Dominican Republic's high school completion rate rises to 64%

The Dominican Republic has achieved a significant milestone in its education sector, boosting the percentage of students completing high school from 56% to 64% over the past decade, according to the Global Education Monitoring Report 2026. This advancement marks the most substantial progress among four key educational indicators evaluated by UNESCO.

The report also highlights improvements in other educational levels. Participation in educational programs for children in the year before primary school increased from 86% to 93%. In primary education, the completion rate rose from 90% to 96%, while lower secondary education saw an increase from 83% to 89%.

While the Dominican Republic's high school completion rate now surpasses that of Costa Rica, Venezuela, Uruguay, Guatemala, and El Salvador, it still lags behind countries like Chile (86%), Bolivia (82%), Ecuador (77%), and Brazil (72%). The data indicates greater student retention within the educational system. However, a substantial challenge remains: more than one-third of students still do not complete high school. Furthermore, the nation must ensure that increased schooling and classroom attendance translate into improved learning levels.