A historic achievement for Madrid's education
The Community of Madrid has reached a new record in its school dropout rate, now standing at an impressive 7.59%. This figure, revealed by the Active Population Survey (EPA) for the first quarter of 2026, contrasts sharply with the 13% national average in Spain.
Since the beginning of the first Legislature under the leadership of President Díaz Ayuso, the region has seen a significant reduction in school dropouts, with a cumulative decrease of 36%. This progress is even more remarkable considering that since 2023, the rate has fallen by 3.8 percentage points, dropping from 11.4% to the current 7.6%.
In comparative terms, Madrid's educational results are impressive. The community not only outperforms regions like Catalonia and Castilla-La Mancha — which have rates exceeding 15% — but also remains well below the 9%% target set by the European Union for 2030.
This improvement is not coincidental; it is the result of a series of measures implemented by the regional government. Among them, the reduction in the number of students per classroom stands out. For the 2025/26 academic year, classes for 1st grade of Primary and the entire second cycle of Early Childhood Education have seen their student ratio decrease from 25 to 20. Likewise, classrooms for the first three years of Compulsory Secondary Education have reduced their maximum capacity to 25 students.
Accompanying these structural reforms is the recent addition of 2,725 new teachers, representing a 50%% increase compared to the previous year. This influx of human resources aims to provide more personalised and effective attention to Madrid's students.
As Madrid continues to move towards an inclusive and accessible education for all its citizens, this historic low in school dropout rates reinforces the regional government's commitment to quality education and educational freedom. Families can feel increasingly secure about the educational opportunities available for their children.
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