The 2025 results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show that students in Canada and the province of Quebec scored above the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD) average, even as their performance fell short of earlier assessments. The findings were released on September 8, 2026, and confirm that both the national and provincial cohorts remain among the higher‑performing participants in the triennial test, while also indicating a modest decline from previous cycles.
PISA measures the competencies of 15‑year‑old students in reading, mathematics and science across participating countries. Conducted every three years, the assessment provides comparative data that policymakers and educators use to gauge the effectiveness of their education systems. In the latest round, Canadian students maintained a position above the OECD benchmark in all three domains, and Quebec’s results mirrored this trend, placing the province ahead of the international average.
Despite the favorable standing relative to the OECD, the new scores are lower than those reported in earlier PISA cycles for both Canada and Quebec. The dip suggests that while the education systems continue to outperform many peers, there has been a measurable reduction in achievement levels since the previous assessment. The exact magnitude of the decline was not disclosed, but the trend is noted as a reversal of the upward trajectory observed in earlier years.
The results arrive as education officials in Canada and Quebec consider strategies to sustain and improve learning outcomes. The comparative advantage over the OECD average underscores strengths in the current curricula, yet the slip in scores highlights areas where further attention may be required. As the next PISA cycle approaches, stakeholders will likely review the data to identify factors contributing to the recent downturn and to shape policies aimed at reversing the trend.
Overall, the 2025 PISA outcomes reaffirm that Canadian and Quebec students continue to exceed international norms, even as they confront a modest decline from past performance levels.