2026 Maturità: Record number of graduates with honors, especially in the South: 99,8% passed

ROME – The Ministry of Education has released data for the 2026 high school graduation exams, which confirm a near-perfect pass rate among the 530,000 high school graduates: 99,8% of students passed the exam. A notable feature is the significant increase in students graduating with honors, which this year totaled 14.123, an increase of over three hundred compared to the previous year.

Most of these excellent results come from the regions of Southern Italy, with Campania leading the ranking with 3.018 honors, followed by Sicily, Puglia, and Calabria.

A curious finding emerges from a comparison with the INVALSI tests, which instead record lower performances precisely in the areas where the highest final exam scores are achieved. Lombardy, Veneto, and Tuscany, regions with better results on the INVALSI tests, have lower numbers of students with honors. In high schools, in particular, the Classical and Scientific high schools confirm their role as the schools with the highest percentages of students with honors, at 8% and 6,1%, respectively.

Analyzing the distribution of grades, 4,1% of students obtained the minimum passing grade (60), while the majority were concentrated in the intermediate grade bands between 61 and 90 points. 5,3% achieved the maximum grade, without honors, while 2,9% obtained honors. Compared to last year, the percentage of students with 100/100 has decreased, falling from 7,1% to 5,3%.

Minister of Education Giuseppe Valditara also met with two brothers from the Gaza Strip who successfully completed their studies in Italy, passing their high school diploma. Valditara emphasized the importance of education as a tool for freedom and redemption, highlighting the Italian school system's commitment to welcoming students in difficult situations. The young student expressed her desire to become a doctor, while her brother aims to enroll in computer engineering.