Overview

• At the award ceremony, São Paulo’s education secretary Renato Feder announced air-conditioning upgrades and the addition of high school classes at Escola Estadual Parque dos Sonhos.
• School leaders credit the turnaround to a student-centered, non-violent pedagogy with home visits through the “A escola vai para sua casa” program and 21 student-led projects.
• Enrollment has grown about 500% since 2016 to roughly 580 students, and the school reports no vandalism incidents since 2021.
• Professional extracurriculars such as artistic skating, volleyball, chess and martial arts were cited by state officials as key to engagement and as practices that can be replicated.
• Winners will present their approaches at the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15–16, 2025.