Education in João Pessoa, Brazil: official figures
At the 2022 census 97.6% of children aged 6 to 14 in João Pessoa were attending school, the 50th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 659th lowest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities (Brazil: 98.3%; Paraíba state: 98.5%).
How many young children in João Pessoa attend pre-school or crèche?
85.2% of children aged 4 and 5 in João Pessoa attended pre-school or school in 2022 (the 100th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 86.7%), and 35.0% of children under 4 attended a crèche or school (the 153rd highest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 33.9%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the Ideb score of João Pessoa?
Public primary schools in João Pessoa scored 5.7 on the Ideb, the Ministry of Education's 0-10 index of pass rates and test results, for the early years (1st to 5th grade) in 2025, the 84th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil's public schools: 6.1). The score was 5.2 in 2023 and 5.3 in 2019.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyHow do 5th-graders in João Pessoa do in the Saeb tests?
In 2025, 97.4% of pupils in the 1st to 5th grades of João Pessoa's public schools passed the school year (Brazil: 98.0%), and 5th-graders averaged 216.1 in mathematics and 208.8 in Portuguese on the national Saeb tests (Brazil: 227.4 and 215.1).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyHow do public schools in João Pessoa score for 6th to 9th grade?
For the later years of primary school (6th to 9th grade), João Pessoa's public schools scored 4.6 on the 2025 Ideb, the 66th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil's public schools: 5.0), against 4.0 in 2023.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyAre city or state schools better in João Pessoa?
In the 6th to 9th grades, schools run by the city of João Pessoa scored 4.5 on the 2025 Ideb and schools run by Paraíba state in the city scored 4.7.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyHow João Pessoa compares with other cities in Brazil
Children aged 6-14 attending school (%) (2022)
João Pessoa ranks 271 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 6-14 attending school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 268 | Juazeiro | 97.6% |
| 269 | Viamão | 97.6% |
| 270 | Recife | 97.6% |
| 271 | João Pessoa | 97.6% |
| 272 | Ribeirão Preto | 97.6% |
| 273 | Feira de Santana | 97.6% |
| 274 | Bragança | 97.5% |
Children aged 4-5 attending pre-school or school (%) (2022)
João Pessoa ranks 221 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 4-5 attending pre-school or school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 218 | Santa Maria | 85.5% |
| 219 | Paulista | 85.4% |
| 220 | Itabuna | 85.4% |
| 221 | João Pessoa | 85.2% |
| 222 | Recife | 85.1% |
| 223 | Paranaguá | 85.1% |
| 224 | Barreiras | 85.1% |
Young people aged 15-17 attending school (%) (2022)
João Pessoa ranks 230 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Young people aged 15-17 attending school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 227 | Fortaleza | 84.5% |
| 228 | Serra | 84.4% |
| 229 | Campinas | 84.3% |
| 230 | João Pessoa | 84.3% |
| 231 | São Vicente | 84.3% |
| 232 | Sabará | 84.3% |
| 233 | Rio Branco | 84.2% |
Ideb, public schools, 1st-5th grade (2025)
João Pessoa ranks 237 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Ideb, public schools, 1st-5th grade |
|---|---|---|
| 234 | Itacoatiara | 5.8 |
| 235 | Maceió | 5.7 |
| 236 | Campo Grande | 5.7 |
| 237 | João Pessoa | 5.7 |
| 238 | Aracaju | 5.7 |
| 239 | Juiz de Fora | 5.7 |
| 240 | Campos dos Goytacazes | 5.7 |
Ideb, public schools, 6th-9th grade (2025)
João Pessoa ranks 255 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Ideb, public schools, 6th-9th grade |
|---|---|---|
| 252 | Manacapuru | 4.7 |
| 253 | Balsas | 4.7 |
| 254 | São Luís | 4.6 |
| 255 | João Pessoa | 4.6 |
| 256 | Jaboatão dos Guararapes | 4.6 |
| 257 | Olinda | 4.6 |
| 258 | Paulista | 4.6 |
More on João Pessoa: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Brazil
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education: Ideb 2025, primary school late years (6th-9th grade): pass rates, Saeb scores and Ideb 2005-2025 by municipality and school network (spreadsheet from the zip download), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0a54ddd30107…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education: Ideb 2025, primary school early years (1st-5th grade): pass rates, Saeb scores and Ideb 2005-2025 by municipality and school network (spreadsheet from the zip download), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e132cd0ab831…)
- Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE): Censo Demográfico 2022: gross school attendance rate by age group (0-3, 4-5, 6-14 and 15-17), Brazil, states and municipalities (SIDRA table 10056), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4966e323affd…)
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