Full Breakdown
Israeli Student Performance Plummets in Latest RAMA and Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) Assessments
9/9/2026, 8:10:39 PM
Sharp Decline in Student Achievement
An initial analysis by the National Authority for Measurement and Evaluation in Education (RAMA) shows a dramatic fall in Israeli school outcomes. Only about 3 % of ninth-grade students meet the Ministry’s science and technology standards, with another 16 % classified as “near” fulfillment. By contrast, roughly one-third of sixth-grade pupils meet the benchmarks in English (36 %), mathematics (37 %) and Hebrew (20 %). The same cohort performed poorly in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA): compared with the 2022 test, Israel slipped eight places in science, seven in reading and six in mathematics, producing the lowest PISA scores ever recorded for the country.
Context of the Assessments
RAMA conducts a comprehensive national evaluation every three years, timed to coincide with the OECD’s release of PISA results. The 2025 PISA data were published recently, prompting RAMA to issue its preliminary report on the same day. The Ministry of Education uses these metrics to gauge whether schools satisfy statutory curriculum requirements.
Official Response from the Education Ministry
Government legal counsel indicated that the minister lacked authority to withhold the report, and RAMA confirmed its intention to publish the data despite the minister’s request to postpone release.
Key Data Points
- Ninth-grade science/technology fulfillment: 3 % fully, 16 % near full.
- Sixth-grade benchmark achievement: English 36 %, mathematics 37 %, Hebrew 20 %.
- PISA rank changes since 2022: science – 8 places, reading – 7 places, mathematics – 6 places.
- 2025 results represent Israel’s lowest PISA performance to date.
