private schools

Applications to the Puerto Rico Department of Education for vouchers, or educational certificates, that allow students to transfer to private schools fell 76% between 2020 and 2025.

In 2006, 59% of first-year students admitted to the University of Puerto Rico came from the public school system. However, by August 2025, this figure dropped to 47%. While students from public schools continue to show interest in the UPR, the combination of poverty and structural inequality affects their preparation to meet admission standards.