Growing success: assessment, evaluation and reporting (Kindergarten to Grade 12)
Learn about Ontario’s policies for assessing, evaluating and reporting student achievement. Find updates and addenda to Growing Success policies.
About Growing Success for grades 1 to 12
Assessment, evaluation and reporting for students in grades 1 to 12 is based on the policies and practices described in Growing success: assessment, evaluation, and reporting in Ontario schools – first edition, covering grades 1 to 12.
Growing success aims to maintain high standards, improve student learning and benefit students, parents and teachers in elementary and secondary schools across the province.
Before you download this PDF
Growing Success was published in 2010 and continues to reflect ministry policies and practices. However, several updates have been introduced since its initial release. These updates are not included in the PDF available for download. It remains available while it is undergoing a review to streamline information and improve usability. For updates since publication, please read the updates on this page.
Updates since 2010
- September 2024 — Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) Grade 9 mathematics assessment
- September 2023 — Completing the provincial report cards: language, grades 1 to 8
- September 2020 — Completing the provincial report cards: mathematics, grades 1 to 8
September 2024 — EQAO Grade 9 mathematics assessment
This section updates the policy described on page 93 in Appendix 1 of Growing Success (PDF).
Updated policy
The EQAO Grade 9 assessment of mathematics assesses the mathematics knowledge and skills students are expected to have learned by the end of The Ontario Curriculum: Mathematics, Grade 9, De-streamed (MTH1W), 2021. The results of the EQAO Grade 9 assessment of mathematics are to be included in the final evaluation of the Grade 9 mathematics course, for at least 10%, and up to a maximum of 30% of the final mark for the 2025–2026 academic year.
September 2023 — Completing the provincial report cards: language, grades 1 to 8
This section updates the policy for reporting the achievement of students in elementary language to align with the revised language curriculum, The Ontario Curriculum: Language, Grades 1 to 8, 2023. It replaces the policy for language described on page 57 of Growing Success (PDF).
Updated policy
To foster a cohesive approach to both instruction and assessment across the elementary language curriculum, achievement in language will be reported as one overall grade or mark, with supporting comments.
Fill in the letter grade/percentage mark that best reflects the overall learning of the student in language in the column headed Report 1 or Report 2. When assigning a grade or mark, consider the student’s integrated learning across the strands in each reporting period.
Your comments:
- should describe significant strengths that the student demonstrates
- should identify next steps for improvement
- can describe growth in learning
- can refer to particular strands, and should include comments on the foundations of language, including reading and writing.
For more information on determining a grade or percentage mark for the report card, review pages 38 to 46 of Growing Success (PDF).
Find the revised report card templates on our Elementary and secondary report card templates page.
September 2020 — Completing the provincial report cards: mathematics, grades 1 to 8
This update revises the policy for reporting the achievement of students in elementary mathematics to align with the revised mathematics curriculum, The Ontario Curriculum: Mathematics, Grades 1 to 8, 2020. It replaces the policy for mathematics described on page 58 of Growing Success (PDF).
Updated policy
To foster a cohesive approach to both instruction and assessment across the elementary mathematics curriculum, achievement in mathematics will be reported as one overall grade/mark, with supporting comments.
Fill in the letter grade or percentage mark that best reflects the overall learning of the student in mathematics in the column headed report 1 or report 2. When assigning a grade or mark, consider the student's integrated learning across the strands you’ve taught in each reporting period.
Your comments:
- should describe significant strengths that the student demonstrates
- should identify next steps for improvement
- can describe growth in learning
- can refer to particular strands
For more information on determining a grade or percentage mark for the report card, review pages 38 to 46 of Growing Success (PDF).
Find the revised report card templates on our Elementary and secondary report card templates page.
Companion document: Kindergarten addendum (first issued September 2016)
This update describes Ontario’s policy for assessment, evaluation and reporting for kindergarten. It is an addition to Growing Success (PDF) and is similar to the Grades 1 to 12 policy. It is currently being updated to align with the content, philosophy and intent of The Ontario Curriculum, Kindergarten, 2026, a play- and inquiry-based program designed to be developmentally appropriate for young students.
Accessible format requests
If you need this information in a different format, please contact information.met@ontario.ca. We will:
- acknowledge your request within 3 business days
- send you the content within 15 business days