Key takeaways
Italy has a long academic tradition – some of its universities predate the printing press. But for an expat family arriving in Rome, Milan, or Florence with school-age children, what actually matters is far more practical: when does school start, how long is it compulsory, what does a typical school day look like, and what are your options if the local state school does not fit your family's situation? This is that guide.
- Education is compulsory in Italy from age 6 to age 16, covering primary school and part of upper secondary school.
- The Italian education system is divided into five stages: early childhood, primary, lower secondary, upper secondary, and higher education.
- Public education in Italy is free at all obligatory levels; private and international schools charge fees that vary significantly by city and school type.
- Expat families have options – including international schools, home education, and accredited online schools – each with distinct legal implications.
Contents
We are a US-accredited international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
How the Italian Education System Is Structured
The education system in Italy follows a clear sequence, though the terminology differs from American and British systems in ways that trip up new arrivals.
Early Childhood Education
Early childhood education in the country (scuola dell’infanzia) covers children aged 3 to 6. It is not mandatory. It is, however, widely attended – the Italian state subsidizes scuola dell’infanzia heavily, and most Italian families use it. Early childhood education and care in Italy is generally high quality, with trained educators and structured play-based curriculum. Private options exist, particularly in cities, at higher cost.
From age 0 to 3, nidi d’infanzia (nurseries) cover the earliest years. These fall under a separate integrated system of early childhood education and care, governed partly at the regional level.
Primary Education in Italy
Primary education (scuola primaria) begins at age 6 and lasts five years – through age 11. Five years of primary education cover Italian language, mathematics, science, history, geography, music, art, physical education, and civic education (educazione civica). English is obligatory from first grade.
Primary education in Italy is free in state schools. Class sizes average around 20–22 pupils. The school day typically runs from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, with some schools offering an extended day (tempo pieno) until 4:00 pm – popular with working parents.
Primary and lower secondary education together constitute the first cycle of education (primo ciclo di istruzione) in Italy. This cycle spans 8 years total.
Lower Secondary Education
Lower secondary school (scuola secondaria di primo grado, sometimes called scuola media) covers ages 11 to 14. Three years. It concludes with a national exam – the esame di terza media – which students must pass to continue. This examination covers Italian language, mathematics, English, and a second foreign language (often French, Spanish, or German depending on the school’s offering).
Secondary school at this level is part of obligatory education. Attendance is mandatory. The lower secondary curriculum is nationally standardized, governed by the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit.
Upper Secondary Education in Italy
Upper secondary education (scuola secondaria di secondo grado) begins at age 14 and runs for five years, ending at age 19. This is where the Italian system diverges significantly from American high school structure.
There are three main tracks:
Licei – academically oriented. The liceo classico (classical humanities), liceo scientifico (sciences), liceo linguistico (languages), liceo artistico (arts), and liceo musicale (music) are the primary types. General upper secondary education through a liceo is the standard pathway to university.
Istituti tecnici – technical education. Two-year and five-year programs covering technology, economics, and applied sciences. Technical education and training within the istituti tecnici track provides both academic and vocational preparation.
Istituti professionali – vocational education and training. Practical, employment-oriented programs in areas like hospitality, agriculture, fashion, and health services. Vocational upper secondary education leads either to direct employment or to further vocational education and training system qualifications.
Obligatory education in the country technically ends at 16 – meaning the first two years of upper secondary are required, regardless of track. Students must attend school until they complete education at 16, even if they later choose to leave. After 16, attendance is voluntary – though the vast majority of Italian learners continue through to the maturità exam at 19.
The maturità (formally esame di Stato) is the final upper secondary examination. It is required for access to national tertiary education. Secondary schools in Italy that follow the liceo track prepare students specifically for this exam.
Higher Education and Tertiary Education in Italy
Italy’s university system is old – genuinely old. The University of Bologna was founded in 1088. Today, Italian universities sit within the Bologna Process framework, meaning their degrees align with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS credit system) and are recognized across EU member states.
National tertiary education in Italy includes:
Università – standard three-year bachelor’s degree (laurea triennale) followed by a two-year master’s (laurea magistrale). Entry requires the maturità diploma. International students with foreign diplomas must apply through a validation process.
AFAM institutions – academies for the fine arts, music conservatories, and drama schools. Education for the fine arts at this level operates under a separate national framework but is integrated into the higher education accreditation system.
Short-cycle higher technical education – Istituti Tecnici Superiori (ITS), two-year post-secondary vocational programs. These are not universities but are formally part of Italian tertiary education.
Enter tertiary education through the standard university route: the maturità is the gateway. Access to it for international learners with foreign diplomas – including American WASC-accredited diplomas – requires individual assessment by the receiving institution.
Compulsory Education: The Key Numbers
Education is obligatory from age 6 to age 16. That covers:
- 5 years of primary (scuola primaria): ages 6–11
- 3 years of lower secondary (scuola media): ages 11–14
- 2 years of upper secondary (primo biennio): ages 14–16
Education must continue until age 16. After 16, continuing is a choice – but leaving school before completing upper secondary significantly limits employment and university options.
The Italian government enforces education through the school registration system. Families moving to Italy must register their children at the local state school (iscrizione scolastica) within the comune (municipality) of residence. Home education (educazione parentale) is a legal alternative – see our dedicated guide for details.
