Education in São Paulo, Brazil: official figures
At the 2022 census 97.7% of children aged 6 to 14 in São Paulo were attending school, the 59th lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities and the 744th lowest of Brazil's 5,570 municipalities (Brazil: 98.3%; São Paulo state: 98.3%).
How many young children in São Paulo attend pre-school or crèche?
91.0% of children aged 4 and 5 in São Paulo attended pre-school or school in 2022 (the 90th highest of 320 major Brazilian cities; Brazil: 86.7%), and 61.7% of children under 4 attended a crèche or school (the 3rd 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 Paulo?
Public primary schools in São Paulo scored 6.2 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 141st highest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil's public schools: 6.1). The score was 5.9 in 2023 and 6.3 in 2019.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyHow do 5th-graders in São Paulo do in the Saeb tests?
In 2025, 99.0% of pupils in the 1st to 5th grades of São Paulo's public schools passed the school year (Brazil: 98.0%), and 5th-graders averaged 228.3 in mathematics and 214.9 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 Paulo score for 6th to 9th grade?
For the later years of primary school (6th to 9th grade), São Paulo's public schools scored 5.0 on the 2025 Ideb, the 153rd lowest of 320 major Brazilian cities (Brazil's public schools: 5.0), against 4.8 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 Paulo?
In the 6th to 9th grades, schools run by the city of São Paulo scored 4.9 on the 2025 Ideb and schools run by São Paulo state in the city scored 5.0.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (Inep), Ministry of Education · saved copyHow São Paulo compares with other cities in Brazil
Children aged 6-14 attending school (%) (2022)
São Paulo ranks 262 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 6-14 attending school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 259 | Santarém | 97.8% |
| 260 | Guarulhos | 97.8% |
| 261 | Goiânia | 97.7% |
| 262 | São Paulo | 97.7% |
| 263 | Santos | 97.7% |
| 264 | Cariacica | 97.7% |
| 265 | São Gonçalo | 97.7% |
Children aged 4-5 attending pre-school or school (%) (2022)
São Paulo ranks 90 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children aged 4-5 attending pre-school or school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 87 | Chapecó | 91.3% |
| 88 | Santo André | 91.3% |
| 89 | Ribeirão Pires | 91.1% |
| 90 | São Paulo | 91.0% |
| 91 | Bauru | 91.0% |
| 92 | São José | 91.0% |
| 93 | Diadema | 91.0% |
Young people aged 15-17 attending school (%) (2022)
São Paulo ranks 277 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Young people aged 15-17 attending school (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 274 | Salto | 82.8% |
| 275 | Nova Iguaçu | 82.7% |
| 276 | Itatiba | 82.7% |
| 277 | São Paulo | 82.7% |
| 278 | Caucaia | 82.6% |
| 279 | Bragança | 82.6% |
| 280 | Jataí | 82.4% |
Ideb, public schools, 1st-5th grade (2025)
São Paulo ranks 141 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Ideb, public schools, 1st-5th grade |
|---|---|---|
| 138 | Itanhaém | 6.3 |
| 139 | Nova Serrana | 6.3 |
| 140 | Poá | 6.3 |
| 141 | São Paulo | 6.2 |
| 142 | Rio de Janeiro | 6.2 |
| 143 | Florianópolis | 6.2 |
| 144 | Carapicuíba | 6.2 |
Ideb, public schools, 6th-9th grade (2025)
São Paulo ranks 168 of 320, highest first.
| Rank | City | Ideb, public schools, 6th-9th grade |
|---|---|---|
| 165 | Itanhaém | 5.1 |
| 166 | Nova Lima | 5.1 |
| 167 | Planaltina | 5.1 |
| 168 | São Paulo | 5.0 |
| 169 | Belém | 5.0 |
| 170 | Campinas | 5.0 |
| 171 | Contagem | 5.0 |
More on São Paulo: 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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