Average school scores are falling, but more schools are getting positive ratings

In last year’s ranking, 546 institutions received a positive rating. The highest averages this year were lower: the school with the best average ranking in the national tests carried out in 2023 is Colégio Casa Mãe in Paredes, with 159.77 points.

In last year’s ranking, based on tests conducted in 2022, the best was Grande Colégio Universal in Porto, with a score of 161.37. In last place in the ranking was Escola Portuguesa de Lubango in Angola, whose average score fell from 67.16 to 65.24.

Analysing the dynamics over the last two years, it can be noted that 390 schools have increased their average scores, with particular attention paid to Escola Básica e Secundária de Lousada Oeste, which has increased by 22.87 points, Colégio de Ermesinde, Valongo (plus 21.33) and Escola Básica e Secundária das Flores, Azores, which has increased from 82.65 to 102.23 (plus 19.57 points).

The Manuel de Arriaga High School in Horta is the only one where the average has remained the same, at 110.85, while 249 schools have seen their averages fall. The biggest drop was at the Colégio da Associaçãocultural e Recreativa de Fornelos, Fafe: a year ago the average was 116.10, this year it is only 94.36.

The school that moved up the most places was EBS in Lousada Oeste, up 386 places from 595th last year to 289th this year. The school that dropped the most was Colégio da ACR Fornelos, Fafe, which fell 415 places to 616th.

The best of the north
The schools with the highest average scores in the mathematics exam are located in the North Region. Colégio do Minho in Viana do Castelo (pictured) with 172.49 points and Externato Senhora do Carmo in Lousada (168.13) are the schools with the highest average. 359 schools had a positive average.

37 minus to Portuguese
Only 37 schools had a negative average score (less than 100 points) on the Portuguese language test. The highest average was at Colegio Efanora (Matosinhos): 185.30.

Criteria for stages 1 and 2
The Correio da Manhã school ranking takes into account the classifications of the national examinations in all subjects taken by full-time students of each school at stages 1 and 2.

Follow-up is the key to success
“The teachers are a great support for us and they really work to give the students the support they need,” says Vitória Valéria, who graduated from João de Deus High School in Faro. It is the best public high school in the Algarve according to the CM ranking. It is in 98th position. “It is a reward for everyone’s efforts,” says the group’s director.

Tools for the future of students
Escola Básica e Secundária Dr. João Brito Camacho in Almodóvar, with 790 students from grades 5 to 12, is the best public school in Alentejo, ranked 191st. It strives to provide the best conditions so that “students have the tools for the future.” One of the bets is on “teamwork between teachers of different subjects,” explained director Raquel Forca.