CNAE codes for private schools, daycares and technical schools in Brazil
The main CNAE code for private schools in Brazil is 8513-9/00 – Ensino fundamental (Elementary and middle school). High schools use 8520-1/00, daycares 8511-2/00, preschools 8512-1/00 and technical schools 8541-4/00. To prospect this segment, search codes 8513-9/00, 8520-1/00, 8511-2/00, 8512-1/00, 8541-4/00 as both primary and secondary CNAE, keep only active CNPJs, then filter by company size and city.
CNAE codes for private schools
CNAE (Classificação Nacional de Atividades Econômicas) is Brazil's official activity classification. Every company registered with a CNPJ declares one primary CNAE and any number of secondary ones. These are the CNAE 2.3 subclasses most used by private schools:
| CNAE | Official description (pt) | English | When it shows up |
|---|---|---|---|
8513-9/00 | Ensino fundamental | Elementary and middle school | Elementary schools |
8520-1/00 | Ensino médio | High school | High schools |
8511-2/00 | Educação infantil - creche | Early childhood education - daycare | Daycares |
8512-1/00 | Educação infantil - pré-escola | Early childhood education - preschool | Preschools |
8541-4/00 | Educação profissional de nível técnico | Technical vocational education | Technical schools |
Search primary and secondary CNAE
Many private schools register their real activity as a secondary CNAE, because the CNPJ was opened under another primary activity or because they do more than one thing. Schools covering several stages declare one code as primary and others as secondary, so search them all. Filtering on the primary code alone misses part of the market.
Who sells to private schools
Private schools buy on a predictable calendar with annual contracts.
- School management, family communication and billing systems
- Teaching materials and learning platforms
- Uniforms, school meals and transport
- Cleaning, security and maintenance
- Classroom technology and connectivity
How to build a list of private schools in Brazil
- Pick the codes: start with
8513-9/00and add8520-1/00,8511-2/00,8512-1/00,8541-4/00depending on what you sell. - Search them as primary and secondary CNAE.
- Keep only active registrations (situação cadastral ativa) to drop unfit, suspended or closed CNPJs.
- Narrow by location (state, city, neighborhood) and company size (MEI, ME, EPP, other). Small schools are usually ME; networks and multi-stage schools are EPP or larger.
- Keep companies with contact data (email or phone) and save the filter as a reusable segment.
- Write a segment-specific opener and track replies in a pipeline.
1Lead runs all of these filters in one search over Brazil's public company registry, and its AI suggests adjacent CNAE codes from a plain-language description such as "family communication platform for private schools and daycares in Fortaleza". The product interface is in Portuguese.
Qualification signals
- Several stages under one CNPJ: a larger school.
- Branches: school networks with central purchasing.
- Second half of the year: next-year planning.
How to approach this segment
Owners and principals buy for the next school year. Reach out in the second half, focused on enrollment, retention or late payments.
Example first message (in Portuguese, with translation)
Frequently asked questions
What is the CNAE code for a private school in Brazil?
It depends on the stage: 8513-9/00 (elementary), 8520-1/00 (high school), 8511-2/00 (daycare) and 8512-1/00 (preschool).
Where is the official CNAE table?
IBGE publishes it in the CONCLA online search, with the full hierarchy (section, division, group, class, subclass) and notes on what each code includes and excludes.