Primary and Secondary Schools in Italy

Italy's school system is mainly a public State system, run nationally by the Ministry of Education and Merit (Ministero dell'Istruzione e del Merito, MIM). Education is compulsory from the age of six for ten years, and compulsory education is free. State schools are open to Italian children and to foreign minors from EU and non-EU countries alike, which makes Italy a realistic option for families who move there and for students who want to spend part of their secondary education in an Italian classroom.

This page explains how primary and secondary schools are organised, how enrolment works for international pupils, what school costs, and what to compare when choosing a school.

How the school system works

The first cycle of education is compulsory and has two stages. Primary school (scuola primaria) starts at 6 years of age and lasts 5 years. Pupils study Italian, English, history, geography, mathematics, science, music, art, physical education and technology, plus civic education; a primary class has at most 26 pupils as a rule. Lower secondary school (scuola secondaria di primo grado) starts at 11 and lasts 3 years, and ends with a final exam.

The second cycle starts at the age of 14. Upper secondary school (scuola secondaria di secondo grado) lasts five years and is offered by three kinds of school:

• liceo: general education, in seven types (artistico, classico, scientifico, linguistico, musicale e coreutico, scienze umane and Made in Italy)
• istituto tecnico: technical schools with broad fields linked to the economy and industry
• istituto professionale: vocational schools, with eleven fields of study since the 2018/19 school year

Alongside these, the Regions run vocational education and training (IeFP) with three- and four-year courses. A four-year technological and vocational path, introduced on an experimental basis in 2024, becomes part of the mainstream upper secondary offer from the 2026-27 school year. Upper secondary school ends with the State exam (esame di maturità), made up of several written tests and an oral; the certificate obtained gives access to tertiary education.

State, paritarie and other private schools

The ministry distinguishes State schools from non-State schools, which can be of three kinds:

• scuole paritarie: State-equivalent schools recognised under Law 62/2000, which may issue qualifications with the same legal value as those of State schools
• scuole non paritarie: attendance counts towards compulsory education, but they cannot issue legally valid qualifications, so pupils sit an eligibility exam (esame di idoneità) at the end of each stage
• scuole straniere: foreign schools, regulated by Presidential Decree 389 of 18 April 1994

SpainExchange currently lists one school of this type in Italy: the Liceo Linguistico Europeo G. Parini in Barzanò, Lombardy, a private liceo linguistico. In every liceo English is compulsory; in the liceo linguistico, Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL, teaching a subject in a foreign language) is compulsory in one language from the third year to the fifth, and in a second language in the last two years.

Admission for international pupils

Parents are free to choose a school. Enrolment for the next school year takes place every January and February on an online ministry platform, where parents name a first-choice school and up to two alternatives. If a school receives more applications than it has places, it applies its own admission criteria. Pupils with limited Italian receive language support at school. Families arriving during the year, and exchange students planning a term in Italy, should contact the chosen school directly about enrolment and the documents needed to show earlier schooling.

School year and daily life

The school year formally runs from 1 September to 31 August, with a minimum of 200 teaching days; the Regions set their own calendars for the start of lessons and holidays. At upper secondary level, lessons are usually held on six days a week, including Saturday, and mostly in the morning.

Costs

Enrolment and attendance at primary and lower secondary level are free of charge in State schools. At upper secondary level, families pay small fees set nationally, and only for the fourth and fifth year: according to Eurydice, an enrolment fee of €6.04 and an attendance fee of €15.13. Pupils with an average grade over 8/10, or from families with an ISEE (economic indicator) below €20,000, can be exempted. Municipalities charge contributions for school transport and canteens, with exemptions for low-income families.

Paritarie schools charge enrolment and attendance fees that vary from school to school. Schools without parity receive no State funding, and families pay their full fees.

How to choose a school

• Legal value of the diploma: a State or paritaria school if the pupil needs an Italian qualification recognised for university entry
• Type of upper secondary school: liceo for a general, university-oriented education; istituto tecnico or professionale for a more applied path
• Languages: the foreign languages taught and whether CLIL is offered
• Timetable and calendar: six-day weeks are common, and holiday dates vary by Region
• Costs beyond tuition: transport, canteen, books and voluntary school contributions

Frequently asked questions

At what age is school compulsory in Italy?

From the age of six, for ten years. This covers primary school, lower secondary school and the first two years of upper secondary school or regional vocational training.

Can foreign children attend Italian State schools?

Yes. State schools are open to foreign minors from EU and non-EU countries, and compulsory education is free. Pupils with limited Italian receive language support.

What is the difference between a scuola paritaria and a private school?

A scuola paritaria is a non-State school recognised as equivalent to State schools, so its qualifications have the same legal value. A non-paritaria school cannot issue legally valid qualifications, and its pupils must pass an eligibility exam.

Which diploma do students receive at the end of secondary school?

After five years of upper secondary school, students take the esame di maturità, with written tests and an oral. Passing it gives access to university and other tertiary education.