Academic Performance and Classroom Size: PISA 2012 Evidence

Abstract

<p>In this paper we estimate the impact caused by the size of the classroom, understood as the number of students per classroom, and the academic performance of Latin American ninth grade students, based on the PISA 2012 results. A linear model estimated by ordinary least squares is used to calculate the net effect of group size, introducing institutional, family and student variables used as control. It is estimated that the 1% increase in the number of classroom students decreases the test score by 0.1% on average; however, this factor has relatively less impact than other, more significant factors, such as the household’s socioeconomic level or the parents’ education.</p>