List of 17 Best Schools in Rome (2026 Fees)

Rome, the capital city is the largest in Italy, with a population of over 2.8 million people. The town, a special comune of Italy named Comune di Roma Capitale, offers an unmatched blend of culture, history, art, life, and opportunities. Home to Vatican City, an independent city-state enclaved in Rome, gave Rome its unique definition as the capital of two states. With a history that spans over 28 centuries, education and schools in Rome date back to centuries during classical empires when Romans and Greeks established a formal education system. The Eternal City has the status of a global city and is the 14th most popular tourist destination in the world.

Today, Rome is a national and international education center comprising of world-class schools, universities, colleges, and academies. The city prides itself on its massive variety of academies and colleges besides ranking as the second most culturally, educationally, and historically breathtaking capital globally.

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Education in Rome

Rome schools follow the Italian education system. The academic year for schools in Rome starts in September and ends in June. The school year is divided into two terms with holidays in between. Although this may vary depending on the type of school. The official language of instruction in state-funded schools is Italian. Meanwhile, private schools offering the International Baccalaureate (IB), among other Internationally acclaimed curricula use English as the medium of instruction; while teaching an additional European language.

Mandatory education begins from age 6 to 16 years, for a total of 10 consecutive years. This period is divided into two cycles of education, the first comprising of 8 years and the second comprising of 3-5 years depending on the choice of high school program a student selects. In Rome, all students are required to be receiving education for a minimum of 12 years or up to the achievement of a 3-year professional qualification by the time they reach 18 years. Below is a description of the cycles of education and the levels involved in each stage:

1. The first cycle one of education
  • Scuola dell’infanzia (kindergarten)
    Children between 3-6 years can attend kindergarten, although it is not compulsory.
  • Scuola Primaria or Scuola elementare (primary school)
    Primary education marks the start of mandatory education, which lasts for 5 years. Generally, children begin primary education at age 6 and finishes at age 11.
  • Scuola secondaria di primo grado (lower secondary school)
    Lower secondary school is the equivalent of middle school in other countries and lasts for three years. Children begin this stage at 11 years and complete it by 14 years. In this stage, the same curriculum used in primary education is used. However, students have to sit for the licenzia media or Licenza di Scuola Media exams before joining upper secondary school.
2. The second cycle of education

This stage is also divided into two categories. The first is secondary school education which lasts for 5 years for students who have successfully completed the first cycle. At this stage, schools arrange for high school courses, technical institutes, and professional institutes for all students aged 14-19 years. The second category involves a 3-4 year course of education and vocational training (leFP). In this stage, students can attend any of the below schools upon completion of the first cycle of learning based on interest or personal achievements. Later, upon completion of a high school program, students must sit for a final exam known as esame di maturità or esame di Stato in combination with an entrance exam for higher education to continue their education in a tertiary institution. Education facilities provided in this stage include:

Scuola secondaria di secondo grado (upper secondary school)

This stage is equivalent to secondary schools or high schools in other countries and usually lasts for 3-5 years, depending on the type of high school you choose to attend. These types of secondary schools in Rome include:

  • Liceo Classico (Classical high school)
    Studies last for 5 years and prepare students for university. Latin, Italian, and Greek form a significant part of the curriculum. Later, philosophy and history are introduced.
  • Liceo Scientifico (Scientific high schools)
    Studies last for five years, and the curriculum majorly concentrates on chemistry, physics, natural sciences as well as Latin and one modern language.
  • Liceo artistico (fine arts high school)
    studies last for 4-5 years and prepare students for higher education in architecture, sculpture, and painting fields.
  • Istituto Magistrale (Teacher training school)
    Studies last for 3-5 years, depending on the teaching course you are training for, usually nursery or primary school teachers. However, students cannot use this diploma to join a university.
  • Istituto d'Arte (Artistic Schools)
    studies last for 3 years and prepare students for work in an arts-related field or an arts qualification such as the diploma di Maestro d'Arte.
  • Istituti Tecnici (Technical Institutes)
    Studies last for 5 years and prepare students for both university and vocational studies. These schools prepare students to work in agricultural, business, and industries at a technical or administrative level.
  • Istituti Professionali (Professional Institutes)
    These facilities assist students in obtaining a vocational qualification upon completion of the program in 3-5 years.

Which are the types of schools in Rome?

