Alberta students maintain world-class standing

Alberta students achieved an average score of 520 in science, leading among Canadian provinces and above the OECD average of 482.
Alberta students achieved an average score of 499 in reading, leading among Canadian provinces and above the OECD average of 461.
Alberta students achieved an average score of 489 in mathematics, leading among Canadian provinces and above the OECD average of 463.

“These outstanding results show Alberta students continue to excel on the world stage,” says Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides.

“They are a testament to the hard work of students, teachers, families and school communities across our province. Alberta’s government will continue to provide students with the strong foundation they need for future success.”

The government notes Alberta’s scores were close to those of Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Estonia, all of which have leading education systems.

The ATA, meanwhile, says the results are a strong testament to the work of teachers.

“The fact that our students continue to perform at the top of the scale is a solid indication of the strong work that Alberta’s public teachers are doing in the classroom, despite the challenges of burgeoning enrolment and increasing complexities,” says Jason Schilling, president.

“Fully qualified and certificated teachers understand that there is much more to teaching than simple subject matter knowledge. They have spent years studying and developing methods to connect with their students. While additional teachers are desperately needed in our over-crowded public schools, we must always be aware that the quality of instruction we provide must never take a back seat.”

A total of 91 countries and economies representing 33 million 15-year-olds participated in PISA last year, with 2025 the largest assessment yet.

The assessments are conducted every four years.

The full PISA 2025 report can be viewed here.

The Government of Alberta also announced this week that it is introducing additional supports for students at risk of falling behind in math and reading.

Specifically, it is expanding the math and reading screeners program to grades four and five. The program helps teachers identify learning needs earlier and provide targeted support.

Early year-over-year reporting from school authorities shows that between 30 and 41 per cent of students who were identified as needing additional support were no longer identified as needing additional support when screened again a year later, according to the province.

In the 2026-27 school year, Alberta’s government is investing $20 million in screening and supports, an increase, they say, of more than 60 per cent from 2025-26.

by Josh Hall

Alberta students maintain world-class standing

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