The TIMSS 2019 Early Learning Survey (or “Home Questionnaire”) asked the parents of fourth grade students about the extent to which they are satisfied that their child’s school promotes academic standards and fosters a positive school climate. Students were categorized on the Parents’ Perceptions of Their Child’s School scale according to their parents’ responses to eight items listed in Exhibit 7.6 (see About the Scale).

Exhibit 7.7 presents the results for the Parents’ Perceptions of Their Child’s School in relationship to students’ mathematics achievement. Overall, parents reported positive perceptions about their child’s school. On average across countries, the majority of fourth grade students (64%) had parents who reported being “very satisfied,” but these percentages ranged from 90 percent in Albania to 15 percent in Korea and 9 percent in Japan. On average, 31 percent of students attended schools with which their parents were “somewhat satisfied.” Only 5 percent of students on average had parents who were “less than satisfied” with their child’s school. Average mathematics achievement was similar across the three categories of the scale, with students in the “very satisfied” category having only slightly higher achievement than students in the “somewhat satisfied” and “less than satisfied” categories (504 vs. 497 and 495, respectively).

Exhibit 7.8 shows the same results for fourth grade students, but in relationship to science achievement. On average, students had very similar science achievement across the three scale categories (493, 487, and 491, respectively).