Here’s why other countries beat the U.S. in reading and math.

In reading, Hong Kong, Russia, Finland and Singapore also all scored above the United States. The results were drawn from two tests — the 2011 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, known as PIRLS, and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, referred to as TIMSS. 

The United States has edged up its score over the years, and it’s in the top 13 educational systems in the world, the report authors note, but Americans are still consistently outranked by the same handful of countries.

So what makes the education systems of some of the top performers so good?

Some good insights, challenges to solve and work to be done.