A Colombian school has won the World’s Best School Prizes. The prestigious award has become one of the most influential recognitions in global education. In recent years, it has not only highlighted innovation in classrooms around the world, but it has also helped reshape the narrative about where transformative education is happening.
For three consecutive years, Latin America has stood out among the winners, positioning the region as a global reference point in educational creativity, resilience, and measurable social impact.
This recognition has challenged long-standing assumptions. For decades, global education rankings were dominated by countries with larger budgets and stronger infrastructure.
Today, however, schools from Latin America are being celebrated for something equally powerful: Their ability to respond to real-world challenges with context-driven solutions that improve lives beyond the classroom. The conversation is no longer just about test scores; it is also about relevance, sustainability, and impact.
In 2023, Colombia joined that wave of recognition when the Institucion Educativa Municipal Montessori de Pitalito, located in the department of Huila, received international acclaim for its environmental leadership.
Its star project, CafeLab, transformed what was once agricultural waste into an educational opportunity with environmental, economic, and social ripple effects across the region. The recognition was not symbolic. It validated years of community-centered work and demonstrated that public schools in rural areas can compete at the highest global level.
Understanding the world’s best school prizes and how to apply
Understanding what these prizes represent is key. The World’s Best School Prizes were created to spotlight schools that are redefining education through action.
Rather than focusing exclusively on standardized testing or elite facilities, the awards recognize institutions that demonstrate innovation, community engagement, inclusion, crisis response, and environmental responsibility. They reward schools that solve real problems in real communities.
Schools from any country, whether public or private, urban or rural, can apply. What matters most is impact. Applicants must clearly explain the challenge they addressed, the strategy they implemented, and the measurable outcomes they achieved.
The process requires evidence, narrative clarity, and a compelling case for why the initiative can inspire others. For the 2026 edition, applications remain open until March 6, offering schools across the region a concrete opportunity to bring their local transformations to a global audience.
Here is a brief guide on how the application process works for those interested, as the 2026 deadline is still open for participants:
Step 1. Visit the official prize website
Every year, the organizers publish the official application form on the World’s Best School Prizes website. This is the only place where applications are accepted.
To begin, the school representative should open a web browser on a computer or smartphone and search for “World’s Best School Prizes apply” or go directly to the prize’s official page.
Once there, look for the 2026 Application Form or a button that says something like “Apply Now.”
Step 2. Create an account or log in
Before you can start the application, the platform will typically ask you to create an account. This creates a secure space where your progress can be saved as you work through the questions.
To create an account, you’ll need:
- A valid email address (use one that your school checks regularly).
- A password.
- Basic details such as the name of the school and the country.
Once the account is created, you will be able to log in at any time to complete the application.
Step 3. Complete the online form
The application form is divided into sections that help you tell your story in a structured way. The key parts usually include:
Overview of the school: This section asks for basic information: school name, location, number of students, and whether it is public or private.
Description of the initiative: Here, you explain your program in your own words. You will be asked to share:
- What problem you aim to solve.
- Why your project matters to your students and community.
- How the idea was created.
- Who was involved (teachers, students, parents, partners).
Impact and results: This is one of the most important parts. You will need to describe the measurable effects of your program. For example:
- How many students participated?
- What changes have you observed in academic results, community behavior, or environmental outcomes?
- Do you have data, photos, videos, or testimonials to support your claims?
Step 4. Reflect and tell your story
One key part of the application is narrative: The judges want to understand why your initiative matters and how it makes a difference. Write in clear, honest language. Share challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Explain what worked, what didn’t, and what you learned.
For this step, it is key for participants to speak from the heart and be specific. Real-world examples are more powerful than abstract descriptions.
Step 5. Submit before the deadline
After completing all sections, review your answers carefully. You can usually save progress and return later if needed. Once you are satisfied, click the Submit button. After submission, you will receive a confirmation email.
For the 2026 prize cycle, the submission window stays open until March 6, but experts recommend completing your entry well before the deadline, so you have time to refine your responses.
Step 6. What happens after submission?
After the deadline, the selection committee begins reviewing applications from around the world. This process may take several weeks. Shortlisted schools are usually notified by email, and finalists may be asked to provide additional evidence or participate in interviews.
Schools that win or place as finalists may be invited to international events, featured in global promotions, and connected to networks of educators and changemakers.
Why applying matters even if you don’t win
Important to highlight that even if a school does not receive the prize, applying carries meaningful benefits:
- It encourages schools to document and reflect on their progress.
