Acorn International School vs Rome International School

	A Acorn International School Rome, Italy	R Rome International School Rome, Italy
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €9,000 - 14,900	Fees / year €10,500 - 27,755
Age range	Age range 3 - 19 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Reggio Emilia Approach	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils 400	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 18	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Italian	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1999	Opened 1988
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Vejo Park Campus, Via della Giustiniana, 1200, 00189 Roma (RM), in the Vejo Park area of northern Rome, Italy.	Location Via Guglielmo Pecori Giraldi, 137, 00135 Rome, Italy. The RIS Rome campus sits in Monte Mario Natural Reserve in north-west Rome, close to the city centre, on more than 3 hectares of natural parkland.
Stages	Stages Early Years; Primary School; Middle School; High School.	Stages Early Years (ages 2-5); Elementary School (ages 5-11); Middle School (ages 12-14); High School (ages 14-18). The school offers the IB Primary Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme, together with Cambridge IGCSE.
School type	School type Dual curriculum (English/Italian); IB World School.	School type IB World School offering the IB Primary Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme, and Cambridge IGCSE.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix More than 30 nationalities are represented.	Pupil nationality mix 60+ nationalities represented.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support English language support is provided for students who need improvement.	Additional learning support In very special circumstances, external support for the student is guaranteed, which may be provided as additional tutoring at home or continuous support in normal lessons by a qualified specialist.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Italy	Country affiliation Italy
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The school day starts at 08:30. The campus has three lunchrooms serving organic lunches; Middle and High School have a self-service lunchroom.
Bus service details	Bus service details A bus and shuttle service is offered, with routes designed to provide a safe, timely, and cost-efficient journey to and from school; students come from across Rome, including Castelli and Bracciano.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / registration / enrolment fees - An admission / enrolment / registration fee is required at the time families submit the enrolment form and secure a place. Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year) - The school does not publish a full, itemised tuition fee schedule by year group or per term for the current academic year on its public pages. No definitive per-term or per-year tuition numbers for Early Years, Primary, Middle or High School are publicly available on the school's published pages. Billing schedule and payment terms (school-wide and specific services) - Payment timing for the general school tuition and the detailed billing schedule (term dates, instalment dates, discounts or penalties) are not published in a public, itemised schedule on the school's site. - School bus service billing and instalment dates are published by the bus provider used by the school: a registration fee is payable by mid‑June with the balance split into two instalments (example schedule: first instalment by July 15 and second instalment by December 15 for the school year). Late-payment and non‑refund terms for the bus service are stated by the provider. Specific amounts for routes and service types are available from the bus provider. Boarding fees - Acorn International School operates as a day school with bus and on‑campus services; there is no published boarding or residential provision and no boarding fees are listed. Other costs and typical additional fees - Bus / school-transport fees: annual fees and the provider's registration and instalment schedule are published by the school's transport supplier. Example service-type annual amounts and the registration/instalment schedule are published by the transport provider. - Cambridge English and extra-curricular course fees: the school publishes fees for its short/term Cambridge English courses and individual tuition packages (examples: Weekly group course €590 + €70 enrolment; Bi-weekly 80-hour course €1,000 + €70 enrolment; private 20-hour package €750 + €70 enrolment). These items are charged separately from standard school tuition. - Summer school / camp: the summer programme is offered with lunch and snacks included in the camp fee; transport meeting points (where provided) are charged as an additional fee. Specific summer-camp fees and transport supplements are published seasonally for the camp. - Canteen / lunches: the school operates an internal canteen (lunch and healthy snacks) but individual lunch-price items are not published on the school pages. - Uniforms and textbooks: the school requires standard school uniforms and textbooks for the relevant year groups, but specific uniform pricing and textbook charges are not published on the school's public pages. Refund information - Transport (bus) provider: the provider states that the registration fee and any instalments already paid for the bus service are non-refundable in case of cancellation of the bus service. - For other school fees (tuition, enrolment, lunches, uniforms, textbooks, exams), no public, itemised refund policy or full fee refund schedule is published on the school's public pages; specific refund and cancellation rules are handled in the school's terms and conditions and are provided at enrolment. Fee payment options - Bus / transport payments: the transport provider accepts bank transfers and publishes full bank details (IBAN and BIC/SWIFT) for payment to the transport company. Example banking details are provided by the provider for school-bus payments. - The school's public pages do not publish a complete list of accepted payment methods for general tuition (for example: whether tuition can be paid by credit card, online card payment, direct debit or bank transfer). Parents are required to complete the enrolment process and follow the school's invoicing instructions at registration. Availability note (what is and is not publicly published) - Publicly available and itemised fees on the Acorn pages include short-course (Cambridge) programme fees, summer-school inclusions (lunch included for camp), and the transport provider's fees and payment schedule. - The school's detailed annual tuition schedule by year group (per term / per year), exact admission/enrolment fee amounts, uniform and canteen price lists, and the school's full refund terms for tuition are not published in an itemised fee schedule on the school's public pages; these details are held in the school's formal fee schedule and enrolment paperwork. Where a specific numeric tuition table or per-term breakdown is required, the school's admissions or finance office holds the current, definitive fee schedule.	Fee details Application & Registration Fees - Admission Fee (one‑time, “una tantum”): - Early Years: EUR 500. - Elementary (Year 1–6): EUR 1,000. - Middle & High School (Year 7–13): EUR 2,000. - Registration Fee (annual): - Nursery to Year 9: EUR 610 per year. - Year 10 to Year 13: EUR 715 per year. Tuition fees by year group (annual amounts, Euros) - Early Years (annual tuition): - Nursery & Kindergarten: EUR 10,500 per year. Lunch fee (annual): EUR 1,355. - Transition: EUR 11,480 per year. Lunch fee included in Early Years lunch rate: EUR 1,355. - Elementary School (annual tuition): - Year 1: EUR 16,240 per year. Lunch fee (annual): EUR 1,550. - Year 2: EUR 18,080 per year. Lunch fee (annual): EUR 1,550. - Year 3 / Year 4: EUR 20,665 per year. Lunch fee (annual): EUR 1,550. - Year 5 / Year 6: EUR 21,350 per year. Lunch fee (annual): EUR 1,550. - Middle School (annual tuition): - Year 7 / Year 8 / Year 9: EUR 24,140 per year. Lunch fee (annual): EUR 1,550. - High School (annual tuition): - Year 10 & Year 11: EUR 26,160 per year. Lunch fee (annual) Years 10–12: EUR 1,550. - Year 12 & Year 13: EUR 27,755 per year. Lunch fee (annual) Year 13: EUR 1,355. Billing schedule and how annual tuition is collected (instalments and lunch billing) - Tuition instalment schedule (three instalments): - First instalment: 25% of annual tuition at the time of (re-)enrolment. - Second instalment: 50% of annual tuition by August 31 (due date for the second payment). - Third instalment: 25% of annual tuition by November 30. - For an annual tuition amount X the three payments therefore are: 25% of X, 50% of X, and 25% of X due on the dates above. - Illustrative instalment amounts (examples by year group): - Nursery/Kindergarten (EUR 10,500): First EUR 2,625.00 · Second EUR 5,250.00 · Third EUR 2,625.00. - Transition (EUR 11,480): First EUR 2,870.00 · Second EUR 5,740.00 · Third EUR 2,870.00. - Year 1 (EUR 16,240): First EUR 4,060.00 · Second EUR 8,120.00 · Third EUR 4,060.00. - Year 2 (EUR 18,080): First EUR 4,520.00 · Second EUR 9,040.00 · Third EUR 4,520.00. - Year 3/4 (EUR 20,665): First EUR 5,166.25 · Second EUR 10,332.50 · Third EUR 5,166.25. - Year 5/6 (EUR 21,350): First EUR 5,337.50 · Second EUR 10,675.00 · Third EUR 5,337.50. - Year 7/8/9 (EUR 24,140): First EUR 6,035.00 · Second EUR 12,070.00 · Third EUR 6,035.00. - Year 10/11 (EUR 26,160): First EUR 6,540.00 · Second EUR 13,080.00 · Third EUR 6,540.00. - Year 12/13 (EUR 27,755): First EUR 6,938.75 · Second EUR 13,877.50 · Third EUR 6,938.75. - Lunch fee billing (annual lunch fee is listed separately): - Early Years lunch fee EUR 1,355 per year; Elementary to Year 12 lunch fee EUR 1,550 per year; Year 13 lunch fee EUR 1,355 per year. Lunch fees are billed as follows: 50% by August 31 and 50% by November 30. Example: For a EUR 1,550 lunch fee the two payments are EUR 775.00 and EUR 775.00. Discounts and sibling reductions - A 4% discount on the tuition fee is applied if the full annual tuition is paid in a single annual payment by the school's payment plan date. Sibling reductions are available: 10% reduction for the second child, 20% for the third child, and 40% for the fourth or subsequent children. Boarding fees - Boarding fees are not applicable: Rome International School operates as a day school and no boarding fee line items are published. Other costs and additional fees - Mandatory/exam fees (additional to tuition): - Cambridge Checkpoint Exams (Year 9): EUR 80 per