Aspects of educational performance in Romania through the baccalaureate. Regional and county disparities and similarities

In the last decade, both the participation rate of high school graduates in Romania and the pass rate of the baccalaureate exam have fluctuated from one year to the next. If at the level of Romania, the pass rate of the baccalaureate exam has evolved, in the case of current promotions, around 77%, and in the case of all participating candidates (current promotions plus previous promotions), around 70%, at the level of counties the differences are significantly large. In order to provide an image of the similarities and disparities between counties, from these points of view, the paper presents a cluster analysis of six indicators regarding participation rates, success rates, as well as the ranges of averages obtained. The paper is part of a cycle of papers by the authors dedicated to various aspects of education in Romania in the context of sustainable development.