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.
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:
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:
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
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.
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.
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.
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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