Schools in Italy for American families

For American families moving to Italy, school is often the decision that shapes everything else: which city, which neighborhood, and how fast the children need Italian. Italy gives foreign children a clear legal right to attend public school, and it also has a network of international schools, several of them supported by the US State Department. This guide explains how enrollment works, how the right class is chosen, what the calendar looks like, and how to bring US school records.

The right to attend Italian public school

Italian law is unusually direct on this point. Article 45 of Presidential Decree 394 of 1999, published by the Ministry of Education, says that foreign minors present in Italy have the right to education regardless of their residence status, in the same forms as Italian citizens, and that they are subject to compulsory schooling under the rules in force. Enrollment of foreign children happens in the same ways and on the same conditions as for Italian children, and it can be requested at any time during the school year.

The Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM) repeats this in its guidance on placing foreign students, and the Prefecture of Rome summarizes it for families: foreign minors have the right to education, are subject to compulsory schooling, and can enroll at any point in the year. If documents are missing or incomplete, a parent declares the child's details under their own responsibility and the child is enrolled "con riserva" (provisionally). MIM and the decree both state that provisional enrollment does not prevent the child from earning the final qualifications.

For an American family with a residence permit, the practical point is simple: you do not need to wait for every document to be in order before your child starts school.

How enrollment works

At the start of the school year. MIM's guidelines explain that enrollment in state schools for the first year of each cycle is done online through the Ministry's enrollment portal. Families register on the portal and fill in the application prepared by the chosen school. The guidelines add that families without internet access can ask any school for help, because online enrollment must never become an obstacle to the right to study.

During the year. If you arrive after the school year has started, you contact the school directly. Enrollment mid-year is expressly allowed.

Documents. Expect to provide the child's identity document, the codice fiscale, vaccination records and any school records you have. Children without a codice fiscale can still be enrolled; MIM's guidelines say the school then completes the application itself.

Which class your child joins

The decree sets the default rule: children are placed in the class that matches their age. The teachers' board (collegio dei docenti) may decide on a different class, one year lower or higher, taking into account:

• the school system of the country of origin
• an assessment of the child's skills and level of preparation
• the course of study followed in the country of origin
• any qualification already held

This matters for Americans because grade boundaries and cut-off dates differ between the two systems. Bring report cards, course descriptions and standardized test results so the school can make the assessment.

The decree also requires the teachers' board to adapt teaching to the level of each foreign pupil, and it allows intensive Italian language courses. Children who arrive with little Italian usually receive some language support, though the form varies by school.

Older students and diplomas

For teenagers past the compulsory middle-school stage, MIM explains that placement in upper secondary school depends on the student's prior studies. For students from outside the EU, the class council evaluates the request, taking age into account, and may schedule an integration exam if needed.

For placement, MIM lists the documents to present:

• a certificate of years of schooling or the qualification, signed by the head of the school attended and legalized by the Italian diplomatic or consular authority in the country of origin
• the dichiarazione di valore (declaration of value) and a sworn translation of the qualification or certificate

For US documents, this means collecting transcripts and diplomas before you leave and arranging the consular paperwork in the United States. The Foreign Ministry explains that the dichiarazione di valore is issued by the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the place where the qualification was earned. It describes the qualification but does not by itself grant equivalence.

The school calendar

Each region sets its own school calendar within national rules, and MIM publishes a summary of the regional calendars every year. For the 2026/2027 school year, lessons start in mid-September in most regions: according to MIM's summary, Lombardy starts on 14 September, while Lazio, Tuscany and Campania start on 15 September. National holidays and the local patron saint's day are school holidays everywhere. Check your region's calendar on the MIM site for exact dates of Christmas and Easter breaks.

International and American schools

Families who expect a short stay, or who want the child to continue in an English-language curriculum, often look at international schools. The US State Department's Office of Overseas Schools publishes fact sheets on schools it assists abroad. For Italy, its 2026 fact sheets cover:

• the American Overseas School of Rome
• the American School of Milan
• the International School of Florence

The fact sheets give enrollment, faculty, curriculum and tuition figures supplied by the schools. These are private schools with their own admissions processes and fees. Other private international and bilingual schools exist in Italian cities; check their accreditation and how their diplomas are recognized in the United States and in Italy.

Choosing between public and international school

A few points to weigh:

• Length of stay. Public school builds fluent Italian and local friendships; international school offers continuity if you plan to return to the United States soon.
• Age. Younger children typically adjust to Italian quickly. Teenagers face higher stakes because of exams and diploma recognition.
• Cost. State schools are free to attend, apart from books and supplies at some levels. International schools charge tuition, listed in the State Department fact sheets.
• Location. International schools are concentrated in large cities, which may decide where you live.

Before you move: a checklist

1. Request transcripts, report cards and immunization records from your child's US school.
2. Ask the Italian consulate covering your area about legalization and the dichiarazione di valore.
3. Get a sworn Italian translation where required.
4. Check the regional school calendar on the MIM site.
5. Contact schools in your future neighborhood, or the international schools, well before you arrive.

Common questions

Can my child attend Italian public school before our residence permit is issued? Yes. Article 45 of Presidential Decree 394 of 1999 gives foreign minors the right to education regardless of residence status, and children with incomplete documents are enrolled provisionally.

Can we enroll in the middle of the school year? Yes. The decree says enrollment can be requested at any time during the school year.

Which grade will my child join? The class matching their age, unless the teachers' board places them one year lower or higher based on their prior schooling and an assessment of their skills.

Are there American schools in Italy? Yes. The State Department's Office of Overseas Schools publishes fact sheets on assisted schools in Rome, Milan and Florence. They are private and charge tuition.