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By Kisean Joseph
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The Ministry of Education announced the 2025 Grade 6 National Assessment results Friday morning, celebrating a 90% pass rate and remarkable individual achievements despite a challenging academic year, marked by class disruptions.
“The first-place student on this year’s Grade 6 National Assessment 2025, Jasmine Greenaway – St Nicholas Primary School. A total of 387 marks out of a possible 400 marks,” announced Director of Education Claire Browne during the results presentation on state media. The achievement places her among the highest scorers in the assessment’s recent history.
The results revealed significant improvements across key subject areas, with Science showing the most dramatic gains, remarked Education Officer Jewelle Gore-Hurst, head of the Measurement and Evaluation Unit, who could barely contain her excitement about the Science performance.
“We then go to Science, and some may wonder, why did you not start with science first when you look at that average of 70 for this year? A nine percent increase, a significant increase in comparison to 2024,” Gore-Hurst said.
The assessment’s top performers represent both private and government schools, demonstrating educational excellence across all sectors. Following Greenaway in the rankings are:
- Second Place: Erin Frank, Divine Academy of Excellence (383/400)
- Third Place (Tie): Marciyah Henry, Baptist Academy of Antigua (378/400)
- Third Place (Tie): Liya Marca-Goodwin, Post-Millennial Academy (378/400)
The top government school student, Shekira Jones from JT Ambrose Primary School placed sixth overall with 373 marks.
Evan Roberts of the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School claimed the top male student position, placing fifth overall with 375 marks.
Of the 1,216 students who sat the assessment, 1,099 achieved acceptable results across Levels 1 and 2, representing the 90% pass rate. The gender distribution was remarkably balanced, with 550 female students and 549 male students attaining acceptable scores.
Subject-specific performance showed impressive gains, particularly in Science and Mathematics. Gore-Hurst detailed the pass rates across all four core areas:
“Notice that for 2025, the percentage of students attaining at least 50 percent exceeds 70 percent. That is just wonderful. We see for Language Arts, 83 percent overall. For Mathematics, 72 percent of them would have gotten at least a 50 percent score. In Science, we see 88 percent of students achieving that performance. And in Social Studies, for 2025, the most number of students would have earned at least 50 percent, and that is almost a whopping 89 percent of students achieving those results,” she explained.
The mathematics mean score improved from 59 in 2024 to 62 in 2025, representing a three-point increase that Gore-Hurst attributed to sustained investment in STEM education.
This year’s overall score for Mathematics is 62, a three percent point increase over last year’s 59. Gore-Hurst said.
The prestigious top list includes 104 students, with 57 girls and 47 boys achieving scores ranging from 387 to 342 marks. The distribution shows 22 students from government schools and 82 from private institutions.
Several schools distinguished themselves with multiple top performers. St Nicholas Primary and Baptist Academy of Antigua tied for the most students on the top 100 list, each contributing 13 students. Five Islands Primary led among government schools, with four students earning top list positions.
The strong results came despite significant challenges during the academic year, including class disruptions that tested the resilience of students, teachers, and parents. Director Browne emphasized the collective effort required to achieve these outcomes.
The director acknowledged the comprehensive support system that contributed to student success, recognizing everyone from teachers and principals to support staff and parents.
“We want to congratulate their teachers, those importers of knowledge and owners of skills. We want to celebrate their schools, their principals, for how they continue to support students. We also wish to recognize the value that parents continue to play in ensuring that their children do well,” he added.
While celebrating the achievements, ministry officials emphasized their commitment to supporting all students, including the 10 percent who performed at Levels 3 and 4. Browne offered encouragement to students who may not have achieved their desired results.
The 18 Level 4 students, who scored below 100 points, will receive specialized support at All Saints Secondary School, where they will be placed together with three dedicated teachers to help them progress to fifth form.
The strong performance in Science and Mathematics reflects the ministry’s sustained investment in STEM education. Browne confirmed that the improvements represent the fruits of deliberate policy initiatives.
“We continue to invest heavily in STEM education. We recognize the value of STEM education. It is about ensuring that our students are prepared for a world to solve problems and to be creative and critical thinkers,” he explained.
The ministry is currently engaged in a Journey to Mathematical Improvement (JTMI) program in schools, part of a long-term strategy to enhance mathematical competency among students.
Gore-Hurst indicated that a detailed analysis of the results would inform future educational strategies. Teams from the Measurement and Evaluation Unit will work with curriculum officers to examine student strengths and areas for improvement.
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