International Education in Rome
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There’s no doubt that Rome is a fantastic city to raise a family in, be it the local or expat variety. The Eternal City is built on thousands of years of history, culture, art and architecture for your kids to soak up. The Italian way of life is very family-oriented; entire evenings are given over to family meals and weekend afternoons are dedicated to chilled out family strolls in the sun.
In addition to all of the above however, Italy’s capital city fulfills another very important need; education. The Italian education system is well regarded both in Europe and the rest of the world. It’s free for all children, no matter what their nationality or residential status.
The catch? Local schools teach through Italian only. If you’re planning on staying in Rome long-term and your child hasn’t yet started school, this may not be an issue for you. In fact, it may be an advantage - your child will pick up the language very quickly if immersed in it from a young age.
If your expat adventure in Rome is only for a few years, or if your child is older, then an international school may be a more suitable option for your family.
There are plenty of international schools to choose from in Rome, particularly in Vigna Clara and Cassia Flamina. Both neighbourhoods have plenty of green spaces and are considered among the wealthier areas of the capital.
However, there’s a drawback. Neither places have good public transport links to Rome’s city centre.
Some international schools in Rome offer tuition for elementary students only, while some include secondary students up to age 18 too.
It’s quite common for international schools to run kindergarten for pre-school kids and even day care facilities for children from age 2 - all in the one building complex. If you have a big family with children of different ages, this can make things much easier.
The most common curricula available are American, British and IB. There are a select few foregin language schools who offer French and German curricula, too. All schools encourage a positive and creative learning environment. Children are encouraged to get involved in extra-curricular activities. It’s just about the grades!
The application process for Rome’s international schools can be long-winded. The biggest mistake you could make is not getting started before you move - don’t underestimate Italian bureaucracy!
Like many other cities in Europe, international schools in Rome offer additional languages other than the language of instruction. Italian is of course offered across the board, but some schools have a wider choice.
Native English teachers are in most international schools, although not every single one. However, with such a high standard of English spoken throughout Europe, this may not be as big of an issue as it would in other parts of the world.
Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Rome according to our users. However, there are another 18 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Rome based on your requirements.
