Many European countries have launched policy strategies for entrepreneurship education in the past decade. The result is a significant increase of entrepreneurship education in schools and higher education institutions in Europe. Entrepreneurship education is supposed to promote entrepreneurial abilities and improve academic performance. This article evaluates whether entrepreneurship projects in secondary school improves academic performance. The indicator used for academic performance is the Grade Point Average. The indicator used for entrepreneurship education is the Company Programme, a programme taught in 37 European countries. The data derive from surveys conducted in Norwegian schools in 2012. A total of 1880 pupils participated in a survey in lower secondary schools, and 1160 pupils participated in a survey in upper secondary schools. The results from econometric analyses show a higher Grade Point Average among participants in the Company Programme compared to non-participants in lower secondary schools, but no difference between the two groups in upper secondary schools. The divergent results are probably a reflection of the various ways the Company Programme is taught at different education levels. It indicates that, with less focus on the enterprise part, entrepreneurship projects can be a good teaching method for improvement of academic performance.
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