São Paulo's state high school system has experienced a significant 17% decrease in student enrollments, outpacing the national average by 2.5 times, according to the 2025 School Census report.
In São Paulo, the state recorded the sharpest decline in enrollment for high school education last year, with a staggering drop of 17%. This statistic is particularly alarming as it amounts to 2.5 times the average decline observed across state networks nationwide, according to the 2025 School Census released by the Ministry of Education (MEC). These findings highlight a substantial concern for the state’s education system, reflecting broader issues within the Brazilian educational landscape.
The data revealed that state networks across Brazil bear the responsibility for a significant 82% of high school enrollments. For the year 2025, these networks saw an overall decrease of 6.62% in student numbers compared to the previous year. This decline is indicative of ongoing challenges faced by the educational sector in attracting and retaining students, raising important questions about educational policies and their effectiveness in various states.
In São Paulo specifically, the number of students enrolled in state high schools dropped from 6,475,182 in 2024 to 6,046,720 in the following year, marking a loss of nearly half a million students in just one year (428,462). Such a significant reduction not only impacts schools financially but also affects the quality of education provided and the future workforce of the state, underlining the urgent need for intervention and reform within the education system in São Paulo and beyond.
