Israeli Education Ministry Data Shows Rising Matriculation Rates

The Israeli Ministry of Education has released its "National Educational Picture" data for the 2025 school year, revealing significant improvements in matriculation (bagrut) rates, a decrease in dropout rates, and a narrowing of socioeconomic gaps. Despite the ongoing war, 77.9% of 12th graders are eligible for a matriculation certificate, up from 76.6% the previous year and a substantial increase from 73.4% five years ago. Approximately 101,000 students are expected to receive certificates this year.

The data highlights a considerable reduction in the gap between students from strong and weak socioeconomic backgrounds. This gap in eligibility rates has shrunk by approximately one-third over the past five years, from 17.5 percentage points to 12 percentage points. Furthermore, the number of students achieving excellent matriculation certificates has increased by over 2,200 compared to the previous year, reaching 18,743 students, with the rate of excellent certificates rising to 14.4%.

Notable progress was also observed in the Arab society, where the matriculation eligibility rate jumped by 5.6 percentage points to 83.9% in 2025. In the Bedouin society, eligibility rose from 71.1% to 73.7%. The Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector also saw an increase, though its eligibility rate remains significantly lower at 27.6%.

Additionally, the report indicates a slight shift in the gender gap, with boys now having a marginal advantage in eligibility rates (78.4%) over girls (77.4%). There were also improvements in advanced-level studies, particularly in English and Math, with higher rates of students achieving five-unit certificates. The overall national dropout rate decreased to 0.8% from 0.9% the previous year, with 6,272 students dropping out.

Budgetary transparency data accompanying the educational achievements shows that students in peripheral areas and lower socioeconomic strata receive higher per-student funding. For instance, elementary school students in the periphery are funded about 17% more than those in the center. The Ministry also reported that the average cost per student in the Arab sector's high schools has increased by 38% between 2020 and 2025, compared to a 22% increase in the Jewish sector.

Minister of Education Yoav Kisch commented that the data reflects progress in key metrics, including increased matriculation rates, more high-achieving students, reduced socioeconomic gaps, and improved retention. He acknowledged the dedication of educators who maintained educational routines under difficult wartime conditions and emphasized the ongoing responsibility to foster excellence and reduce gaps for all students.