Education in São Carlos, Brazil: official figures
At the 2022 census 98.8% of children aged 6 to 14 in São Carlos were attending school, the 109th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 2141st lowest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities (Brazil: 98.3%; São Paulo state: 98.3%).
How many young children in São Carlos attend pre-school or crèche?
94.0% of children aged 4 and 5 in São Carlos attended pre-school or school in 2022 (the 22nd highest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 86.7%), and 55.9% of children under 4 attended a crèche or school (the 16th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 33.9%).
Source: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) · saved copyWhat is the Ideb score of São Carlos?
Public primary schools in São Carlos scored 7.1 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 19th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil's public schools: 6.1). The score was 6.7 in 2023 and 7.1 in 2019.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyHow do 5th-graders in São Carlos do in the Saeb tests?
In 2025, 99.3% of pupils in the 1st to 5th grades of São Carlos' public schools passed the school year (Brazil: 98.0%), and 5th-graders averaged 254.3 in mathematics and 236.2 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 São Carlos score for 6th to 9th grade?
For the later years of primary school (6th to 9th grade), São Carlos' public schools scored 5.6 on the 2025 Ideb, the 46th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil's public schools: 5.0), against 5.5 in 2023.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyAre city or state schools better in São Carlos?
In the 6th to 9th grades, schools run by the city of São Carlos scored 5.3 on the 2025 Ideb and schools run by São Paulo state in the city scored 5.7.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyHow São Carlos compares with other cities in Brazil
Children aged 6-14 attending school (%) (2022)
São Carlos ranks 109 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 6-14 attending school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | Catanduva | 98.8% |
| 107 | Lagarto | 98.8% |
| 108 | Campina Grande | 98.8% |
| 109 | São Carlos | 98.8% |
| 110 | Bragança Paulista | 98.8% |
| 111 | Abaetetuba | 98.8% |
| 112 | Franco da Rocha | 98.8% |
Children aged 4-5 attending pre-school or school (%) (2022)
São Carlos ranks 22 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 4-5 attending pre-school or school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Indaiatuba | 94.1% |
| 20 | Santo Antônio de Jesus | 94.0% |
| 21 | Santana de Parnaíba | 94.0% |
| 22 | São Carlos | 94.0% |
| 23 | Sorriso | 93.9% |
| 24 | Limeira | 93.9% |
| 25 | Araraquara | 93.8% |
Young people aged 15-17 attending school (%) (2022)
São Carlos ranks 111 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Young people aged 15-17 attending school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | Itaguaí | 86.8% |
| 109 | Cametá | 86.8% |
| 110 | São Bernardo do Campo | 86.8% |
| 111 | São Carlos | 86.8% |
| 112 | Ferraz de Vasconcelos | 86.8% |
| 113 | Uberlândia | 86.8% |
| 114 | Camaragibe | 86.8% |
Ideb, public schools, 1st-5th grade (2025)
São Carlos ranks 19 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Ideb, public schools, 1st-5th grade |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Itatiba | 7.2 |
| 17 | Jundiaí | 7.1 |
| 18 | Limeira | 7.1 |
| 19 | São Carlos | 7.1 |
| 20 | Marília | 7.1 |
| 21 | Campo Largo | 7.1 |
| 22 | Joinville | 7.0 |
Ideb, public schools, 6th-9th grade (2025)
São Carlos ranks 46 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Ideb, public schools, 6th-9th grade |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Ponta Grossa | 5.6 |
| 44 | Franca | 5.6 |
| 45 | Limeira | 5.6 |
| 46 | São Carlos | 5.6 |
| 47 | Colombo | 5.6 |
| 48 | Timon | 5.6 |
| 49 | Patos de Minas | 5.6 |
More on São Carlos: 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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