subject (payable in the exam billing month). - IGCSE exam fees (Year 10 and 11): EUR 140 per subject (payable in the exam billing month). - IB exam fees (Year 13): EUR 1,400 per student (payable on presentation of the exam application). Re‑takes and re‑marks are charged separately and may be confirmed for specific academic years. - Costs explicitly excluded from published tuition: didactic visits and educational trips, external exam fees beyond those listed above, school uniforms, textbooks for Middle and High School (parents purchase from specialist providers), pre- and post-school care, school bus service, extracurricular activities, and Summer Camp. These items are charged separately. - “Bring a friend” and similar promotional reductions may be offered from time to time; any such reductions are applied according to the school's current offers. Refund information - The school's publicly posted fee information and tuition terms list instalment schedules, discounts and excluded costs but do not publish a single, explicit general refund policy for all fee types in the same fee summary. Specific conditions on refunds, withdrawal consequences and any pro‑rata refunds are set out in the enrolment/contractual documentation and the school's formal policies and parent handbook. Parents should expect the enrolment fee/admission fee to be treated as non‑recurring and to review the enrolment contract for the school's precise refund and withdrawal conditions. Fee payment options and practical notes - Payment methods accepted: bank transfer, cheque, credit card or cash (within legal limits). VAT: published tuition amounts are VAT exempt under the relevant Italian decree. Fees cover tuition from September to June as per the school calendar; compulsory lunch fee is listed separately. Additional services and items listed above are charged separately.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school offers a dual curriculum that integrates the UK curriculum with the Italian national curriculum. It serves students from age 3 to 19 and includes Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, and International Baccalaureate High School.	Curriculum details RIS Rome is an IB World School and a Cambridge IGCSE examination centre. The Primary Years Programme is offered in the Early Years and Elementary, integrated with the Italian curriculum. The Middle Years Programme (ages 12–14) leads to the Cambridge IGCSE (ages 14–16). The High School offers the IB Diploma Programme with equivalency to the Italian Maturità. RIS Rome is the only school in Rome authorised to offer the PYP and the IB Diploma Programme. The Italian Ministerial Curriculum is also offered in Early Years, Elementary and Middle School (Licenza Media), with some hours for Italian language study; all Year 11 students study Cambridge IGCSE Italian, while Italian A and Italian B options apply in the Diploma.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Average class size is 18 students.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results Students achieve top results in their exams and in their study path beyond Acorn.	Exam results In 2025, Terza Media exams achieved a 100% pass rate, with several perfect scores.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Includes an International Baccalaureate High School as part of its curriculum, supporting study beyond Acorn.	Higher education progression RIS Rome provides university preparation and guidance through a Careers and University Counsellor. The university application process is a two-year exercise with workshops, one-to-one meetings, university fairs and lectures. Students receive personalised support to identify study areas and career ambitions and to select universities worldwide; recent destinations include the University of St Andrews, Imperial College London, the University of Bath, the University of Warwick, LUISS, the University of Exeter, and others. Students applying to universities in Europe, the USA, Canada or the UK receive tailored assistance.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions The school has a five-step application process: 1. Initial Enquiry 2. Parents' Visit 3. Children's Visit 4. Open Day 5. Acceptance. The Initial Enquiry is submitted online by clicking Enquire and should be accompanied by the previous two years of school reports (where applicable) and a motivational letter explaining the reasons for applying, including any mid-cycle entry considerations. An initial visit with the Principal is arranged, providing a tour and informal questions; this visit is essential to understand the school's approaches. If the initial visit is successful, a time is scheduled for the child to visit the school, meet the prospective class teacher, and undergo a formal interview or entry test. If parents wish to continue, the child may have a day trial placement in the relevant class (longer if possible); after the trial, the parents meet with the Head of School and the class teacher to discuss the application and the school ethos, and the trial may be extended if deemed necessary by the admissions board. Parents must confirm unequivocal commitment to the dual curriculum and to respect school policies; if all agree, a place is offered. The first term is a probationary period to ensure the child settles in. Enquiring