Quote:
Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
No, I did not read that article. I can't explain it either. Perhaps those kids are an exception to the rule. Perhaps that's just a very good school. It would be interesting to see how other schools with a majority of first generation and immigrant kids from other areas measured up.
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Well, in terms of high school results,
73% of AY Jackson SS (Grades 10-12...some North York schools are JK-6 for elementary, 7-9 for middle school (called junior high if 7-9) and 10-12 for high school) students speak another language at home. Here are their Grade 10 literacy test results from last school year:
Total % of Toronto students passing both reading and writing:
58%
Total % Ontario:
70%
Total at Jackson (including those who deferred the test/didn't take it):
65%
More results from a few other Toronto schools. All schools listed have more than 50% speaking another language at home:
Jarvis Collegiate is the oldest academic high school in Ontario, founded in 1807. The student body is very diverse and
66% speak another language at home. The results for 2003-04 aren't available online, but here are the results for 2002-03:
Total % of Toronto students passing:
56%
Total % in Ontario:
67%
Total at Jarvis:
67%
Another school that serves the Jarvis area is Central Commerce. The school was originally founded as a business focused high school, but now offers courses in all academic areas. Today,
64% of the students speak another language at home. The results at this school differ greatly from Jarvis
Toronto and Ontario passing rate: Same as above
Central Commerce Total:
23
This is likely because the exam is more "academic" (university prep) centred rather than "applied". Central Commerce has more "applied" students than at Jarvis, which has close to none, if any at all.
Earl Haig SS: This Grade 9-12 school not only has an excellent academic program, but also houses the high school division of the Claude Watson School for the Performing Arts. At Earl Haig,
65% of students speak another language at home. Results from the 2002-2003 literacy tests are as follows:
Toronto and Ontario passing rates see Jarvis
Earl Haig:
78%
Agincourt CI: Grades 9-12
% of students who speak another language at home:
53
Toronto and Ontario passing rates: see Jarvis
Agincourt passing rate:
83%
Georges Vanier SS: Grades 10-12
% of students who speak another language at home:
75
Toronto and Ontario passing rate: See Jarvis
Vanier: only
32%
Toronto District School Board website:
www.tdsb.on.ca
My theory is this: Schools called "Collegiate Institutes" are historically more academically focused, with most students intending to enter university. Schools called "secondary schools" are mostly general high schools, and are actually "newer" (I can only think of two high schools in the old city of Toronto that are "secondary schools"...Northern and Rosedale Heights.) Students used to be streamed to different divisions, with collegiates preparing students for university matriculation and other schools for the work force. While non-collegiates are required to offer university prep courses today, collegiates offer few work force prep programs.