The geography of academic performance in Madrid breaks stereotypes: the district of San Blas has become one of the main centers of excellence in the Selectividad exam, despite not being among the highest-income areas in the capital. Data from the University Entrance Exam (PAU) - formerly called EvAU -, between 2020 and 2024, place three centers — the subsidized Colegio Internacional J. H. Newman (7.668) and the public ones IES Las Musas (7.56) and IES Alfredo Kraus (7.5) — among the best positioned in the region. All are physically located within a radius of just half a kilometer.
The educational map of the Community of Madrid, with an overall average of 6.590 points, shows that only about twenty centers exceed 7.5, which underlines the uniqueness of this concentration in San Blas.
A neighborhood effect that boosts performance
Directors of the aforementioned centers in San Blas, in statements to the newspaper El Mundo, agree that their good academic data respond to a multifactorial pattern in which the social environment plays a key role.
The Rosas area, within the district, has experienced a demographic transformation since the early 2000s, with the arrival of middle-class families who prioritize education as a path to social mobility.
This profile translates into a strong family involvement in school life and a shared culture that favors academic effort. According to educational officials, these are families who believe in meritocracy and pass that idea on to their children as a driver of progress.
Stable teachers and solid educational projects
To this factor is added the stability of the teaching staff and the solidity of the educational projects. In some cases, such as IES Alfredo Kraus, nearly 70% of the teaching team has a permanent position, which favors pedagogical continuity.
The centers also share a commitment to demanding and structured models, with specific preparation for the PAU from the first year of Bachillerato and exam simulations that replicate the real conditions of the test.
Furthermore, they present high rates of students who finally take the exam: in the case of Newman, up to 96% of the student body takes the Selectividad, a figure that reinforces the global impact of their results .
Beyond Rent
The case of San Blas contrasts with other areas of higher purchasing power, such as Pozuelo, Majadahonda or Boadilla del Monte, where there are centers with excellent results, but not such a marked geographical concentration. In fact, the general analysis shows that among the 20 centers with the best grades, private ones predominate (13), followed by subsidized private (4) and public (3), which further reinforces the uniqueness of this enclave, where different educational models coexist with similar results .
The map also shows strong contrasts: some centers in affluent areas appear among the worst results, which suggests that performance does not depend exclusively on economic level, but on factors such as the educational project, family involvement, and the academic culture of the environment.
In summary, the San Blas "triangle" of success combines three elements:
- Family involvement based on effort and education as a social elevator
- Stability and commitment of the teaching staff
- Intensive preparation oriented towards the Selectividad