List of 1 Best Schools in Athens (2026 Fees)

Athens is the largest Metropolitan City in Greece with a long history in education. For example, the town was an intellectual and cultural center in ancient Greece. Up to date, the city lives up to its name as an educational hub, with several private, international and public schools in Athens.

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The education system in Athens mirrors that of the country, where students go through the following three levels:

• Primary
• Secondary
• Higher learning

Compulsory learning starts from the age of six. However, children must attend a two-year compulsory education in pre-primary Athens schools from age four. Preschool education is also known as the kindergarten level, and the first year is called pre-kindergarten, whereas the second year is known as kindergarten. This stage prepares students for the transition from play to learning.

Primary education lasts for six years (from grade 1 to grade 6). At the primary level, children are instructed to help them achieve extensive intellectual and physical development. After primary school, students progress to secondary school, which is divided into two stages.

• Lower secondary level (Gymnasio), which lasts for three years and prepares students for further education as well as helps them become better Greek citizens.
• The junior high school is specialized in terms of the courses they offer such as music or arts. Also, there is an experimental junior high school or Piamatiko Gymnasio, evening junior high schools and multicultural junior high schools. Students wishing to pursue upper secondary education must sit for a national exam known as the Panhellenic exams. Upper, non-compulsory, secondary level is known as Lykeio and lasts for three years. Education at the Lykeio consists of general and vocational courses. Similar to the lower secondary, there are different types of upper secondary schools, which include:
  • General Upper Secondary/general lykeia
  • Vocational Upper Secondary School
  • Evening Upper Secondary School
  • Experimental Upper Secondary Schools
  • Art Upper Secondary Schools
  • Music Upper Secondary Schools

After completing upper secondary school, students sit for a national exam and those who pass get a High School Diploma or a Lyceum certificate. After completing upper secondary schools, the students can either pursue higher learning or further vocational training.

The official language of instruction in public schools in Athens is Greek, which is a challenge for ex-pats or international students who are not familiar with the language. Still, public schools offer an excellent environment for international students to interact and learn the language. Public education is free, and students get free textbooks.

A majority of the private and international schools in Greece are in Athens. Some of these private schools use the national curriculum while others offer globally recognized curricula such as international baccalaureate, American, French, and so on.  As a result, the language of instruction in private and international schools vary depending on the curricula and the education system used. Still, Greek is compulsory in all foreign schools.

Facts about schools in Athens

• Homeschooling in Athens, and overall in Greece, is illegal, except in cases where a child has special needs.
• A majority of kids in public schools pay for private tuition to increase their chances of succeeding in the competitive national exams.
• There are sanctions in the penal code for parents/guardians with an underage child who fails to enroll them in school.
• There are placement exams in the 1st and 2nd trimester in primary schools. Also, primary students sit for the leaving exam between 1st June to 10th September.

Edarabia showcases all private schools in Athens through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.

Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Athens tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.

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