English Language Learners — How Big Is the Gap and Who's Closing It?

Ontario has one of the highest immigration rates in the world. This page measures the ELL achievement gap across subjects, grades, and years — and identifies which boards are most effective at supporting ELL students.

1. Province-Level ELL Gap Over Time

Overall vs. ELL % at Level 3/4 by subject and year. The distance between lines is the ELL gap.

2. Which Subject Has the Largest ELL Gap?

Province-level ELL gap (overall − ELL, in percentage points) by subject and year. Larger = ELL students further behind.

3. Does the ELL Gap Narrow From G3 to G6?

If more years of English instruction help ELL students catch up, the gap should be smaller in G6 than G3 for the same subject and year.

4. G9 Math — Does the ELL Gap Persist?

Province-level ELL gap in math compared across G3, G6, and G9.

5. Board-Level ELL Gap Variation

boards with ELL data. Sorted by gap (smallest first). Median gap: pp.

6. ELL Gap Trend by Board

How has each board's ELL gap changed over four years? Grey lines = individual boards; bold line = province average.

7. ELL Concentration vs. Achievement (Grade 3 Schools)

Does having a higher proportion of ELL students predict lower overall achievement? Each dot is a school with reported ELL data.

G3 schools with ELL data. Schools without enough ELL students have suppressed data and are excluded.

8. Boards Closing the Gap — High ELL, Small Gap

Which boards have a high ELL population but still keep the achievement gap small? Boards in the bottom-right quadrant are the most effective at supporting ELL students.