As a new school year starts across the globe, the World Top 20 Education Poll releases its Third Quarter Report. There has been no change from the 1st and 2nd quarters, with three countries from Asia holding the first, second and fourth spots in the top five places, but there’s no discounting what 12 European Countries Education Systems have done by being ranked in the top 20 poll.

This quarter’s report highlight where the top 20 countries education systems strengthen lies and where there needs to be improvement to maintain, move-up, or drop out of the top 20.

1 Japan : The Japan Education System has been ranked the poll’s number one for all three quarters. And matchup very well in all 5 educational development levels. With plans to invest more into education, Japan is setting themselves up to be number one for a very longtime.

2. South Korea : The South Korea Education System outperforms Japan’s system at 3 of 5 levels. However, are unable to overtake them in the poll, because of their lack of investment in early-childhood development.

3. United Kingdom : It may be time to give the UK credit for their educational system‘s success. Many readers could not believe the UK merit this high of a ranking. But, they were the only European country to rank in the top 10 in every educational level the poll measures.

4. Singapore : Education system continues to impress with very little to work with, they rank in the world’s top 2 in both primary education students scores, and could overtake the UK in the next top 20 poll.

5. Russia : It is impressive just how good Russia’s education system is in being rated has the world’s most educated country. Yet, they fail to reach this poll’s top 3. Like most of these countries in the top 20, their lack of investment in early-childhood has lowered their position.

6. Finland : Recognize as the world’s best education systems by other polls and educational experts, fail to mention Finland does not rank first at any international level in education. In fact, Finland ranks 32nd in early-childhood enrollment, even though their system works very well for them, this indicates why they fall out of this poll’s top 5.

7. Canada : Always a contender for a place in the top 5, Canada has one of the world’s highest college graduation rates. The country still has not invested enough time or resources to develop children before they enroll into primary education. When they do, they could find themselves a top 3 ranking.

10. Israel : Finland has been using Israel’s education system to model their global success. The reason Israel is not ranked higher is because of their early childhood enrollment program problem, which they are now addressing.

13. Norway : Not as successful as their neighboring country Finland, Norway’s education system is very good, there only weakness is at the primary education student test scores.

15.Germany : History has shown Germany has a very strong education system, however, over the last couple of decades, they’ve fallen behind other countries in addressing social change  within the country.

17. Estonia : No one in the World saw this coming with the country of Estonia ranking higher in the poll then the U.S. But Estonia‘s early-childhood and primary educational levels are better.

18. United States of America : So many educational level problems to overcome especially in maintaining the world’s largest economy. However, the most glaring area of needs is at the high school and early-childhood levels.

19. France : Early-Childhood commitment to prepare children for entrance into primary school is impressive. The problem starts with primary levels due to the country’s growing multicultural population.

20. Portugal : The countries high school graduation rate reported by OECD’s 2012 (100%) is being challenged by EU, which conclude Portugal’s weak economy state is due to low high school graduation rates. We hope the Portugal Ministry of Education Department becomes more transparent and release the true numbers.See complete poll at [http://www.worldtop20.org]