Education in Santiago, Chile: official figures
Fourth-grade students in the schools of Santiago comuna scored an average of 281 points in reading in the 2025 SIMCE national test and 265 in mathematics; the reading score is joint 11th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site, and the average for Región metropolitana de santiago is 279 in reading and 265 in mathematics.
How many children in Santiago reach the expected reading level?
In the 2025 SIMCE for fourth grade, 50.8% of students in Santiago comuna reached the adequate learning standard in reading (joint 17th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site) and 27.9% in mathematics (22nd highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site); 23.5% were at the insufficient level in reading and 33.1% in mathematics.
Source: Agencia de Calidad de la Educacion · saved copyAre school results improving in Santiago?
The average fourth-grade SIMCE score of Santiago comuna moved from 283 in 2024 to 281 in 2025 in reading (-2 points, joint 23rd highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site for the change) and from 266 to 265 in mathematics (-1 point, joint 11th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site).
Source: Agencia de Calidad de la Educacion · saved copyWhat are eighth-grade SIMCE results in Santiago?
Eighth-grade students in Santiago comuna averaged 244 points in reading, 264 in mathematics and 257 in history and social sciences in the 2025 SIMCE; the mathematics score is 17th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site, against a regional average of 264 for Región metropolitana de santiago.
Source: Agencia de Calidad de la Educacion · saved copyHow well do eighth graders in Santiago read?
In the 2025 eighth-grade SIMCE, 21.9% of students in Santiago comuna reached the adequate standard in reading (joint 15th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site) and 22.6% in mathematics (17th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site); the reading score of 244 is joint 13th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site.
Source: Agencia de Calidad de la Educacion · saved copyWhat are secondary school results in Santiago?
Students in the second year of secondary school in Santiago comuna averaged 257 points in reading and 268 in mathematics in the 2025 SIMCE, joint 10th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site for reading and 19th highest of 63 Chilean cities on this site for mathematics; the average for Región metropolitana de santiago is 255 in reading and 271 in mathematics.
Source: Agencia de Calidad de la Educacion · saved copyHow many secondary students in Santiago fall below the learning standard?
In the 2025 SIMCE for the second year of secondary, 42.2% of students in Santiago comuna were at the insufficient level in reading (10th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site) and 43.3% in mathematics (17th lowest of 63 Chilean cities on this site); 26.4% reached the adequate standard in reading and 22.6% in mathematics.
Source: Agencia de Calidad de la Educacion · saved copyHow much does Santiago spend on its municipal schools?
The municipal education service of Santiago spent CLP 96.6 billion in 2025 (obligations incurred), CLP 177,526 per resident of the comuna, 9th lowest of 18 Chilean cities on this site that report a municipal education service for that figure. The Ministry of Education transferred CLP 65.2 billion to the service, 68.9% of its revenue, and the municipality added CLP 15.9 billion from its general budget (16.8% of the service's revenue).
Source: Contraloria General de la Republica de Chile · saved copyHow Santiago compares with other cities in Chile
SIMCE 4th grade reading, average score 2025 (2025)
Santiago ranks 11 of 63, highest first. Average of the schools in the comuna
| Rank | City | SIMCE 4th grade reading, average score 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Concepción | 283 |
| 9 | Macul | 283 |
| 10 | Peñalolén | 282 |
| 11 | Santiago | 281 |
| 12 | Temuco | 281 |
| 13 | Rancagua | 281 |
| 14 | Talca | 281 |
SIMCE 4th grade mathematics, average score 2025 (2025)
Santiago ranks 22 of 63, highest first. Average of the schools in the comuna
| Rank | City | SIMCE 4th grade mathematics, average score 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Los Ángeles | 266 |
| 20 | Puente Alto | 265 |
| 21 | Maipú | 265 |
| 22 | Santiago | 265 |
| 23 | La Florida | 265 |
| 24 | Valdivia | 265 |
| 25 | Melipilla | 264 |
Share of 4th graders at the adequate reading standard, 2025 (2025)
Santiago ranks 17 of 63, highest first.
| Rank | City | Share of 4th graders at the adequate reading standard, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Chillán | 51.1% |
| 15 | Huechuraba | 51.1% |
| 16 | Los Ángeles | 50.9% |
| 17 | Santiago | 50.8% |
| 18 | Valdivia | 50.8% |
| 19 | Rancagua | 50.3% |
| 20 | Osorno | 50.3% |
Change in 4th grade reading score 2024 to 2025 (points) (2024-2025)
Santiago ranks 24 of 63, highest first.
