Mexico

Placement Information

• Partner Organization: U.S.-Mexico Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (COMEXUS)
• Eligible Program Timeframe: January – June 2028 or August – December 2028
• Language Requirement: Spanish proficiency is preferred.
• Host Institution Expectations: Participants will be placed with a host institution upon acceptance into the program. Host institutions are typically public universities with a teacher education department.
• Monthly Allowance: Between $2,700 ‐ $3,000
• Eligible Thematic Areas:
  • Super Intelligence (SI) and Technology Innovation in Education
  • Future-Ready Skills, Career Readiness, and Apprenticeship Pathways
  • Innovative STEM Education
  • Effective Civics Education through Comparative Pedagogy
• Host Institution: COMEXUS will identify appropriate host institutions for selected participants based on their respective thematic areas of study. Hosts are typically public universities with a teacher education department or training colleges (Escuelas Normales).
• Dependent Information: Participants with school-aged dependents are encouraged to enroll in private institutions where registration can be more easily facilitated than in public schools. Private schools outside Mexico City typically charge USD $300-$500 per month, but this can vary depending on region, grade level, and institution. In Mexico City, bilingual and international schools tend to be considerably more, with monthly tuition often exceeding USD $1,000. For example, tuition at The American School Foundation ranges from approximately USD $1,550 to $2,000 per month, excluding additional fees. 
  Please note that tuition support for dependents is subject to availability and requests for funding are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Applicants are strongly encouraged to research schooling options for their dependents during the application phase.
   

Country Overview

Mexico is the fifth-largest country in the Americas and the thirteenth-largest in the world by land area. With an estimated population of approximately 132 million people in 2025, Mexico is the tenth most populous country in the world and the most populous Spanish-speaking country. Mexico is a federal presidential republic comprising 32 federal entities: 31 states and Mexico City, the country's capital. 

The following English-language resources provide additional information about Mexico's history, culture, arts, and current affairs:

• Smithsonian Institution's Mexican America explores the historical and cultural connections between Mexico and the United States through historical objects and stories. 
• Artsy's "Inside Mexico City's Meteoric Rise to Art World Capital" examines Mexico City's contemporary art scene and growing international influence.  
• Mexico News Daily is an English-language news outlet covering Mexican politics, economics, education, society, culture, and everyday life. 
• The Associated Press provides international news coverage of Mexico, including political developments, social issues, security, economic affairs, and major national events. 
• [Book] Mexico: Mexico: A Concise Illustrated History by John W. Sherman (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026). An accessible overview of Mexican history, from pre-Hispanic civilizations to contemporary Mexico. The book includes maps, illustrations, and historical context to help readers understand Mexico's history and its influence on contemporary society.
  
   

Educational System Overview

Mexico's education system is one of the largest in Latin America, serving approximately 34 million students across different educational levels. The Secretariat of Public Education (Secretaría de Educación Pública - SEP) is the federal government institution responsible for coordinating national education policy, establishing curricula, and overseeing key aspects of the education system.

Mexico's education system is organized into three main levels: Basic Education (Educación Básica), Upper Secondary Education (Educación Media Superior), and Higher Education (Educación Superior). Basic Education comprises preschool (ages 3-5), primary education (ages 6-11), and lower secondary education (ages 12-14). Upper secondary education, commonly known as bachillerato or preparatoria, generally serves students between the ages of 15 and 17 and includes general, technological, and vocational options. Education is compulsory from preschool through upper secondary school. Although Mexico has a national education framework, the administration of public education is shared between the federal government and state authorities. 

The following resources provide additional information about Mexico's education system, including recent educational reforms, teaching practices, public education policies, and current challenges:

• OECD's Country Digital Education Ecosystems and Governance provides an overview of Mexico's education system 
• "Reimagining Learning in Mexico's Nueva Escuela Mexicana Education Reform" (Brookings Institution, 2026)  
• "Mexico Education Reforms Largely Endorsed, but Concerns Remain" (University of Exeter, 2025) 
• "Literacy on Time for Children in Mexico" (UNESCO, 2026) - 
• Education Policy Analysis Archives - The Teaching of English in Public Primary Schools in Mexico: More Heat than Light? (2016) - Analyzes the development and implementation of English-language instruction in Mexican public primary schools - https://doaj.org/article/91b91ece16b64c5596830a94039830b2?utm