Cross-national comparisons in education: Findings from PISA

Multilevel analyses of large-scale international studies' data have shown how characteristics at multiple levels (country, family, school, student) influence student achievement. Students in countries that are richer academically outperform other students, in part because they have more resources at home (family socioeconomic status, books, etc.) and school (teachers, schoolmates, educational materials, etc.). Students in countries with greater household inequality, inequality across schools, or economic segregation of richer students from poorer students show lower academic achievement than other students. Cultural values and family characteristics showed interaction effects. Together, these results show the importance of an ecological approach to understanding student achievement. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.