The percentage of Durham public and Catholic students who passed the Grade 10 literacy test fell slightly this year.

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) school-by-school results released June 11 show both boards dropped one per cent overall this year from last.

Within the Durham District School Board, 84 per cent of students who took the test succeeded compared to 85 per cent in March 2007. The Durham Catholic District School Board had similar results, going down to 85 per cent from 86 per cent the previous year.  The provincial average was 84 per cent both years.

The test measures if students have the appropriate reading and writing skills and passing it is a requirement for high school graduation.

At Brock High School, 81 per cent of students were successful. That figure represents the highest success rate for the school in the five years charted by the EQAO.