The Fraser Institute’s annual school rankings have been released for 2015, and 180 elementary schools showed significant improvement in their academic performance.
The report card ranks 3,037 public and Catholic schools (and a small number of private schools) based on nine academic indicators derived from the results of province-wide tests of reading, writing and mathematics skills.
The top ranked school is Mother Teresa in Walkerton — which is ranked 100 with a score of 8.8 out of 10.
Arran Tara Elementary is the top Bluewater school at 204 with a score of 8.3
Immaculate Conception Separate School in Formosa is tied for 391st with a score of 7.8/10.
Derby Public School in Kilsyth and Goderich Public School in Goderich both tied at 445th with identical scores of 7.7/10.
Last year, Derby finished 862nd with a rating of 7.0/10.
Northport Elementary School in Port Elgin is placed at 548th with 7.5/10.
Beavercrest Community School in Markdale is placed 1,220th with 6.5/10
Hanover’s Holy Family School is ranked at 1,549th with 6.1/10.
Keppel Sarawak Elementary School in Owen Sound/Georgian Bluffs and Macphail Memorial School in Flesherton are both placed 1,824th with scores of 5.7/10.
Minto-Clifford Central School in Harriston and Cameron Street Public School in Collingwood are also ranked at 1,824th with scores of 5.7/10.
Peninsula Shores District School in Wiarton is 2,004th with a score of 5.4/10.
Last year, Peninsula Shores logged a rating of 7.0/10 and finished 862nd.
Bruce Peninsula District School in Lion’s Head is assigned the 2,190th spot.
The Walkerton District Community School scored a 5.0/10 for 2,235th.
Paisley Central School in Paisley came in at 2,319th with a score of 4.8/10.
As for Owen Sound schools, the numbers/rankings vary.
Dufferin Elementary School is placed at 1,151st, Sydenham Community School is 1,220th, Bayview Public School was evaluated at 2,319th, Hillcrest and the Alexandra Community School ranked 2,512th.
St. Dominique Savio was the lowest Scenic City school, placing 3,017th out of 3,037 with a score of 0.4/10, but their rating is considered incomplete.
Peter Cowley — the Fraser Institute’s Director of School Performance Studies — says the rankings are important in helping schools raise their academic standards.
Meanwhile, Worsley Elementary School in Wasaga Beach placed 6th on the Fraser Institute’s list of the fastest improving schools.
The Vancouver-based Fraser Institute measures and studies the impact of competitive markets and government interventions on individuals and society.
Detailed results of all 3,037 schools can be found at www.compareschoolrankings.org
Visitors to the site can quickly and easily see how a school is doing over the last five years on any of the nine indicators of academic performance as well as the overall rating. Comparisons among schools are also easily made. The complete Report Card on Ontario’s Elementary Schools 2015, is also available as a free pdf.