This week the Fraser Institute released its 2010 school rankings of 2,742 Ontario elementary schools. The rankings are largely based on the results of Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) of Grade 3 and Grade 6 measurements of reading, writing and math. For many schools listed in the report five years worth of EQAO data is measured.
Ontario’s EQAO testing is mandatory for publicly funded schools including Catholic and French. Therefore the majority of the schools ranked are public. Private schools have the opportunity participate in the EQAO testing but it is not mandatory for them like the public schools. The Bishop Strachan School (a girls school in Toronto) did choose to participate for the first time in 2009 and received an overall rating of 9.9 out of 10 by the Fraser Institute. The other schools listed as private schools included Islamic and Hebrew religious schools and schools run by First Nations.
The accompanying Fraser Institute report indicates the purpose of such school rankings as a valuable tool for parents to make decisions about what schools to send their children to. In addition, the report states that the rankings are an opportunity for schools to improve aspects of their school’s performance. School rankings are often very controversial because they can present a very narrow analysis of all that a school is doing and what students are learning. The report acknowledges on page three that it should not be the only resource used in researching schools, “Of course, the choice of a school should not be made solely on the basis of a single source of information.”
Many parents like having access to school rankings as it can often reaffirm decisions about schooling for their children. If a school has a concerning rating in any report it should make parents ask questions of administrators and teachers. But no research or school rankings can inform parents better than visiting a school, meeting with teachers and speaking to parents at that school; at ourkids.net, we have persistently cautioned against overdetermining the value of private school reviews and rankings. If school rankings can assist parents in asking the questions that are necessary, then they can serve a purpose.
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When are the Onatrio high school results being released?
Hi, we are new Immigrants and residing in Mississuaga. I have a question. I would like to know if there’s a choice in Public school for our kids or should they go to the designated school, that covers our area? Secondly, do all public schools follow the same standard curriculum and teaching style? Or is there a difference in the quality of education systems? Thanks, Aliya.
Hello,
Does anyone know an excellent French Immersion public school in North York area , Toronto?
Please let me know, Thank you.
SS
Don't you list the public schools?
Joan
The Fraser Institute of course includes public schools in its rankings, but at Our Kids, we work to connect families with the right private school. However, even though we provide school listings, we do not conduct school rankings. We encourage families to place more focus on the fit of the school with their personal needs and values, rather than emphasize rankings or reputation.
Does this answer your question Joan?
Edenrose Public School is an elementary school in Mississauga. However I can’t find it on the elementary school report. Does the report include all the public schools?
Can anyone tell me any elementary school in toronto upto 8th grade?
Hi Meena,
There are lots of excellent elementary private schools in Toronto. The best way to find a complete list is to use the search tool at OurKids.net. You can identify the grade you are looking for to view schools in map or list view in your neighborhood. Select three schools you are interested in to compare them against each other. When selecting a school, don't be distracted with bells and whistles, but ask about things that are important to you and your child. This quick checklist of 'questions to ask' will help you.
Good luck!