PISA 2025 results: what they tell us

PISA 2025 results were released today. PISA is the OECD’s international assessment of 15-year-olds, conducted every three years, with 91 countries and economies participating in 2025. One broad conclusion is particularly worth considering for the future of education — including here at home: successful systems tend to focus on fewer things in greater depth, invest in teachers, involve parents, and provide targeted support to the students and schools that need it most.

A few takeaways that we have found particularly interesting:

• Academic performance continues to decline. OECD average scores in reading and math are now at their lowest levels recorded by PISA. The U.S. picture is more nuanced: math remains a weakness, and reading — historically a U.S. strength — fell significantly in 2025.

• East Asia continues to dominate. Chinese jurisdictions and Singapore lead, with Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and Macao also among the strongest-performing systems. Estonia and the UK stand out among Western countries.

• How technology is used matters. Students report less digital distraction in schools with clear cell-phone/device policies. Moderate use of digital devices for learning can be associated with better outcomes, but performance tends to deteriorate with excessive use — and the relationship is particularly negative when devices are used for leisure during school.

• AI is already transforming education. Almost half of OECD students use AI at least weekly to help them learn. The challenge is to teach students to use AI critically and as a tool for learning — not as a substitute for thinking.