Cancún Short Nearly 2,000 High School Places as Demand Outpaces Supply

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Cancún has the largest shortfall of high school spaces in Quintana Roo for the 2026-2027 school year, with nearly 2,000 fewer spots than students seeking admission, even though the state overall has enough capacity to meet demand.

After the first assignment stage ended in July, education authorities handed out vouchers to students who did not secure a place. From August 10 to 13, officials will attend only to parents and students who have those vouchers, offering them spots at schools with availability. On August 14, the final day of the extraordinary process, attention will also be extended to students who could not register on the “Mi Derecho, Mi Lugar” platform, as well as to students arriving from other states or abroad who wish to join Quintana Roo’s education system.

Official figures from the state Education Department show that Benito Juárez, the municipality that includes Cancún, has 9,407 spots but received 11,394 applications, leaving a deficit of 1,987 places. Playa del Carmen faces a similar situation, with a shortfall of 1,580 spots. By contrast, municipalities such as Othón P. Blanco, Bacalar, and Felipe Carrillo Puerto have more available places than registered students.

Across the entire state, there are 25,659 high school spots for 23,916 applicants, meaning there is generally enough capacity to serve demand.

However, population growth in Cancún and Playa del Carmen continues to outpace the region’s educational infrastructure, underscoring the need to expand high school offerings in these municipalities to ensure no student is left without a place.