News release

Minister's Report to Parents Now Available Online

Education (July 1999 - March 2013)

Nova Scotian students demonstrated overall improvement in mathematics and literacy assessments administered last year by the Department of Education.

The 2008 Minister's Report to Parents and Guardians, released today, July 16, contains school and board level results for Advanced Mathematics and Mathematics 12, as well as school and board results for the Early Elementary Mathematical Literacy Assessment, the Early Language Literacy Assessment, the Elementary Literacy Assessment and the Junior High Literacy Assessment.

The report also contains previously released Nova Scotia examination results for mathematics and provincial assessment data in mathematics and literacy for elementary and junior high students.

"It is encouraging to see significant improvement in mathematics in both high school and in early elementary, as well as strong literacy results, especially in writing, at elementary and junior high schools," said Education Minister Marilyn More. "But it is also clear to me that while we are headed in the right direction with mathematics, we still have work to do to help students become more successful."

The following is a summary of the 2008 provincial results for mathematics and literacy assessments compared to the results for 2007:

  • 70 per cent of students passed the Advanced Mathematics 12 Nova Scotia Examination, up from 64 per cent
  • 89 per cent passed Mathématiques avancées 12, up from 78 per cent
  • 51 per cent passed the Mathematics 12 Nova Scotia Examination, up from 26 per cent
  • 43 per cent passed Mathématiques 12, up from 33 per cent
  • 72 per cent met expectations in the Early Elementary Mathematical Literacy Assessment(Grade 3), up from 67 per cent
  • 79 per cent met expectations in the Évaluations des apprentissages en mathématiques: premier cycle de l'élémentaire (Grade 3), up from 69 per cent
  • 85 per cent of students met expectations in the Junior High Literacy Assessment (Grade 9) in reading, down from 87 per cent
  • 92 per cent met expectations in writing in the Junior High Literacy Assessment, up from 90 per cent
  • 84 per cent met expectations in the Appréciation du rendement en littératie au premier cycle du secondaire (Grade 9)in reading, unchanged from 2007
  • 79 per cent met expectations in writing in the Appréciation du rendement en littératie au premier cycle du secondaire, up from 77 per cent
  • 86 per cent met expectations in the Elementary Literacy Assessment(Grade 6) in reading, unchanged from 2007
  • 93 per cent met expectations in writing in the Elementary Literacy Assessment, up from 91 per cent
  • 82 per cent met expectations in reading in the Appréciation du rendement en littératie au premier cycle a l'elementaire (ARL)(Grade 6), up from 81 per cent
  • 73 per cent met expectations in writing in the Appréciation du rendement en littératie au premier cycle a l'elementaire, up from 63 per cent
  • 82 per cent met expectations in reading in the Early Elementary Literacy Assessment (Grade 3), up from 75 per cent
  • 82 per cent met expectations in expository writing in the Early Elementary Literacy Assessment, up from 66 per cent
  • 80 per cent met expectations in narrative writing in the Early Elementary Literacy Assessment, up from 62 per cent
  • 80 per cent met expectations in listening in the Early Elementary Literacy Assessment, unchanged from 2007

Ms. More said the department will continue to invest in mathematics and literacy and build on the work currently underway in all boards.

"These assessments give us valuable information on how well our students are performing, where they require additional support, and where we can best direct our investments to ensure the success of all students," said Ms. More.

The report is available online at www.ednet.ns.ca . Copies of the report will be available at schools later this summer.