There are several schools for both international and local students wishing to study in Rome. Although compulsory education is offered for free in Rome, there are a variety of schools to choose from to ensure your child’s needs are met. Below is a list of the types of school in Rome

1. Public schools

Public schools are government-funded and offer free education for all the children in Rome. Most of these schools use the Italian language as the medium for instruction, which is a downside for non-Italian speakers and international students. However, these schools are considered to provide superior education compared to other types of schools.

2. Private schools

Private schools in Rome, also receive funding from the government and hence use the national curriculum and follow standards set by the government. As such, the medium of instruction may still be Italian, but some schools provide bilingual programs. Although these schools are state-funded, they still require students to pay fees. However, these schools usually operate under particular religious or philosophical beliefs such as Catholicism or Montessori structures.

3. International schools

Rome comprises of numerous international schools which uphold world-class standards. However, the medium of instruction, curriculum, learning environment, as well as educational philosophies tends to differ. Most international Roman schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, British or UK curriculum, American curriculum, French curriculum, and German curriculum.

How to Apply for a School in the Rome

Schools in Rome offer a myriad of opportunities for students. As the admissions policy, recruitment eligibility and application requirements vary from school to school, the application process may be complicated. However, planning in advance and visiting individual school websites can provide you with relevant information to help you in the process.

Below is a comprehensive list of all the schools in Rome. Edarabia strives to offer the latest updates, helping you find the best schools in Rome with information on tuition fees, accreditation details, videos, photos, location map, community reviews, and ratings.

Edarabia showcases all private schools in Rome 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 Rome 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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EUR 6,550

EUR 30,550

Acorn House International Bilingual School Rome
  • Address: via della giustiniana 1200
  • Founded: 1999
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, Italian, IGCSE, British
  • 2 Reviews
  • EUR 11,500
Inquire
St Stephen's School
  • Address: Via Aventina 3
  • Founded: 1964
  • Curriculum: IB, Boarding
  • 2 Reviews
  • EUR 30,550
Inquire
Britannia International School of Rome
  • Address: Via Ernesto Parisi 11
  • Founded: 1987
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, Italian, British
  • 1 Review
  • EUR 7,375
Inquire
Ambrit International School
  • Address: Via Filippo Tajani 50
  • Curriculum: IB
  • EUR 15,856
Inquire
American Overseas School of Rome
  • Address: Via Cassia 811
  • Founded: 1947
  • Curriculum: American
  • EUR 18,800
Inquire
Castelli International School
  • Address: Via degli Scozzesi, 13 Grottaferrata
  • Founded: 1977
  • Curriculum: Italian, IGCSE, British
  • EUR 9,300
Inquire
Core International School
  • Address: Via Crati 19
  • Founded: 1983
  • Curriculum: Italian, British
  • EUR 10,200
Inquire
Greenwood Garden School
  • Address: Via Vito Sinisi 5
  • Founded: 1974
  • Curriculum: Italian
Istituto Marymount
  • Address: Via Nomentana, 355
  • Founded: 1930
  • Curriculum: Italian
Kendale International School - Rome
  • Address: Via di Grottarossa 295
  • Founded: 1972
  • Curriculum: British, American
Little Genius International School
  • Address: Via di Grotte Portella, 28, Frascati
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, Italian, British
  • EUR 8,345
Inquire
Marymount International School Rome
  • Address: Via di Villa Lauchli, 180
  • Founded: 1946
  • Curriculum: Italian, IB, British, American
  • EUR 19,099
Inquire
Rome International School
  • Address: Via Guglielmo Pecori Giraldi, 137
  • Founded: 1988
  • Curriculum: Italian, IGCSE, IB
  • EUR 17,750
Inquire
Saint Francis International School
  • Address: Via delle Benedettine, 50/b
  • Founded: 1985
  • Curriculum: American
  • EUR 7,900
Inquire
Southlands International School
  • Address: Via Teleclide, 40
  • Founded: 1976
  • Curriculum: Italian, IGCSE, IB, British
  • EUR 12,738
Inquire
St George's British International School
  • Address: Via del Cenacolo 25 La Storta
  • Founded: 1958
  • Curriculum: Italian, IGCSE, IB, British
  • EUR 17,400
Inquire
The New School Rome
  • Address: Via della Camilluccia 669
  • Founded: 1972
  • Curriculum: UK EYFS, Italian, IGCSE, GCSE, British
  • EUR 15,250
Inquire
2026-02-01T00:01:01+04:00