Emotional competence as the ability to understand one's own emotions, empathize and express emotions, includes the ability to self-understand, express and control emotions and understand the social environment. Additionally, the role of emotional intelligence is cited as a key factor contributing to emotional competence. Emphasizing the connection between emotional competence and school performance, the influence of emotional competence on the prosocial and aggressive behaviour of students, as well as its influence on the classroom atmosphere and academic success, is visible. Other factors influencing school performance include the role of family, school, peers, and student characteristics itself. Research conducted in the Republic of Croatia on this topic is not numerous and gives different results related to the relationship between emotional competences and academic outcomes. Furthermore, the role of the family in encouraging emotional growth is important, as well as the importance of teachers in facilitating the emotional development of students, including their own emotional competence and the implementation of programs designed to improve emotional competence. Considering the determinants of emotional competence, factors affecting school success and the impact of emotional competence on various aspects of student life, this paper highlights the importance of emotional competence in the educational context. It emphasizes the need to prioritize the development of emotional competence in students, with the involvement of families and teachers who play a key role. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of proven effective strategies for fostering emotional competence, which ultimately leads to improved academic performance and overall student well-being. The main goal of this paper is to point out the importance of emotional competence in school performance and to give insight into how different determinants and factors influence this relationship. By understanding these dynamics, teachers can implement effective strategies to promote emotional competence and consequently improve students' overall performance in school.