REPEAT-CSDCCS School Results: Improvements in Academic Performance!

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 7, 2012) - Schools in the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud (CSDCCS) achieved distinction again this year with striking improvements in their students' academic performance. Thirty CSDCCS elementary schools were included in the Report Card on Ontario's Elementary Schools 2011, published recently by the Fraser Institute and detailed in the Toronto Sun.

The Report Card on Ontario's Elementary Schools 2011 assessed 2,695 Catholic and public, French- and English-language elementary schools across Ontario. The assessment included nine indicators gleaned from provincial reading, writing and mathematics tests administered by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EOAO).

According to the selection criteria for appearing in the ranking, 30 of the 41 CSDCCS schools (or 75%) were named in this year's report.

The CSDCCS is especially proud of the fact that the École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys de Markham maintained its top spot among the 19 best elementary schools in all of Ontario with a perfect score of 10/10. It is also the only French-language school on the list.

Five CSDCCS schools were named among the 20 best French-language schools in Ontario: Sainte-Marguerite-Bourgeoys de Markham, Ange-Gabriel de Mississauga, Sainte-Madeleine de Toronto, Mère-Élisabeth-Bruyère de Waterloo and Sainte-Marguerite-d'Youville de Toronto.

The other CSDCCS schools also stood out in all of communities in the District. Rising results are especially evident in the Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener, Oshawa, St. Catharines, Penetanguishene and other regions.

CSDCCS investments in teaching strategies tailored to individual students produced tangible results in each of the schools. For several years now, the CSDCCS has been recognized as a leader for its unsurpassed teaching team, specialized educators, and the extremely high-quality education it provides.

"The French-language Catholic community of South Central Ontario was once again shown tangible proof that its schools are not only shaped by the Catholic faith and French language, but are also maintaining their tradition of success and excellence," said Yves Lévesque, Council Chairman.

"I would like to congratulate students, parents and staff members for their sustained efforts and outstanding dedication, and school administrators for their leadership. All of them have allowed the CSDCCS schools to shine once again as outstanding options for child enrolment," added Réjean Sirois, Director of Education.

The Fraser Institute ranking was based on the findings of the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EOAO), and is one means of assessing school performance. Many other factors play a role in determining the success of our schools. Among them, we must consider the school's progress as a whole, which in the CSDCCS also includes excellence in other academic subjects, identity-building initiatives and devotion to the Catholic faith.

The Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud (CSDCCS) currently serves over 14,000 students at its 41 elementary and 8 secondary schools, over a territory extending from the Niagara Peninsula to Peterborough and from Lake Ontario (Toronto) to Georgian Bay. Five new schools (three elementary and two secondary) are currently under construction. The CSDCCS's mission is to offer students a quality education in a francophone Catholic environment that promotes respect for others, a sense of belonging to the Franco-Ontarian community, striving for excellence, and reaching one's full potential.