If you relocated to Italy – or you are planning to do so – with your children, here are some few aspects to consider regarding the school system in the Bel Paese.
In Italy, education is mandatory from 6 to 16 years old, and you can choose between public school and private school.
As for public school, this is divided into three mandatory grades: primary school (6-10 years old), middle school (10-13 years old) and high school (14-18 years old).
Remember that there is the possibility to enroll your child in nursery school and kindergarten, which are not mandatory for law.
In public schools it is followed a curriculum recognized by the Ministry of Education and it is entirely in Italian. English as second language is mandatory from primary school in all grades, and there is the possibility to choose a third language in middle school among French, Spanish, or German (in some regions). In high school – only if your children choose the Liceo linguistico – they can learn up to three foreign languages, apart from English. In order to enroll into an Italian public school, the multilingual vaccine certificate is mandatory, and it can be gathered from your home country pediatrician. This certificate, along with the previous school report transcript, has to be handled during enrollment. The enrollment can be completed only online via an Italian official website, and the forms must be filled each January/February. You can only choose a school in the same district of your home. An important aspect to consider is that public school is free, except for books in middle and high school, and other services such as the cafeteria (mensa) and schooling transport which is normally provided by the Town Hall in countryside or small neighborhoods.
As for private school, you can either choose to enroll your children in bilingual or international schools. The main difference between the two schools is that bilingual schools maintain the Italian curriculum – which is partly done in a second language, depending on the school – while international schools follow the curriculum recognized by the school system to which it refers. So, for example, if an international school refers to the American school system, it will have American grades and it will issue an American High School diploma. Furthermore, consider that bilingual schools issue an Italian diploma and – if your children want – language certifications in the second language, while international schools issue a diploma recognized internationally. Please consider that, as private schools, they are quite expensive.
Remember! If your children have already completed some years of school in your Country, please gather all relevant school documentation and make sure to have them legally translated, so that, when in Italy, schools can evaluate which grade suits to them based on their academic career. Moreover, even though homeschooling is legally recognized by the Italian law, there are some obligations. In fact, at the end of each school year, during the mandatory school period, the child must pass an exam in Italian to assess their educational level and to demonstrate that they are following the Italian school curriculum.
