Escuela Presidente José Manuel Balmaceda, Curicó, Historical monument in Curicó, Chile.

Escuela Presidente José Manuel Balmaceda is a school building in Curicó located at the corner of Merced and O'Higgins streets, constructed in 1890. The structure features thick brick walls and wooden oak roof trusses covered with zinc sheets that support the overall design.

The school was created by supreme decree in 1896 under President Pedro Montt, making it the first public school in the municipality; its first director was Antolín Avilés. In 1935 a sixth year completed primary education and it became Escuela Superior de Hombres N.º 1. Ventura Baeza Cáceres took over the direction in 1943, and in 1968 seventh and eighth years were added. Decree No. 2103 gave it the name Presidente José Manuel Balmaceda.

The school's name honours President José Manuel Balmaceda, who ordered its construction in 1890 as part of a public works plan that included schools. It was created by supreme decree in 1896 as the first public school in the municipality, with Antolín Avilés as its first director. In the 1940s it also took in adults seeking to improve themselves, becoming Escuela Nocturna N.º 4, a project that lasted forty years.

Access to the site may be limited since the building sustained damage during the 2010 earthquake and currently operates partially from temporary facilities. It is advisable to check local information before planning a visit to confirm current accessibility and viewing conditions.

The school's name was formalized by Ministry of Education decree No. 2103, which gave it the title "Presidente José Manuel Balmaceda". Before that it was known as Escuela Superior de Hombres D-N.º 2. The building has stood unused since the 2010 earthquake, while its 145 pupils and 33 teachers work from emergency containers.