Math gaps between Ontario kids start in kindergarten — and often persist through Grade 9

Many achievement gaps begin long before children write their first standardized math test. (Piqsels/Id Frela) Math gaps between Ontario kids start in kindergarten — and often persist through Grade 9 Published: August 5, 2026 9.38am EDT Share article Print article When people think about the roots of a child’s struggles in math class, they may picture a tough teacher, a missed unit or a sudden loss of confidence around fractions. Our new study suggests we should be looking much earlier, at kindergarten, or even before. Using linked provincial data from more than 25,000 Ontario children, we …