· updated monthly
The five schools Italy parents researched most this year, chosen from the 119 international schools in the country. Ranked by how many families opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026, then the full picture on curricula, class sizes and fees.
The 2026 ranking
Ranked purely by parent interest — the number of families who opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026.
Sardinia International School occupies a modern campus in Olbia, Italy, offering a multilingual, international education for ages 6 to 18. The school blends British and Italian curricula with pathways toward Cambridge IGCSE and International Baccalaureate Diploma, and it recognises the IB Diploma as equivalent to the Italian maturità. In the Primary School, most instruction is in English while Italian language lessons are taught in Italian, with Italian and English-speaking teachers. The Middle School follows an international curriculum geared toward Licenza Media, with Italian mother-tongue lessons and comprehensive preparation for national exams. Secondary School is planned for 2027/28 to deliver IGCSE and IB Diploma. Facilities include a Main Academic Wing with transformable classrooms, a Glass Classroom for collaborative work, and Creative Huts for Mindset, Music, and Drama. Outdoor learning zones, football field and a multi-sports court support physical activity. The program emphasises bilingual growth, with arts and wellbeing embedded in life.
Gonzaga International School Palermo (ISP) is a private international day school in the heart of Palermo offering the International Baccalaureate continuum from early childhood through graduation. Founded within Istituto Gonzaga in 2008 as part of the Society of Jesus' Jesuit educational network, ISP provides English-medium instruction delivered by native English-speaking teachers, with Italian language and culture integrated to support local heritage. The school serves ages 0–18 and follows the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP), organized in two bienniums (MYP M4–M5 and DP DP1–DP2). Students engage in six IB subject groups, the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and CAS, with Higher and Standard Level options and bilingual diploma possibilities. The campus at Via Piersanti Mattarella houses both Italian and International School programs, a library, laboratories, a chapel, a gym, an auditorium and outdoor spaces, plus a transport link to Polisportiva Gonzaga for after-school sports. Extracurriculars span arts, sports, service learning and leadership activities anchored in Jesuit values and global-minded university preparation.
The International School of Bologna is an IB Continuum school in Bologna's center, serving ages 3 to 18. Instruction is in English in a full-immersion setting, and the school offers PYP for early years and elementary, MYP for middle school, and the DP for high school. This structure supports an IB pathway from 3 to 18 and reflects the school's long-standing commitment to international education. Founded in 2004, ISB has developed its accreditation, including CIS membership and NEASC accreditation. The campus spans 2,000 meters with 25 classrooms, science labs, a library, music and art classrooms, a theatre, outdoor playgrounds, and a gym, plus facilities off-site. The school emphasizes well-rounded learning with on-campus sports, arts spaces, and a broad after-school program featuring clubs in chess, drama, languages such as Italian and Chinese, and digital media. A signature initiative is Festival of Hope, promoting sustainability and service, led by students across Bologna.
The British School of Milan (BSM) is a not-for-profit independent British international day school in Milan, Italy, serving pupils aged 3 to 18. It follows the English National Curriculum from ages 3–16, offers IGCSE in Year 11, and delivers the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the Sixth Form. Nursery to University is structured as Early Years 3–5; Primary 5–11; Senior 11–18. The Via Pisani Dossi campus at 16 provides small class sizes and a broad set of facilities, including a Learning Resource Centre, Science Laboratories, Computer and Digital Suites, a Music Classroom, Drama Studio, Art Classroom and dedicated spaces. The co-curricular programme runs 100+ activities, with an emphasis on music and performing arts, sport, and clubs. Notable features include five choirs, ABRSM instrumental tuition, debates and Model United Nations conferences, and educational trips. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the Sir James Lecture Series are elements, underpinned by pastoral care and engagement.
International School Rimini (ISR), founded in 2018 and part of the BDC Group, is the only IB World School in Romagna. Located in the center of Rimini, ISR is authorized for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). The school currently educates students from Early Years (age 3) through Grade 10, with High School classes opening in September 2026 to continue the MYP curriculum. Instruction is entirely in English, with specific exceptions for Italian and Spanish language classes, all taught by international teachers. A distinctive feature of ISR is its specific educational method focused on "Mediterraneity, Internationality, and Entrepreneurship." This approach actively integrates local Italian heritage with global perspectives. Operating Monday to Friday from 7:45 to 15:30, ISR prepares students to thrive globally through partnerships with other international schools, ensuring a cohesive and continuous educational journey.
What’s on offer
The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 119 schools. Many offer more than one curriculum, so totals run higher than the school count.
Number of schools teaching each curriculum.
Number of schools teaching in each language.
Size & classes
School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.
Schools grouped by total enrolment.
Average school size is 478 students · based on the 44 schools that report enrolment.
Schools grouped by typical class size.
Average class size is 15.1 students · based on the 31 schools that report it.
What it costs
Fees shown are one year for a 12-year-old (or the closest age available), excluding one-time enrolment costs.
Across the 83 schools that publish a price for a 12-year-old. All figures in EUR.
How many schools sit in each annual-fee range.
Tell Doris your budget, your child’s age and what matters most — we will shortlist the right schools in Italy, free and impartial.