Educational proficiency and dropout trends in Spain and LatA

Educational assessments and dropout trends show varying levels of proficiency and retention across Spain and Latin America. In Spain, 2022 PISA results indicated that students met or exceeded OECD averages in mathematics and science, though reading scores fell slightly below the average. Research suggested that while the Community of Madrid’s dropout rates aligned with statistical forecasts, regions like the Basque Country, Cantabria, and Navarra maintained higher graduation rates than scores would predict.

However, 2025 PISA results indicated a decline in educational performance across several categories in both Spain and Argentina. In Spain, reading scores dropped by 23 points, science by 8 points, and mathematics by 16 points. Analysts suggested a potential correlation between these declines and the impact of digital devices on student attention spans. Recent data confirmed Spanish students reached their lowest historical performance levels in Reading, Mathematics, and Science. OECD senior analyst Tue Halgreen suggested Spanish students lost the equivalent of more than one school year of learning over the last decade.

By September 2026, reports indicated Spain had recorded its worst historical results in the PISA report. Some assessments suggested students have lost the equivalent of two years of learning over the last decade, with some attributing the decline to the LOMLOE law. While Madrid continues to lead national classifications, the Basque Country has faced criticism as high per-pupil investment has not prevented it from falling to the bottom of regional rankings in reading and science. Experts continue to link the drop in reading comprehension to the prevalence of short, fragmented digital content and recreational screen use.