Overall average scale scores, mathematics, for U.S. and six comparison countries, PISA 2009 (with standardization for average social class distribution in similar post-industrial countries)

Top scoring Similar post-industrial U.S. U.S. versus:
Canada Finland Korea Average* France Germany U.K. Average* Top-scoring average Similar post-industrial average
National average math score (from Table 1) 527 541 546 538 497 513 492 501 487 -50 -13
National average math score, standardized for similar post-industrial country average social class distribution 523 534 533 530 502 511 495 502 495 -35 -7
Difference between social class standardized math scores and actual average reading scores -3 -6 -13 -8 5 -2 2 2 8

* Simple (unweighted) average of three countries

Source: Authors' analysis of OECD Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2009 database for each country

View the underlying data on epi.org.