A few weeks stand between an eighth-grader and one of the most consequential decisions they have ever made. Not because it is complicated in theory, but because behind it lie years of work, family expectations and, above all, a vision of the future that is only just beginning to take shape. The high school chosen now does not simply fill the next four years — it shapes friendships, study habits and, in many cases, the path to university. It deserves, therefore, to be taken seriously. Here is what you need to know about the top high schools in Bucharest and the rules that changed this very year.

What Has Changed in 2026 Compared to Previous Years

High school admission works differently from previous sessions, and the changes matter. Starting in 2026, the admission average is calculated exclusively from the grade obtained at the National Assessment — as an arithmetic mean of the two exam scores, rounded to two decimal places without rounding up. The average from gymnasium years (grades V–VIII) no longer factors into the final result, though it remains a tiebreaker when two candidates share the same average.

Another new element: ninth-grade classes are now formed with 28 students, up from the 24–26 range of the past three years. In Bucharest, however, the total number of available classes has decreased — not because of a shortage of places, but because the eighth-grade cohort of 2026 is among the smallest in recent decades. The State Secretary of the Ministry of Education confirmed publicly that it represents a historic low, likely tied to the drop in birth rates around 2010–2011. Competition remains fierce at top schools, but there is a place in high school for every graduate.

What the Competition Looks Like

The top high schools in Bucharest consistently record admission averages above 9.50, and for the most sought-after specializations — Mathematics-Informatics and Natural Sciences — the threshold starts at 9.60 and climbs from there.

The data from the 2025 session (the most recent figures available officially, from the admitere.edu.ro platform) paint a detailed picture of the competition:

Colegiul Național „Gheorghe Lazăr" recorded the highest admission average in the capital for Mathematics-Informatics: 9.82. The school has held first place in eighth-graders' preferences for five consecutive years and operates as a pilot institution. It offers 10 classes and 280 places in total. In Natural Sciences, the last admitted average was 9.80; in Philology — 9.62.

Colegiul Național „Sfântul Sava" reached the same peak — 9.82 — in Mathematics-Informatics bilingual English and in Natural Sciences. At the Baccalaureate, it consistently ranks among the top five schools in the country, with a mean grade of 9.39 and a pass rate of 99.5%. In Philology, the last admitted average was 9.60.

Colegiul Național „Spiru Haret" climbed significantly in student preferences and holds third place in the bilingual English Mathematics-Informatics track at 9.80, with 9.75 in standard Mathematics-Informatics and 9.72 in Natural Sciences.

Colegiul Național „I.L. Caragiale" offers some of the most sought-after bilingual classes in the capital: 9.72 in Mathematics-Informatics bilingual German, 9.60 in bilingual English, 9.55 in Natural Sciences and 9.47 in standard Mathematics-Informatics.

Colegiul Național de Informatică „Tudor Vianu" enters the top 10 student preferences this year — a notable shift from the previous season. In Mathematics-Informatics bilingual German, the last admitted average was 9.67; in standard Mathematics-Informatics — 9.62.

Colegiul Național „Grigore Moisil" brings strong numbers in the sciences track: 9.60 in Natural Sciences and 9.52 in Mathematics-Informatics.

Colegiul Național Bilingv „George Coșbuc" remains a strong choice for students drawn to foreign languages: 9.57 in Natural Sciences bilingual English, 9.50 in Mathematics-Informatics bilingual English.

Colegiul Național „Matei Basarab" offers a varied range: 9.55 in Mathematics-Informatics and 9.47 in standard Mathematics-Informatics and Social Sciences.

Colegiul Național „Gheorghe Șincai": 9.52 in Natural Sciences and 9.47 in Mathematics-Informatics.

Colegiul Național „Mihai Viteazul": 9.50 in Natural Sciences — a fitting destination for students with averages between 9.40 and 9.55.

Worth keeping in mind: These averages come from the 2025 session and represent the last admitted average — that is, the grade of the final student accepted. The 2026 figures will be published on 22 July. Historical data offers a reference point, not a guarantee.

The Ranking of Student Preferences in Bucharest for 2026

Beyond averages, the Bucharest Centre for Educational Resources and Assistance (CMBRAE) publishes an annual ranking based on how many students listed a given school as their first choice. For the 2026–2027 school year, the ranking stands as follows:

1. Colegiul Național „Gheorghe Lazăr"
2. Colegiul Național „I.L. Caragiale"
3. Colegiul Național „Spiru Haret"
4. Colegiul Național „Gheorghe Șincai"
5. Colegiul Național „Matei Basarab"
6. Colegiul Național „Iulia Hașdeu"
7. Colegiul Național „Alexandru Ioan Cuza"
8. Colegiul Național „Sfântul Sava"
9. Colegiul Național „Grigore Moisil"
10. Colegiul Național de Informatică „Tudor Vianu"

The notable shift this year: Tudor Vianu enters the top 10, while Colegiul Bilingv „George Coșbuc" drops out of the ranking.

The Admission Calendar — What Comes Next

• 9 July 2026 — the county-level ranking of graduates is published, ordered by National Assessment average
• 13–20 July 2026 — options forms are completed electronically, with the support of class teachers
• 22 July 2026 — first computerised placement
• 23–28 July 2026 — submission of enrolment files at the assigned school
• 31 July 2026 — second placement round begins, for candidates who were not placed in the first round or who are from previous graduating cohorts

The Options Form — Where Most Students Go Wrong

The computerised placement works on a straightforward principle: students are ranked in descending order by average, and each is assigned to the first available option on their list. The order in which you fill in your choices carries enormous weight — placing a school too low on the list can lead to an assignment you would never have made deliberately.

Education specialists recommend filling in as many options as possible, including schools with lower admission averages than your own, precisely to avoid going unplaced. There is room in high school for every graduate — what makes the difference is finding the school that genuinely fits.

The admission averages in this article come from official Ministry of Education data published on the admitere.edu.ro platform for the 2025 session. The student preference ranking is based on the CMBRAE report for the 2025–2026 school year.