Are disadvantaged students more likely to repeat grades?

Abstract

One in eight students across OECD countries has repeated a grade at least once before the age of 15. Many countries reduced the rate of grade repetition between 2003 and 2012. One in five disadvantaged 15-year-olds has repeated a grade. Even among students with similar academic performance, the likelihood of repeating a grade is one-and-a-half times greater for disadvantaged students than for advantaged students.