Colombian Public School Reaches Top 10 in Best School Prizes

A public school in Bogota has become one of 10 finalists worldwide in the Supporting Healthy Lives category of the World’s Best School Prizes 2026 after implementing a student well-being model that cut serious school coexistence incidents by 85%, kept dropout below 1%, and eliminated reported bullying cases, according to Bogota’s Secretariat of Education.

Colegio Las Margaritas IED, a public school managed by the nonprofit organization Alianza Educativa under an agreement with Bogota’s Secretariat of Education, received the nomination from T4 Education for integrating emotional well-being into everyday learning. The recognition also places the school in the running for the global Community Choice Award, which is decided through a public vote.

Colombian public school earns global recognition for student well-being

The World’s Best School Prizes, organized annually by T4 Education, recognize schools whose initiatives address major educational challenges while advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The competition includes five categories—Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives—with 10 finalists selected worldwide in each category.

Las Margaritas secured its place after judges evaluated its Socio-Emotional Refuge model, which teaches students to recognize emotions, resolve disagreements through mediation, and build healthy relationships before conflicts escalate. Rather than relying primarily on disciplinary sanctions, the approach encourages dialogue, peer support, and emotional education as part of everyday school life.

The recognition highlights measurable results as well as the school’s educational approach. Alongside lower dropout rates and improved school coexistence indicators, the initiative has created an environment in which students take an active role in resolving disagreements and supporting classmates.

How Las Margaritas developed its education model

Located in Bogota’s Bosa district, Colegio Las Margaritas serves children and teenagers in one of the Colombian capital’s fastest-growing urban areas.

The school is part of a network managed by Alianza Educativa, a Colombian nonprofit founded by the University of the Andes together with three private schools. Through agreements with Bogotá’s Secretariat of Education, the organization manages 11 public schools while introducing educational and administrative practices.

Teachers, counselors, and trained student mediators implement the socio-emotional program throughout the academic year. More than 150 students have completed peer-mediation training through the Bogota Chamber of Commerce’s Hermes Program, allowing classmates to help resolve disputes before they disrupt learning. According to Alianza Educativa, the initiative has strengthened students’ sense of belonging, supported academic achievement, and contributed to Las Margaritas’ position among Bogotá’s highest-performing public schools.

Diana Basto, executive director of Alianza Educativa, said the nomination shows that academic excellence and student well-being can advance together. Bogota Secretary of Education Julia Rubiano said the international recognition reflects the value of strengthening students’ emotional development alongside classroom instruction.

Colombia builds on recent international education recognition

Las Margaritas’ nomination follows another international distinction for Colombian education earlier in 2026, when Institución Educativa Jose Asuncion Silva in Medellin received recognition in the World’s Best School Prizes. Together, the two schools illustrate Colombia’s growing presence in one of the world’s most visible education competitions.

Unlike rankings based primarily on test scores, the World’s Best School Prizes evaluate how schools respond to challenges affecting their communities. Judges consider initiatives that improve student well-being, strengthen inclusion, encourage innovation, and create practices that other schools can adapt.

For Colombia, Las Margaritas’ selection places a Bogotá public school alongside finalists from Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and Oceania. It also gives the country another opportunity to showcase a public education model that combines academic learning with measurable improvements in school climate and student support.

Public voting for the Community Choice Award remains open through the official World’s Best School Prizes website. The winners of all five categories, along with the public-choice recipient, will be announced by T4 Education later this year.