- It helps clarify goals and calculate impact in measurable ways.
- The application materials can be used for local recognition, grant proposals, or partnerships.
- It provides experience in communicating educational innovation to a global audience.
The application process may feel detailed, but it is designed to be accessible and inclusive. You do not need to be a “big” school with fancy technology to apply; what really matters is impact, authenticity, and purpose.
If any school is already doing meaningful work that changes lives, sharing that work through the World’s Best School Prizes can help amplify its impact and inspire thousands of educators around the world.
Why Latin America is leading in education
Latin America’s three-year winning streak is no coincidence. The region’s schools operate in environments marked by inequality, budget constraints, and social complexity. Yet those very conditions have fostered creativity and adaptability.
When resources are limited, innovation becomes essential rather than optional. Educators are often forced to think beyond traditional models and design solutions tailored to their communities.
In many parts of Latin America, schools function as community anchors. They provide meals, emotional support, safe spaces, and opportunities for civic engagement.
This deep integration with community life has produced educational models that are not only academically relevant but also socially transformative. Students are not separated from their realities; instead, their realities become the foundation of learning.
A Colombian school rooted in coffee culture has become a benchmark in the region
The case of the Institucion Educativa Municipal Montessori de Pitalito illustrates this transformation vividly. Located in southern Huila, the school sits in the heart of a region where coffee is more than an agricultural product.
Coffee shapes the economy, the landscape, and the identity of thousands of families. Students grow up watching harvest cycles and understanding that their community’s well-being is closely tied to this crop.
Yet coffee production also generates significant organic waste, particularly pulp and husks left over from processing. If not properly managed, these residues can contribute to environmental degradation, affecting soil and water systems.
Instead of ignoring this issue, teachers at the school turned it into a learning opportunity. They asked a simple but powerful question: How can we transform this waste into something valuable?
From that question, CafeLab was born. Initially conceived as a classroom experiment, the initiative aimed to connect environmental science with students’ everyday experiences. Students began by studying the biological and chemical properties of coffee waste.
They analyzed decomposition processes, nutrient composition, and potential environmental risks. Science stopped being abstract and became tangible.
Over time, CafeLab evolved into a structured program that integrates environmental education, applied science, and entrepreneurship. Students experimented with converting coffee waste into organic fertilizers and soil enhancers that could support sustainable agriculture.
They explored biodegradable materials and studied principles of the circular economy, where waste is not the end of a process but the beginning of another.
Environmental and social impact in Huila, Colombia
The impact of CafeLab in Huila has been significant. Coffee is a pillar of the regional economy, and sustainability is essential for its long-term viability. By promoting responsible waste management and resource reuse, the initiative contributes to environmental awareness in farming communities. Students share their knowledge at home, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the school grounds.
This intergenerational transfer of knowledge is one of the project’s strongest features. Families involved in coffee production begin to see environmental practices not as external impositions but as practical tools for improving productivity and protecting natural resources. The school becomes a bridge between scientific knowledge and rural livelihoods.
For many students in rural areas, participating in an internationally recognized initiative changes how they see themselves. Being part of a project that gains global attention reinforces the idea that their ideas matter and that their community has something valuable to contribute to the world.
The recognition by the World’s Best School Prizes elevated not only the institution but also the broader perception of Huila as a region capable of generating forward-thinking educational models.
More broadly, Latin America’s recent success in these awards signals a regional transformation. Schools are increasingly aligning their projects with global challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and sustainable development. Rather than waiting for external solutions, educators are designing context-specific responses that address both academic goals and community needs.
With applications for the 2026 edition open until March 6, the opportunity remains available for schools across the region to showcase their initiatives. The process of applying encourages reflection, measurement, and documentation of impact. Even for those who do not win, the exercise can strengthen institutional strategy and clarity of purpose.
As the world faces mounting environmental and social pressures, education systems are expected to prepare students not only to pass exams but to lead change.
The story of CafeLab in Huila demonstrates that meaningful transformation often begins with a simple classroom idea rooted in local reality. When that idea is nurtured with commitment and collaboration, it can grow into a model that inspires schools across continents.
Latin America’s leadership in the World’s Best School Prizes is evidence of a region redefining its educational narrative. From coffee-growing communities in southern Colombia to classrooms across the continent, schools are proving that innovation thrives when communities come together under a shared purpose.