Canadian teens still rank among the world’s best in reading, math and science — but scores are slipping. Here’s why

Canadian students' reading and math scores have declined in the OECD's latest global assessment, though they remain among the top performers globally. Results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), released Tuesday, show Canada ranked in the top 10 out of 91 countries and economies evaluated. The OECD conducts PISA every three years to measure the performance of 15-year-olds in science, math, and reading. This cycle focused primarily on science, with math and reading also assessed using fewer questions. In 2025, approximately 24,600 students from the 10 provinces took part in the assessment. Canada’s scores in science, math, and reading have all fallen, a trend observed in many other nations. In science, the average score dropped five points from 2022. Math scores fell 12 points, and reading scores decreased by 17 points. Most other countries also experienced similar or greater declines. Andreas Schleicher, the OECD’s director for education and skills, noted that while scores have declined, Canada continues to perform strongly compared to most OECD countries. He described Canada as a “success story” due to its resilient academic outcomes. Anna Stokke, a mathematics professor at the University of Winnipeg, remarked that Canadian students are “near the top of a falling curve.” In math, 26 percent of Canadian students performed below level 2, the baseline proficiency needed for societal participation. Only 11.1 percent achieved levels 5 and 6, the highest levels. These figures contrast with 2003, when 10.1 percent performed below level 2 and 20.3 percent reached higher levels. In reading, 21.8 percent of students performed below level 2 in 2025, up from 9.5 percent in 2003. Just 9.4 percent reached levels 5 and 6, down from 12.6 percent in 2003. Science performance followed a similar pattern, with 16 percent of students scoring below level 2, compared to 10 percent in 2006. Provincial variations were also noted. New Brunswick had the highest percentage of students performing below level 2 in reading, at 33 percent. Ontario had the lowest, at 20.9 percent. Alberta led in reaching higher reading levels, with 12.3 percent achieving levels 5 and 6, while New Brunswick had the smallest percentage at 5.1 percent. Paris Semansky, co-executive director of People for Education, urged provinces with higher scores to share best practices. She asked, “What can the rest of the country learn that makes sense and is adaptable?” Schleicher emphasized the concern over declining reading skills, noting their importance in today’s world. Students now struggle more with complex texts and distinguishing fact from fiction.