PISA 2022 shows Singapore on top and US scores near 25-year low

In short: The latest PISA test results show Singapore leading the world, while US student scores fell to levels close to those seen about 25 years ago.

What happened

PISA is an international test that compares how 15 year old students do in math, reading, and science. It is run by the OECD, a group of mostly wealthy countries that studies the economy and education.

In the OECD’s PISA 2022 results, Singapore had the highest scores across the main subjects. Singapore scored 575 in mathematics, 543 in reading, and 561 in science. Several high scoring systems were also in East Asia, including Macao (China), Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong (China), Japan, and Korea.

Some headlines and social posts describe this as “Singapore and China” being at the top. That is only partly accurate. PISA reports results for specific participating education systems, and the top “China” result depends on which parts of China are included, rather than a single nationwide China score.

US performance in PISA 2022 was near historic lows compared with earlier test cycles. US education sources and the OECD said American scores dropped from earlier peaks and were roughly back near levels last seen around the early 2000s in reading and math.

Why it matters

PISA is not a report card for any one student, but it is like a wide angle snapshot of how a school system is doing. When a country’s scores fall for years, it can be a warning sign about future job skills and economic strength, and it can shape debates about what schools should change.

Source: NYTimes