The impact of students’ socio-economic background on mathematics performance and grade repetition rates is higher than the average for other OECD countries. Portugal system-level practices include enrolment rates for 3-4 year-olds above the OECD average, universal enrolment for 5-14 year-olds and compulsory education recently extended to 12 years (from age 6 to age 18) - 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 2000, accelerating the decrease in recent years, although it remains high compared to the average of OECD countries.