State assessment results show that students recovered pre-pandemic levels and had records in mathematics
Investment in education and the adoption of data-based public policies have improved the public education network. Data from 2025 from and from the program show that state policies made it possible to recover performance levels from the pre-pandemic period.
At Saresp, there was an average increase of 15% in performance in all subjects assessed, compared to 2024. Students’ performance in mathematics was the best in the historical series, with in the 2nd, 5th and 9th years of elementary school:
- 9th year – average of 260.3 points, an increase of 11.8 points compared to 2024 and 14 points compared to 2023;
- 5th year – average of 236.3 points, with growth of 13.8 points in 1 year and 21 points since 2023; and
- 2nd year – average of 200.8 points, 33 above that recorded in 2023.
Students’ performance in Portuguese also improved in these 3 grades, confirming the recovery of learning. The average in Portuguese in the 2nd year, linked to the literacy period, for example, was 191.7 points and represented 17 points more than that recorded in 2023.
In the last year, Saresp had 3 grades of high school. Applied since 1996, the exam also covers students in the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th years of elementary school.
The results of the tests make it possible to measure the evolution of learning over time and guide public policies. The objective is to obtain consistent, periodic and comparable information about schooling in the State’s public network.
Advances in literacy
Alfabetiza Juntos SP, in turn, aims to guarantee fluency in reading and writing for children up to the age of 7. The initiative unified teaching guidelines in the initial years, carried out in collaboration with municipalities. Currently, the action is in all 645 cities in São Paulo.
The program guaranteed the State in the 2nd edition of , of . The recognition given in February of this year (2026) considered the performance of 2024.
In order to enhance the effects of the measure, the State government increased investment in Alfabetiza Junto SP to R$500 million in 2025, that is, R$200 million more than the amount allocated in the previous year. The contribution reflects the results obtained in the state network, such as:
- 15% increase in the absolute number of student readers in 2025, totaling around 330 thousand students;
- greater coverage by evaluating 432.4 thousand students in all municipalities in São Paulo; and
- consolidation of the rate of 76.5% of student readers at the right age, reinforcing the effectiveness of the collaboration regime between the State and city halls.
Through the program, materials to support the Paulista Curriculum are available in 572 municipalities. Furthermore, the State trained teachers in 636 cities, covering 61,900 teachers and 8,300 municipal managers.
According to , of children reading at the right age by the end of this year and keeping the State on track to receive a new MEC certification in 2027.
Read the infographic about São Paulo’s advances in education.
In addition to national metrics, São Paulo’s literacy policy received international validation. In December, the pela (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) for integrating the model Care-Know-Do (care-know-how, in free translation).
The concept was developed in the United Kingdom, within the framework of open and inclusive schooling. The methodology has 3 pillars: care to ensure everyone’s learning (care); the use of strategies based on scientific evidence (know); and encouraging students to connect literacy to real everyday situations (do).
UNESCO classified the São Paulo approach as a “relevant contribution” to advance SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) 4, relating to quality education.
Using data for base policies
The result of education in São Paulo is linked to the State’s investment in data-based public policies, in addition to the use of innovation and technology. Recently, the state public network from 45 to 50 minutes and in 600 schools for classes of up to 15 students.
The government also provides virtual learning platforms. The digital tool to encourage reading is here. The gamified platform is to support learning in mathematics. In total, it was accessed by 1.8 million students from different grades.
The investment resulted in an increase in school attendance. The 5,000 schools in the state network registered a . The index represents almost 10 percentage points above the rate recorded in 2023, when the average presence was 82.5%.
Monitoring is carried out by the Student Present panel, powered by digital class diaries, and by updating the Active Search rules, which obliges schools to contact those responsible for the student after 3 consecutive absences by the student.
Families also integrate this process through . Launched in March 2025, the app allows you to check attendance, justify absences and access bulletins. To date, 580,000 people have used the tool, whose navigation does not consume mobile data on partner telephone operators.
Still to combat school dropout, the State invests in attractiveness actions. In secondary education, for example, the inclusion of subjects such as financial education, public speaking and entrepreneurship, combined with the expansion of technical secondary education places and the program (High School Internship Scholarship), increased the engagement of teenagers.
To consolidate the initiatives, the Government of São Paulo linked the evolution of school attendance and performance at Saresp to the remuneration of professionals. In 2026, the State released 188 thousand employees. It is the highest value in the last 10 years and materializes the conversion of data into valorization of the public educational career.
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