Secondary

Overview

Information on key aspects of a country’s education system, including governance, instructional language, and other structural features defined by national or regional regulations.

Ministry Responsible

Ministry of Education (MEC, Ministério da Educação)

Language of Instruction

Portuguese

Duration

3 years (ages 15 to 17)

Grades 10 to 12

Levels

Secondary education (ensino médio): Grades 10 to 12 (compulsory)

Qualifications, Curriculum, Grading

Not all awards or study patterns are included.

Institutions

Types and number of officially recognized institutions providing secondary education.

Source: Censo Escolar 2025, Ministério da Educação

Grading System

Examples of the most commonly used grading scales.

Enrollment

Total Enrollment

Total enrollment in a specific level of education, regardless of age.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics

Gross Enrollment Ratio

Total enrollment in a specific level of education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the eligible official school-age population corresponding to the same level of education in a given school year.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics

International Benchmarks

PISA 2025 Mathematics

Brazil

376.8

Global Rank

72 of 90

OECD Average

463.0

Source: OECD

PISA 2025 Science

Brazil

408.5

Global Rank

68 of 91

OECD Average

481.9

Source: OECD

PISA 2025 Reading

Brazil

408.0

Global Rank

52 of 90

OECD Average

460.9

Source: OECD

TIMSS 2023 Mathematics Grade 8

Brazil

378

Global Rank

42 of 44

International Average

478

Source: Boston College, TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center

TIMSS 2023 Science Grade 8

Brazil

420

Global Rank

34 of 44

International Average

478

Source: Boston College, TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center

Lower Secondary Mathematics: Percentage of Proficient Students

Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in mathematics.

Brazil

26.6% (2022)

Global Rank

77 of 103

High Income Countries Average

70.9% (2019)

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics

Lower Secondary Reading: Percentage of Proficient Students

Proportion of students at the end of lower secondary education achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading.

Brazil

49.7% (2022)

Global Rank

58 of 94

High Income Countries Average

80.5% (2019)

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics