The São Paulo state government has officially begun construction of the first unit under its “PPP New Schools” initiative in Águaí, São Paulo, Brazil.

The school is one of 33 planned under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) to be developed across 29 municipalities. Currently in its early construction phase, work includes building the perimeter wall, performing earthworks, installing temporary utility services, and setting up the construction infrastructure. Situated along the Deputado Ciro Albuquerque Highway, this school falls within the Eastern Lot of the concession. Once completed, it will offer 21 classrooms and serve up to 780 full-time students in the upper grades of elementary and high school. Completion is expected by July 2026. The Águaí unit belongs to Group A of the New Schools PPP initiative. A key feature of its construction is the use of a precast concrete structure—an engineering approach that accelerates the building timeline, lowers waste production, and reduces environmental impact. This project falls under a contract with the concessionaire Companhia Paulista de Infraestrutura Social S.A., which is tasked with building, maintaining, and managing non-teaching services for 16 new schools in the Eastern Lot.

The PPP is a State of São Paulo initiative designed to modernize the public school system, increase the number of available student placements, and enhance school operations. Developed by the State Department for Partnerships and Investments, the New Schools PPP involves building 33 school units throughout São Paulo. The project is split into two groups—East and West—comprising 16 and 17 schools, respectively. It will benefit 29 municipalities, providing nearly 35,000 new full-time places for students in the final years of elementary and high school. With a total investment of BRL 2.1 billion (US$ 378 million) over a 25-year concession period, half of the schools are scheduled for completion in 2026, with the remainder expected in 2027.