The coastal belt of Karnataka has once again set the benchmark in the SSLC examinations, with Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada retaining the top three positions in the district-wise rankings for 2026, this time with even sharper gains.
Dakshina Kannada: State Topper with 98.4%
Dakshina Kannada emerged as the state topper with an impressive 98.4%, a significant jump from 94.4% last year. The standout improvement came in the drastic reduction of failures. Of the 27,207 students who appeared for the exam, 26,771 cleared it, leaving only 436 unsuccessful candidates—a sharp drop from the 2,341 failures recorded last year.
Dakshina Kannada DDPI GS Shashidhar attributed this turnaround to a focused strategy targeting slow learners. Beginning in November, the department rolled out a targeted intervention. Subject teacher forums of every taluk met online to design simplified learning packages aimed at helping students secure pass marks. The material was prepared for six subjects by assistant teachers and shared digitally with 622 schools in the district. Students were also given extensive practice using model question papers released by the board. Despite additional responsibilities such as caste census duties, teachers ensured sustained academic support.
Udupi: Ground-Level Approach Pays Off
In Udupi, a similarly intensive, ground-level approach paid off. DDPI Lokesh C said regular school visits and constant motivation were key. The district used multiple academic tools, including an e-magazine developed through DIET and shared with students, SDMCs, and parents. Subject-wise resource teams prepared daily questionnaires, while DIET faculty and education officials conducted frequent school visits. Some schools, particularly in Karkala, even organised night classes to support students. Out of 13,373 students who appeared for the exam, 13,129 passed, while 244 did not clear it.
Uttara Kannada: Third Place with 98%
Uttara Kannada district delivered an impressive performance, securing the third position in the state with a pass percentage of 98%, up from 90% last year. The Sirsi education district stood in sixth position with 97.2%. Dishant Dayanand Naik of Dr AV Baliga English Medium School in Kumta secured second place in the state. Out of 199 high schools in the district, 134 schools recorded 100% results. Among the taluks, Honnavar stood out with the highest performance, followed by Bhatkal and Ankola. Students from government schools performed exceptionally well, with top rank holders emerging from Karnataka Public School in Bhatkal taluk.
