Italian Maturità exam sees record number of students achieving top honors

Data from the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit reveals a record number of students achieving “100 e lode” (100 with honors) in this year's Maturità exams. Over 14,000 students, approximately 3% of all graduates, received the highest possible grade, an increase of 266 compared to the previous year. This trend has grown significantly over the last two decades; in the 2006/2007 school year, only 3,000 students achieved this distinction.

The distribution of honors shows a high concentration in Southern Italy, with Campania leading with 3,018 honors, followed by Puglia (2,104) and Sicily (1,928). Northern regions also saw growth, with Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna reporting increases in top marks over the last ten years. However, these rising grades contrast with standardized Invalsi test results, which have shown a nearly constant decline in student competencies since the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Mantova, local authorities held a ceremony to honor 32 students who graduated with maximum honors. Mayor Andrea Murari and Councilor Francesca Zaltieri praised the students' tenacity and emphasized that talent carries a responsibility to serve the community.