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Most popular international schools in Italy

· 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.

119
International schools
inc. 14 boarding
€12.9K
Average school fee
For a 12 yr old
478
Average school size
47 – 1,916 students
15.1
Average class size
Range 7 - 22

The 2026 ranking

Italy’s five most-researched schools

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.

1 Sardinia International School — international school in Olbia

Sardinia International School

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.

€9.7K €24.9K
🏷️ €11,895 – 13,170 / year
😊 Ages 6 to 14
📖 Indian Curriculum, British Curriculum, American Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
📍 Olbia
2 Gonzaga International School Palermo — international school in Palermo

Gonzaga International School Palermo

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.

🏷️ Fees not listed
😊 Ages 1 to 18
📖 IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
📍 Palermo
3 International School of Bologna — international school in Bologna

International School of Bologna

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.

€9.7K €24.9K
🏷️ €9,660 – 21,330 / year
😊 Ages 3 to 18
📖 IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
📍 Bologna
4 The British School of Milan - Sir James Henderson — international school in Milan

The British School of Milan - Sir James Henderson

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.

€9.7K €24.9K
🏷️ €14,490 – 24,900 / year
😊 Ages 3 to 18
📖 British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
📍 Milan
5 International School of Rimini — international school in Rimini

International School of Rimini

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.

🏷️ Fees not listed
😊 Ages 3 to 16
📖 IB (PYP), IB (MYP)
📍 Rimini

What’s on offer

Curricula & languages in Italy

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.

Most popular curricula

Number of schools teaching each curriculum.

IB
51
Cambridge
38
British
29
American
13
International
11
Other
27

Languages of instruction

Number of schools teaching in each language.

English
109
Italian
69
French
9
German
6
Spanish
3
Other
1

Size & classes

How big are the schools, and the classes?

School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.

School size, by students

Schools grouped by total enrolment.

Avg 478
21
16
4
2
1
47–420421–794795–1,1681,169–1,5421,543–1,916

Average school size is 478 students · based on the 44 schools that report enrolment.

Class size

Schools grouped by typical class size.

Avg 15.1
3
8
14
6
5–910–1415–1920–24

Average class size is 15.1 students · based on the 31 schools that report it.

What it costs

Annual fees in Italy

Fees shown are one year for a 12-year-old (or the closest age available), excluding one-time enrolment costs.

Fees at a glance

Across the 83 schools that publish a price for a 12-year-old. All figures in EUR.

Minimum
2,250
Average
12,895
Maximum
45,900

Schools by fee band

How many schools sit in each annual-fee range.

€2.3K – 16.8K
66
€16.8K – 31.4K
15
€31.4K – 45.9K
2

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