The Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) and the Educational Authority (OH) have acknowledged Hungary’s 100 best-performing secondary schools at a prestigious gala event. The celebration, attended by over 300 guests, including educators, school leaders, and students, highlighted the achievements of institutions dedicated to excellence in teaching and talent development.
The MCC National Secondary School Ranking assessed the performance of 400 secondary schools across Hungary using verified public data, in collaboration with the Educational Authority. Specialized vocational schools were not included in the evaluation.
The ranking identified Budapest’s Fazekas Mihály Secondary School as the country’s top-performing institution, consistently excelling in both national and international academic competitions. The second place was awarded to the ELTE Radnóti Miklós Secondary School, known for its outstanding results in advanced-level secondary school leaving exams and academic contests. Veszprém’s Lovassy László Secondary School secured third place, standing out as the highest-ranked rural institution with a strong tradition of academic excellence and competitive university admission rates.
MCC’s Director-General Zoltán Szalai emphasized that the goal of the ranking was to provide a clear, data-driven snapshot of Hungary’s secondary school landscape through rigorous methodology and expert analysis. He noted that the ranking process underscored the wealth of exceptional schools across the country, all of which are committed to high-quality education and pedagogical excellence.
State Secretary for Public Education Zoltán Maruzsa praised the ranking for considering both absolute performance and added value, ensuring a balanced evaluation. He highlighted that the collaboration between the MCC and the OH resulted in a transparent, performance-focused ranking that offers an objective comparison of schools. He also expressed hope that the annually updated ranking would serve as a valuable resource for students and parents in their school selection process.
British historian and Oxford professor Nicholas Tate contributed to the discussion, offering insights into global best practices in education. The author of The Conservative Case for Education: Against the Current outlined the key ingredients for a successful school: strategic leadership focused on lifelong learning, a supportive school environment that allows teachers to work without disruption, and a balanced state role that provides assistance when necessary while respecting institutional autonomy.
At the award ceremony, schools were recognized across multiple categories, with all 100 ranked institutions receiving accolades for their dedication to academic excellence. Awards were presented by MCC Director-General Zoltán Szalai and OH President Sándor Brassói.
The ranking was compiled using multiple indicators based on the previous academic year’s data. These included university admission rates, average competency test scores in mathematics and reading comprehension among 10th-grade students, results from standard and advanced secondary school leaving exams, the proportion of students taking advanced-level exams, and the number of finalists in the National Secondary School Academic Competition (OKTV).
Through its secondary school and university programmes, MCC maintains close ties with talented students, allowing the institution to offer valuable first-hand insights into the academic landscape. The MCC National Secondary School Ranking 2025 was published as a supplement to Mandiner magazine and is also available online with additional details.
The MCC and the OH have confirmed that the ranking will be updated annually, ensuring that students and parents have access to the most current and reliable information when making educational decisions.
Related articles:
