Girls Have Academic Advantages and So Do Boys - A Multicountry Analysis of Gender Differences in Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Outcomes

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Sarah

This paper presents a new multicountry analysis of gender differences in early grade reading and mathematics outcomes using 19 USAID-funded studies from 14 locations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. It examines results from grades 2 and 3 assessments, including oral reading fluency and quantitative comparison scores, and evaluates how score distributions differ by gender. Findings show girls consistently outperform boys in reading, while boys slightly outperform girls in mathematics, with generally small gaps. Both genders score below expectations overall, motivating targeted early strategies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time58 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background

Methods

Data Sets

Measures

Findings

Overall Average Gender Differences

Gender Differences in Annual Increases

Distributions of Gender Differences

Reading

Mathematics

Discussion

Reading

Mathematics

Limitations

Conclusions and Next Steps

References

RTI Press Research Report ISSN 2378-7902 May 2023 Girls Have Academic Advantages and So Do Boys: A Multicountry Analysis of Gender Differences in Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Outcomes Jodie Fonseca, Laiba Bahrawar, Margaret M. Dubeck, Yasmin Sitabkhan, Christopher Cummiskey, and Devanshi Unadkat This publication is part of the RTI Press Research Report series. RTI International 3040 East Cornwallis Road PO Box 12194 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194 USA Tel: +1.919.541.6000 E-mail: [rtipress@rti.org](rtipress@rti.org) [Website: www. rti.org](Website: www. rti.org) RTI Press publication RR-0049-2305 RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research organization dedicated to improving the human condition. The RTI Press mission is to disseminate information about RTI research, analytic tools, and technical expertise to a national and international audience. RTI Press publications are peer-reviewed by at least two independent substantive experts and one or more Press editors. Suggested Citation Fonseca, J., Bahrawar, L., Dubeck, M. M., Sitabkhan, Y., Cummiskey, C., and Unadkat, D.(2023) . Girls Have Academic Advantages andSo Do Boys: A Multicountry Analysis of Gender Differences in Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Outcomes. RTI Press Publication No. RR-0049-2305 . Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI Press. [https://doi.org/10.3768/rtipress](https://doi.org/10.3768/rtipress) [.2023. rr.0049.2305](.2023. rr.0049.2305)[ ](.2023. rr.0049.2305)Cover photo: @PRIMR Kenya ©2023 RTI International. RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute. RTI and the RTI logo are U. S. registered trademarks of Research Triangle Institute. This work is distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 license (CC BY-NC-ND), a copy of which is available at [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) [https://doi.org/10.3768/rtipress.2023.rr.0049.2305](https://doi.org/10.3768/rtipress.2023.rr.0049.2305) [www.rti.org/rtipress](www.rti.org/rtipress) Contents About the Authors i Acknowledgments ii Abstract ii Introduction 1 Background 1 Methods 2 Data Sets 2 Measures 3 Findings 6 Overall Average Gender Differences 6 Gender Differences in Annual Increases 6 Distributions of Gender Differences 6 Reading 7 Mathematics 8 Discussion 10 Reading 10 Mathematics 11 Limitations 12 Conclusions and Next Steps 12 References 13 About the Authors Jodie Fonseca, MA, EdD, is a senior education advisor in the International Education Division at RTI International. [https://orcid.org/0000](https://orcid.org/0000) [-0002-9883-7372](-0002-9883-7372) Laiba Bahrawar, BS, is an education analyst in the International Education Division at RTI International. [https://](https://)[ ](https://)[orcid.org/0000-0002-4713-9603](orcid.org/0000-0002-4713-9603) Margaret M. Dubeck, MEd, PhD, is a senior literacy researcher in the International Education Division at RTI International. [https://orcid.org/0000](https://orcid.org/0000) [-0002-6847-8348](-0002-6847-8348) Yasmin Sitabkhan, MA, PhD, is a senior mathematics education researcher in the International Education Division at RTI International. [https://orcid.org/0000](https://orcid.org/0000) [-0002-6319-8400](-0002-6319-8400) Christopher Cummiskey, MPH, is a senior statistician in the International Education Division at RTI International. [https://orcid.org/0000](https://orcid.org/0000) [-0001-6785-5829](-0001-6785-5829) Devanshi Unadkat, MA, PhD, is an assistant professor in the School of Education at the University of San Francisco. [https://orcid.org/0000-0002](https://orcid.org/0000-0002) [-8335-6939](-8335-6939) RTI Press Associate Editor Jeffrey Rosen Acknowledgments This research was funded by RTI International through an internal research and development award focused on gender in

FAQs

What data and grade levels does the analysis use?

The analysis uses results from reading and mathematics assessments in grades 2 and 3 drawn from 19 USAID-funded studies across 14 locations.

How do girls and boys compare in early reading outcomes?

Girls consistently outperform boys in reading across the included studies.

How do boys and girls compare in early mathematics outcomes?

Boys slightly outperform girls in mathematics, but the differences are typically small and not large overall.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Sarah