U.S. eighth graders scored below the international average of the 41 countries that were tested. The only area in which U.S. fourth graders did less well compared to other nations was measurement, estimation, and number sense. Science U.S. fourth graders performed above the international average of the 26 countries testing fourth grade students in science. Only Korea scored above the U.S., with U.S. fourth graders outperforming 19 other countries, including England and Canada. U.S. eighth graders compared more favorably with other countries in science than mathematics, scoring above the international average of 41 countries.
Countries pay careful attention to the percent of graduates in the math and science fields.
The proportion of graduate degrees awarded in science fields also ranged widely across countries. Finances In general, higher income countries spend more per student than lower income countries. At the primary level of education, Sweden, the United States, and Switzerland ranked at the upper end of per pupil expenditures in 1993.