Sobresalentes

Sobresalentes is the plural form of sobresaliente, a term used in Spanish to describe people, objects, or ideas that stand out due to quality, performance, or characteristics. In education, sobresaliente commonly denotes the highest level of achievement on graded assessments.

In the Spanish educational system, many schools use a 0-10 scale. A score of 9 or 10 is typically categorized as sobresaliente, with 10 sometimes receiving the additional distinction of matrícula de honor. In other Spanish-speaking contexts, the exact thresholds vary by country, but the term generally signals exceptional performance. The concept is often applied to individuals, groups, or even projects that meet or exceed high standards.

As a noun, sobresalentes refers to students who have earned this grade: los sobresalentes. As an adjective, it agrees in gender and number: un alumno sobresaliente; una alumna sobresaliente; los alumnos sobresalentes; las alumnas sobresalientes.

Beyond grades, the term can describe features or traits that are notably prominent, such as una trayectoria sobresaliente or características sobresalientes of a work. Educational systems frequently implement enrichment, acceleration, or talent programs for sobresalentes to foster gifted students, while policy discussions address issues of equity, identification methods, and resource allocation.