“Dispositions on compulsory education apply to Italian citizens as well as to EU and non-EU citizens in compulsory school age.”
— Eurydice / European Commission, Organisation of the Education System in Italy
Public and Private Education in Italy
Public education is free through the end of required schooling. State schools charge minimal administrative fees but no tuition. Private education – including private Italian schools and international schools – charges full tuition.
In cities like Milan and Rome, private and international schools are numerous and in demand. An international school following the American, British, or IB curriculum in Milan typically charges €15,000–€25,000 per year. Some are affiliated with embassy networks; others are independent.
The Italian state does not fund international schools. There are no voucher schemes or tax credits for private school tuition (though proposals have been discussed in the Italian parliament periodically). Families choosing private education do so entirely at their own cost.
For Expat Families: Practical Realities
Moving to Italy with children raises immediate questions. The Italian school year runs from mid-September to mid-June. Registration deadlines for state schools are typically in January for the following September – meaning families arriving mid-year may face practical challenges.
Italian is the language of instruction in all state schools. Children who arrive without Italian proficiency are enrolled in regular classes with supplementary literacy and Italian language courses provided by the school – but the pace and quality of that support varies enormously by school and region. In practice, many schools offer one to two hours of Italian language support per week – enough to help with basic integration, not enough to keep a child academically on track in their original curriculum. Families who need both Italian immersion and continuity of their home-country academic program typically combine local school attendance with structured supplementary instruction.
Some expat families in Milan, Rome, Florence, and Bologna choose international schools for continuity of language and curriculum. Others use a combination of local Italian school attendance and supplementary online instruction – particularly for maintaining English-language academic progress.
“The education system in Italy comprises a large state sector and a smaller, more specialized private sector. Take some time to evaluate your priorities and those of your children before choosing an institution.”
— Expat Arrivals, Education and Schools in Italy
Legacy Online School is a WASC-accredited private online school operating since 2023 across 30+ countries – accreditation details at legacyonlineschool.com/accreditation. The curriculum is delivered through FlexPoint Education Cloud (developed by Florida Virtual School) – a structured K-12 program with live qualified teachers, not recorded lessons. Classes run Monday to Friday on Central European Time, meaning no late-night attendance for families living in Italy. It offers online elementary school, online middle school, and online high school programs, including 19 AP (Advanced Placement) courses and college guidance. Tuition starts from $2,500/year — see current pricing at legacyonlineschool.com/tuition-and-fees. For comparison: international schools in Milan or Rome charge €15,000–€25,000 annually. Same WASC standard. A fraction of the cost.
For AP courses and college guidance, Legacy works with high schoolers preparing for US university admissions from anywhere in the world – including Italy.
Families should independently verify whether enrollment with Legacy satisfies Italian obbligo scolastico requirements for their specific residency circumstances.
A Real Case: From Chicago to Florence
The Russo family – dual US-Italian citizenship, three children – moved from Chicago to Florence in 2023 for the father’s sabbatical year at the University of Florence. Their oldest (17) stayed enrolled in Legacy’s online high school for his junior year, completing AP courses and maintaining US transcript continuity. The two younger children (9 and 12) enrolled in local Italian state schools to develop language immersion and integrate into the city. By the time the family returned to Chicago the following summer, the older child had uninterrupted AP credits; the younger two had functional Italian and a school year of Italian national curriculum completed. Total cost for the oldest child’s junior year at Legacy: under $3,000. A comparable international school year in Florence would have run €18,000–€22,000.
Adult Education in Italy
Adult education in the country operates through Centri Provinciali per l’Istruzione degli Adulti (CPIAs) – centers for school education for adults. These provide school education for adults who did not complete obligatory education, as well as literacy and Italian language courses for immigrants. They are free and state-run.
For professional development and continuing education, Italian universities offer extension courses, online programs, and short certifications in increasing numbers – particularly post-pandemic, when online learning accelerated significantly across the Italian system. For expat adults specifically, CPIAs offer free Italian language courses at A1 through B2 levels – no residency permit required to enroll. Most operate in the evening, making them practical for working parents managing children’s schooling during the day.
Planning your family’s education setup in Italy? Book a free trial class with Legacy Online School or reach out to our admissions team to discuss your child’s specific academic situation.
Top Tips from Our Expert
Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor at Legacy Online School
- If your child is entering an Italian state school mid-year, request a written assessment of their current academic level from the school in the first week. This document becomes critical if you later transfer back to a US school or apply to an international program.
- Italian upper secondary tracks are not easily switched once started. A child enrolled in a liceo scientifico who later wants to change to istituto tecnico faces significant bureaucratic and academic hurdles. Choose the initial track carefully.
- For high school students aiming at US universities from Italy: Italian maturità alone does not provide AP credit equivalency. If your child is attending a liceo in Italy, supplementary AP coursework – through an accredited online school – is the most direct path to a competitive US university application.
- The maturità exam in Italy is demanding and comprehensive. Families who plan to return to the US before their child completes upper secondary should plan the transition carefully – ideally no later than the end of Grade 10 to avoid credential gaps.
- Enroll children in Italian language instruction from day one, regardless of what other schooling arrangements you make. Italian language acquisition in childhood is fast when done consistently; it is the single biggest factor in how smoothly a family integrates during their stay in Italy.
We are a US-accredited international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