| Rank | City | Change in 4th grade reading score 2024 to 2025 (points) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Talcahuano | -1 |
| 22 | San Joaquín | -1 |
| 23 | Maipú | -2 |
| 24 | Santiago | -2 |
| 25 | Temuco | -2 |
| 26 | Puerto Montt | -2 |
| 27 | Peñalolén | -2 |
SIMCE 8th grade reading, average score 2025 (2025)
Santiago ranks 14 of 63, highest first. Average of the schools in the comuna
| Rank | City | SIMCE 8th grade reading, average score 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Talca | 245 |
| 12 | Concepción | 245 |
| 13 | Maipú | 244 |
| 14 | Santiago | 244 |
| 15 | La Florida | 244 |
| 16 | Quilicura | 243 |
| 17 | Peñalolén | 243 |
SIMCE 8th grade mathematics, average score 2025 (2025)
Santiago ranks 17 of 63, highest first. Average of the schools in the comuna
| Rank | City | SIMCE 8th grade mathematics, average score 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Quilicura | 266 |
| 15 | Peñalolén | 265 |
| 16 | Talca | 265 |
| 17 | Santiago | 264 |
| 18 | Temuco | 263 |
| 19 | Chillán | 263 |
| 20 | Osorno | 263 |
SIMCE 2nd year of secondary reading, average score 2025 (2025)
Santiago ranks 10 of 63, highest first. Average of the schools in the comuna
| Rank | City | SIMCE 2nd year of secondary reading, average score 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Colina | 262 |
| 8 | San Pedro de la Paz | 260 |
| 9 | La Florida | 258 |
| 10 | Santiago | 257 |
| 11 | Macul | 257 |
| 12 | Maipú | 256 |
| 13 | Quilicura | 256 |
SIMCE 2nd year of secondary mathematics, average score 2025 (2025)
Santiago ranks 19 of 63, highest first. Average of the schools in the comuna
| Rank | City | SIMCE 2nd year of secondary mathematics, average score 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Quilicura | 269 |
| 17 | Chillán | 269 |
| 18 | Villa Alemana | 269 |
| 19 | Santiago | 268 |
| 20 | Viña del Mar | 267 |
| 21 | La Serena | 267 |
| 22 | Talca | 267 |
Share of 2nd year secondary students at the insufficient reading level, 2025 (2025)
Santiago ranks 54 of 63, highest first.
| Rank | City | Share of 2nd year secondary students at the insufficient reading level, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Osorno | 42.7% |
| 52 | Independencia | 42.7% |
| 53 | La Florida | 42.3% |
| 54 | Santiago | 42.2% |
| 55 | San Pedro de la Paz | 41.4% |
| 56 | Macul | 39.8% |
| 57 | Colina | 39.3% |
Municipal education service spending per resident, 2025 (CLP) (2025)
Santiago ranks 10 of 18, highest first. Only the 18 listed cities whose municipality still runs its own schools
| Rank | City | Municipal education service spending per resident, 2025 (CLP) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Curicó | CLP 270,426 |
| 8 | Chillán | CLP 228,928 |
| 9 | Temuco | CLP 220,277 |
| 10 | Santiago | CLP 177,526 |
| 11 | Recoleta | CLP 171,707 |
| 12 | Talcahuano | CLP 163,296 |
| 13 | Peñaflor | CLP 162,737 |
More on Santiago: overview · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Chile
Sources
- Contraloria General de la Republica de Chile: Base de datos de ejecucion presupuestaria municipal 2025 (file of 2 September 2026; this copy keeps the rows of the 63 listed comunas, because the national file is 57 MB; national file sha256 fb4318e0...cf4a), read 29 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 52c1329e4222…)
- Agencia de Calidad de la Educacion: Simce 2do medio 2025: results by school, comuna, province and region, read 29 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e90d0d98cde8…)
- Agencia de Calidad de la Educacion: Simce 4to basico 2025: results by school, comuna, province and region, read 29 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6da7a8727aed…)
- Agencia de Calidad de la Educacion: Simce 8vo basico 2025: results by school, comuna, province and region, read 29 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5db611be0362…)
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