EOI Methodology

The Education Opportunities Index (EOI) measures educational challenges for a school
based on the demographic characteristics of the neighbourhoods where its students
live. The EOI combines three socio-economic status (SES) variables into a composite
index.
Variables used in the EOI are from the 2016 Census:
 Low-Income: The percentage of school-aged children in households below the
after-tax low-income measure threshold (LIM-AT). At the school level, the measure
is proportionate to the number of children from different neighbourhoods (postal
codes) attending the school.
 Lone-Parent Family: The percentage of school-aged children in lone-parent
families. At the school level, the measure is proportionate to the number of children
from different neighbourhoods (postal codes) attending the school.
 Low Parental Education: The percentage of school-aged children whose parents
do not have a certificate, diploma or degree. At the school level, the measure is
proportionate to the number of children from different neighbourhoods (postal codes)
attending the school.

Census data for elementary schools refers to children who are 4 to 13 years old and for
secondary schools to youths who are 14 to 18 years old.
Postal code Census data is linked to the Ontario School Information System (OnSIS)
student home postal code. Postal code Census data is weighted by the number of
school aged children in small areas (dissemination areas) associated with that postal
code.
Index values represent the opportunity to help students overcome external challenges
and can be interpreted as follows:
 A higher value means that students come from neighbourhoods where,
according to demographic data, there are more external challenges affecting
student outcomes.
 A lower value means that students come from neighbourhoods where, according
to demographic data, there are fewer external challenges affecting student
outcomes.