Israel Sees Sharp Decline in Student Performance on International PISA Test

International PISA test results released Tuesday reveal a significant drop in the performance of Israeli 14-year-old students in reading, mathematics, and science compared to 2022. Israel experienced one of the largest overall declines among participating nations. The tests were administered in 2025, during the ongoing war, and results are compared to the 2022 pre-war assessment.

In reading, Israel fell seven places since 2022, with average scores dropping 38 points to 436, below the OECD average of 463. This decline is equivalent to nearly two years of lost learning. In science, Israel dropped eight places, scoring 442 against the OECD average of 484, showing a significant decline alongside countries like Guatemala and Hong Kong. Mathematics scores also decreased by 25 points to 433, six places lower than in 2022, and below the OECD average of 465, a gap representing over a year of lost skills.

Compared to OECD countries alone, Israel ranked 31st out of 38 in reading, 33rd in science, and 33rd in mathematics. The results also highlighted widening achievement gaps, with only 8.8% of Israeli students reaching high proficiency compared to the OECD average of 11.9%, and 29% falling into the low-proficiency category versus 19.7% on average. The performance gap between students from strong and weak socioeconomic backgrounds was 82 points.

Gender differences were noted, with female students outperforming males in science and reading, while the math gap was minimal. Female students scored 455 in reading versus 417 for males, and 449 in science versus 435 for males. Male students saw a sharp decline of 29 points in science and 46 points in reading since 2022. Female students also experienced significant drops, exceeding 30 points in reading and 20 points in math.

Concerning the educational environment, Israel ranked second among developed nations for students viewing school as a "waste of time." Nearly half of principals reported teaching was negatively impacted by teacher shortages. The Ministry of Education had anticipated a decline, with a senior official noting the tests were taken during a "problematic period." Education Minister Yoav Kisch acknowledged the war's impact on the March 2025 results, stating he expected them to be lower.

The Parents' Leadership organization stated the results were not surprising, citing the cumulative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, military operations, and the October 7th attacks on educational continuity. They called for a national plan to address learning gaps and educational deficits, emphasizing that the PISA results reflect the reality of the education system's struggles.