the impact of students socioeconomic background on mathematics performance and grade repetition rates is higher than the average for other oecd countries portugal systemlevel practices include enrolment rates for yearolds above the oecd average universal enrolment for yearolds and compulsory education recently extended to years from age to age one of the longest periods of compulsory schooling among oecd countries attainment rates at upper secondary and tertiary levels are below the oecd average and enrolment in upper secondary vocational education and training vet is around the oecd average portugal has steadily reduced dropout since accelerating the decrease in recent years although it remains high compared to the average of oecd countries