grade 7s and 69 per cent of Grade 9s were at or above grade level.
This will be the last year the division collects this data because of the forthcoming PEP, which will institute literacy assessments in grades 4, 7 and 10, said Selinger. The division normally collects this information three times a year because once was not enough to help teachers.
It’s important to align collection methods with the province so Holy Trinity can see how it compares to other divisions and either rely on partners for help or support others who are struggling, he added.
Graduation rates
Selinger’s report did not contain graduation data from June since the ministry had not made it available. However, he told trustees that he expected the on-time grad rate to be around 90 per cent.
Other information showed the three-year, on-time grad rate was around 88 per cent in 2022, roughly 92 per cent in 2021 and 89 per cent in 2020.
Meanwhile, the five-year, extended grad rate was around 93 per cent in 2022, 91 per cent in 2021 and 97 per cent in 2020.
“All we can do is support students who walk through the doors,” said Selinger. “And we do a great job of doing that.”
Transition to high school
The data shows 92.3 per cent of students who move from Grade 9 to 10 achieve eight or more credits in their first year of high school, said Selinger. Pupils need 24 credits to graduate, so acquiring eight or more by Grade 10 usually means students are on their way to graduating on time.
“This is a way for us to show that, yes, we are successfully transitioning our students,” he added.
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