New record in Haifa: 90.1% eligibility for matriculation, and an increase in excellence as well

(haipo) Two months after winning the National Education Award for the local authority, the Haifa education system is recording another achievement: According to the Ministry of Education's educational picture data for the 2025 school year, published this week, the city's matriculation eligibility rate reached 90.1% (excluding special education students), compared to the national average of 77.9%. The eligibility rate for an outstanding matriculation also increased, as did the rate of students studying five units of study in English and mathematics. Another notable figure was recorded in the "Matriculation-Tech" track, which combines advanced studies in scientific and technological subjects.

More than nine out of ten students are eligible for the matriculation exam.

According to data from the Ministry of Education, the rate of eligibility for matriculation among Haifa students increased from 88.4% in 2014 to 90.1% in 2015. This is an increase of 1.7 percentage points in one year, and a gap of 12.2 percentage points above the national average, which stands at 77.9%.

The new data indicates a continued upward trend in student achievement in the city. However, the matriculation eligibility rate is only one indicator for evaluating the education system, and it must be examined alongside additional data, including achievement in advanced subjects, persistence in studies, and narrowing gaps between students.

An increase in the rate of outstanding matriculation

Alongside the increase in overall eligibility, Haifa also recorded an improvement in the rate of students eligible for an outstanding matriculation certificate. In 2015, their rate was 22.3%, compared to 19.2% the previous year. For comparison, the national average is 14.4%.

The data indicate that the improvement is not only reflected in the completion of the eligibility requirements for a matriculation certificate, but also in the expansion of the group of students who achieve particularly high achievements.

Tech Matriculation: Haifa above the national average

There was also an increase in the field of scientific and technological studies. The eligibility rate for the "Tech-Baccalaureate" track in Haifa rose from 18.4% in 2014 to 21.5% in 2015, compared to 11.6% on the national average.

The track is designed for students who are taking five units of study in mathematics and English, and an additional five units of study in physics or computer science. The combination of subjects is intended to provide students with an advanced educational foundation in scientific and technological fields.

More students in five units in English and math

In English, the rate of eligibility for a matriculation examination that includes five study units increased from 63.8% in 2014 to 65.1% in 2015. The national average is 48.7%.

There was also an increase in mathematics: the rate of eligibility for a matriculation exam that includes five study units rose from 23.9% to 27.1%, compared to 17.1% on the national average.

The data places Haifa above the national average in both core subjects, with a particularly significant gap in English. In mathematics, an improvement of 3.2 percentage points was recorded in one year.

Education and Student Achievement Award

The new matriculation data are being published about two months after Haifa won the National Education Award for Local Authorities for the 2016 school year. The award and the new data present two aspects of the municipal education system: recognition of broad educational efforts, alongside quantitative indicators of student achievement.

However, in order to get a complete picture of the quality of education in the city, it is also important to examine additional indicators, including gaps between schools and populations, dropout and retention rates, learning conditions, and the scope of resources allocated to educational institutions.

The national picture: A moderate increase in eligibility for matriculation.

At the national level, the rate of eligibility for matriculation increased from 76.6% in 2014 to 77.9% in 2015. The rate of those eligible for an outstanding matriculation increased from 13.1% to 14.4%, and the number of students eligible for an outstanding certificate increased by 2,205, reaching 18,743.

Ministry of Education data also shows that the retention rate increased from 81% to 83.5%, while the dropout rate decreased from 0.9% to 0.8%.

National data also indicates a narrowing of socio-economic gaps in matriculation eligibility rates: the gap between students from strong and weak socio-economic backgrounds decreased from 17.5 percentage points in 2014 to 12 percentage points in 2015.

Haifa's data indicates achievements that are higher than the national average in matriculation eligibility, excellence, and advanced studies. The remaining challenge is to ensure that the achievements are maintained over time, along with reducing gaps and providing equal opportunity for every student.