Top grades, top class: Hyesan schools rank students

In 2026, junior and senior middle schools in Hyesan, a North Korean border city, began categorizing students into ranked classes based on their academic performance. This new system has sparked intense academic competition among Hyesan schools in the Ryanggang province. Parents are now investing in private tutors and even offering cash to teachers to secure their children's placement in the top class.

The schools rank their classes according to academic achievement, with the top performers in Class 1, the next best in Class 2, and the less successful in Class 3. Additionally, students with exceptional talent in music, art, or physical education are grouped together in Class 4 to cultivate future performers and athletes for the state, regardless of their grades.

The school system also allows for students to move between classes as their grades improve or decline. While North Korea already operates elite schools called No. 1 Middle Schools for the most promising students, the introduction of ranked classes in regular schools has intensified the race for the top class. This development has pushed parents to seek private tutoring and bribes to give their children an advantage.

Despite North Korea's official prohibition of private tutoring, the practice has become widespread, with many families either hiring tutors or shouldering debt to afford them. The educational divide is further exacerbated by North Korea's widening wealth gap, as wealthier families can afford private lessons, while poorer families are left to rely solely on public education and risk falling behind.

The pressure to excel academically extends beyond the classroom, with some parents even offering money to teachers for favorable placement of their children in the top class.