Contextual variables associated with differences in educational performance between European Union countries / Variables contextuales asociadas a las diferencias de rendimiento educativo entre los países de la Unión Europea

Abstract Extensive literature exists which shows the relation between academic performance and other variables of a contextual nature. A secondary analysis of the results corresponding to performance in PISA 2015 has enabled us to classify European Union countries into two different levels. The degree of relation between performance and contextual variables such as socioeconomic level, schooling indicators, resources allocated to education and organizational culture and school governance has also been studied at a national level. Subsequently, after selecting the variables that correlate the most with performance, the effects of the contextual variables on the differences of countries with high and low performance have been measured using a logistic regression model. Results show the role of some of the variables considered, with the economic level of the country standing out in particular, as well as parental involvement in decision-making. By way of conclusion, a series of recommendations are formulated to advance towards improvements in performance and to achieve educational convergence among EU countries.