Education

If you have children, you will want to know a little about the education system in Mexico before moving to Cancun for work. Here is a short introduction to how schools work in Mexico.

Much like the US and Canada, the Mexican school system consists of basic, secondary (secundaria), high school (preparatoria) and higher education. Basic education in Mexico is compulsory for all children aged 6 to 14 years old and relates to preschool, primary and lower secondary education.

As a permanent resident, your children will be able to attend a free public school, otherwise you will have to pay for your children to attend a private school, which is generally recommended for foreigners moving to Cancun for work as they are not as expensive as back home and generally much better quality than state schools.

Preschool

Preschool public education is free and optional for children aged between 3 and 5 years old.

Primary

Starting at 6 years old, primary education is compulsory.

Secondary

Also known as lower secondary education, this is compulsory and requires evidence of 6 years of primary education. 3 years.

High School

Also known as preparatoria, high school is not compulsory and you can choose three different options all lasting 3 years:

General upper-secondary
Technical professional education
Technological upper-secondary

Higher Education

Not compulsory. Includes universities, technical institutes, teacher training colleges and technological universities.

How your children will be graded in Mexico

Rather than A, B, C grades, most schools will use levels from 1 to 10. To pass a the year, a minimum grade of 6 is necessary to avoid repeating the year.

9 to 10: Very good
8: Good
6-7: Sufficient
0-5: Fail

Schools in Cancun

To help in your search for finding the right school for your children when you move to Cancun for your new job, here is a list of some schools you may consider: