Sizing Up International Student Test Scores

Massachusetts students have consistently ranked fairly high on national and international tests.

The latest out today — the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA — again has Massachusetts near the top.

The state’s 15-year-olds had the 4th best scores in reading, behind Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore.
And Massachusetts was 6th in science and 10th in math — finishing behind countries like Finland, South Korea and Switzerland.

State education officials — including Governor Deval Patrick — say the results offer reason to be proud. And when you consider that Massachusetts students did a lot better than American students over all — who finished in the middle of the pack in reading and science and well below average in math — maybe they’re right.

But we wondered what do these test scores really tell us about our education system?

To listen to full story, visit http://radioboston.wbur.org/2013/12/03/pisa-test-scores