The Grande Colégio Universal in Porto has emerged as the leading institution in this year’s rankings for secondary schools, which were compiled based on data from the past summer’s examinations. Only the 525 schools that conducted at least 100 exams were assessed.
Students at Colégio Universal took 191 exams, achieving an average score of 16.51, which closely aligns with the internal average of 17.04 provided by the school’s teachers for the students’ yearly performance.
The top ten schools with the highest average scores feature familiar names that have previously held the leading position, such as Colégio Nossa Senhora do Rosário in Porto, now second with 16.42, Colégio Efanor in Matosinhos in third with 16.36, and D. Diogo de Sousa in Braga in fourth with 15.91.
In fifth place is the first school from the Lisbon area, Colégio de S. Tomás, followed by Salesianos de Lisboa – Colégio Oficinas de São José, and Colégio Campo de Flores in Almada.
Out of 448 public schools and 76 private institutions, the top public school on the national average list appears at 33rd position: Escola Básica e Secundária Dr. Ferreira da Silva in Oliveira de Azeméis.
Here, the average score of 125 exams was 13.85, reflecting an improvement from the previous year when the top public school ranked 39th with a slightly lower average of 13.23.
The list of the top ten public schools with the highest exam results includes repeat performers that have frequently secured top positions: Escola Tomaz Pelayo in Santo Tirso now ranks second, followed by Secundária D. Filipa de Lencastre in Lisbon, Eça de Queirós in Póvoa de Varzim, and Escola Artística António Arroio, also in Lisbon.
Among the top 30 public schools for average exam scores, the majority are located in the north.
Conversely, at the bottom of the general rankings, featuring the lowest national averages, are nine public and one private school, all situated in the Lisbon metropolitan area, all with negative national averages.
These schools typically serve students from underprivileged backgrounds, a factor that continues to impact academic success. Data from the Ministry of Education indicate that students not receiving Social School Support (ASE) scored higher across disciplines compared to their peers who do receive ASE.
Escola Secundária da Baixa da Banheira in Vale da Amoreira, Moita, occupies the last position this year. Infoescolas data show a rate of student failures or dropouts exceeding twice the national average.
Ministry data also reveal that girls continue to outperform boys academically.