families may be placed on a temporary waiting list according to space availability. Age entrance for 2026-2027 is by age with a December 31 birthday cutoff, with grade placement determined by birth dates as follows: Early childhood (EC) born 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024; Preschool born 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023; Reception born 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022; Year 1 born 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021; Year 2 born 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020; Year 3 born 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2019; Year 4 born 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2018; Year 5 born 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017; Year 6 born 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2016; Year 7 born 1 January 2015 – 31 December 2015; Year 8 born 1 January 2014 – 31 December 2014; Year 9 born 1 January 2013 – 31 December 2013; Year 10 born 1 January 2012 – 31 December 2012; Year 11 born 1 January 2011 – 31 December 2011; Year 12 born 1 January 2010 – 31 December 2010; Year 13 born 1 January 2009 – 31 December 2009.	Admissions 1. Initial Enquiry and School Contact Parents initiate the admissions process by completing and submitting the online Admissions Enquiry Form on the school's website. Following this submission, the Admissions team contacts the family to provide specific guidance on how to move the application forward. During this initial stage, parents can also arrange virtual or in-person campus visits or attend open days to meet the leadership team. It is helpful for families to use this initial contact to ask about class capacity and specific curriculum paths. 2. Submission of Documentation Once the inquiry is made, parents must compile and submit a comprehensive set of required documents to the school. This documentation includes the completed Enquiry Form, copies of the applicant's birth certificate and passport, a completed Medical Information Form signed by a parent or guardian, and official school reports for the past two years (translated into English if applicable). Additionally, recommendation forms must be sent directly to Rome International School from the student’s current school. Parents should note that previous school reports are not required for applicants under five years of age. 3. Academic Review and Assessments After receiving all documents, the school's Senior Management Team evaluates the application based on academic, behavioural, and language development history. For Middle and High School applicants, the school requests a Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) assessment prior to enrolment. Placement in a specific grade depends on multiple factors, including the student's age, an interview, academic entrance tests for secondary levels, and consultations with parents. Parents must be aware that class placement relies on the student's age as of September 30th, since the school year follows a September-to-August calendar. 4. Application Outcome and Communication The Senior Management Team finalises their decision after checking the entry criteria, which require families to respect the school's philosophy and demonstrate the student's ability to thrive in an English-instruction international environment. The official outcome of the admissions application is communicated to the family within seven working days of full submission. If the application is not accepted, any standard application sums paid up to that point are returned to the family. Parents should monitor their communication channels closely during this week-long window for the formal decision letter. 5. Enrolment Finalisation Upon receiving an acceptance offer, parents must complete the enrolment procedure in person at the school's admissions office. This step requires the physical presence of the parents or guardians to provide necessary legal signatures on the enrolment contracts. At this stage, families will also arrange the payment of applicable registration and tuition fees, which vary depending on the year group. Parents should prepare for this final visit by coordinating schedules with the enrolment team to secure the student's place.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships Rome International School offers a dedicated Scholarship Fund that provides financial assistance to qualified students based on merit and financial need. The school typically allocates four scholarships per academic year: two for the Elementary School and two for the Middle/High School. These awards can provide full coverage of annual tuition fees. In the Middle and High School sections, the school may also split a full award into two partial scholarships covering 50% of the tuition fees to recognise special student merit.
Waitlist	Waitlist Waiting list for school year '25-'26 and '26-'27: For the 2025-26 school year, limited places are available in some classes and many sections have waiting lists. For 2026-27, until January 31, 2026, enrolled students have priority to enter the next class; after that date, external students are admitted until places are filled; most classes also have waiting lists for external students.	Waitlist —
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