Brazil Ideb 2025 results show full-time schooling boosts performance

The 2025 Basic Education Development Index (Ideb) results highlight significant trends in Brazilian education, particularly the impact of full-time schooling on student performance. A study by Instituto Natura Brasil and Instituto Sonho Grande reveals that full-time high schools demonstrate superior performance across all socioeconomic levels. The advantage is most pronounced among vulnerable students; full-time schools in lower socioeconomic tiers showed a 0.6-point Ideb advantage over partial-time schools, representing a 15% higher performance. In mathematics, students in full-time schools in low-income areas scored 23 points higher on the Saeb, equivalent to approximately 4.6 additional years of learning.

Regional data shows varying levels of progress. Paraná maintains its leadership in the national ranking, reducing the gap between public and private education. In Niterói, municipal scores rose in both primary and final years of elementary school, though they remain below state and national averages. Other municipalities, such as Mariana, Faxinal, and Saquarema, reported historic highs or significant growth in their local Ideb scores. Conversely, Taboão da Serra saw a slight increase but failed to meet its established targets.

Broader national data from Todos Pela Educação indicates persistent challenges in mathematics, with over 80% of 9th-grade students and 91% of high school students failing to reach adequate proficiency levels.