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Best 10 International Schools in Athens

International Education in Athens

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Greece has known the importance of education for thousands of years. The Ancient Greeks considered schooling so important that they ‘democratized’ it all the way back in the 5th century BC. Nowadays the country, and its capital Athens in particular, is still home to many world-class international schools.

Greece has just emerged from a rough decade of economic hardship during which many of its expats left for pastures new. Things have turned a corner however, and expats are slowly but surely returning. So where do things stand with international schools?

Demand for international schools in Athens is steady, but still remains lower than it was some years ago. While the capital city has plenty of choice, it’s more of a challenge to find an international school elsewhere in Greece. Outside of Thessaloniki, Larissa or Heraklion, it’s almost impossible.

Greeks consider private or international education superior to the country’s public school system. In fact, Greece has one of the highest private school attendance figures in Europe. So you’ll find plenty of local children in Athens’ international schools.

A few international schools in the city were established over a century ago, while some are newer. The older schools tend to be more traditional and are sometimes perceived as more ‘prestigious’, while the newer ones take a modern, global approach to learning. A handful of international schools are run by Christian religious foundations.

Most international schools in Athens are located in the north east of the city in areas such as Gerakas, Agia Paraskevi, Nea Erythrea or Chalandri. A small number of schools can be found closer to the sea along the city’s southern outskirts.

Most schools cater for children from kindergarten age right up until age 18. The IB and British curricula dominate in Athens’ international schools, but that doesn’t mean others can’t be found. The choice is actually quite diverse, although it does tend to be Europe-centric.

Greek is taught as an additional language in most international schools in Athens, with English being the primary language of instruction. Schools that follow a less popular curriculum such as German or French will teach through those languages respectively. A number of schools also offer the Greek national curriculum to cater for the large number of local students.

You can expect much of the same facilities and features in Athens’ international schools as the rest of Europe. These may include school bus services, extra curricular activities, and small class sizes. Native English-speaking teachers, while not ubiquitous, are still a relatively common feature of international schools here.

The school calendar and a typical school day in an international school in Athens will also be similar to the rest of the world. Lessons start around 9am and finish up by 3.30 or 4.00pm. After lessons, extra curricular activities take place. The school day is usually shorter for younger students.

Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Athens according to our users. However, there are another 10 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Athens based on your requirements.

Best 10 International Schools in Athens

Out of a total of 20 International Schools in Athens.

Based on the aggregated preferences of our users in the last 30 days.

Verita International School

We cultivate academic mastery, social-emotional ethical wisdom, and compassionate global citizens.
Curriculum
British, International
Language of instruction
English
Ages
2 to 13
This school does not make their fees public.

Byron College - The British International School

Byron College - The British International School in Athens is a British International School in the northern suburbs of Athens comprising pupils from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds.
Byron is one School on one site and all children share the same day and the same school holidays. The school accepts children from the age of 3 and many stay until they leave to study at university, aged 18.
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €7,100
to: €12,500

Campion School

Campion is a community! We strive to maintain a friendly environment while aiming for academic excellence.
Curriculum
IB, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €8,250
to: €14,200
Reviews
(1 review)

Pierce - The American College of Greece

Pierce - The American College of Greece offers high quality, personalized ( Kindergarten- Elementary- Gymnasium – Lyceum; International Baccalaureate Diploma Program) education. Pierce is one of three divisions of The American College of Greece, the oldest and largest American-based, comprehensive educational institution in Europe. The mission of Pierce is to provide a holistic education to form intellectually independent, morally responsible, socially engaged global citizens. “Non ministrari sed ministrare” (“Not to be served but to serve”) defines our institutional character and our aspiration for our students.
Curriculum
IB, Greek
Languages of instruction
English, Greek
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €9,140
to: €13,200

ACS Athens (American Community Schools)

ACS Athens (American Community Schools) is a student-centered international school, embracing American educational philosophy, principles and values.
Through excellence in teaching and diverse educational experiences, ACS Athens challenges all students to realize their unique potential: academically, intellectually, socially and ethically -- to thrive as responsible global citizens.
Curriculum
IB, American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €6,873
to: €13,509
Reviews
(5 reviews)

St. Catherine's British School

St Catherine’s British School endeavours to foster a love of learning. It strives to provide an environment that respects all cultures, promotes excellence and encourages all to reach their full potential. SCBS' goal is to create lifelong learners and responsible global citizens. Our motto is ''Excellence and Happiness'' which we foster and embrace.
Curriculum
IB, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €8,990
to: €14,540

St. Lawrence College - The British School in Greece

St. Lawrence College - The British School in Greece offers a British education to children ages 3-18, in a modern purpose-built campus set in more than 20 acres of glorious countryside in southern Athens. The school’s stunning location provides the ideal setting for unpressurised learning.
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €8,250
to: €13,386
Reviews
(1 review)

International School of Piraeus

The International School of Piraeus is located in the heart of the city center
It provides an International Nursery, Kindergarten and Elementary school programme for children of Greek and foreign nationals living in Athens and Piraeus.
ISP provides top quality education following the IB methodology in Greek and English language, using the newest educational technologies.
Curriculum
IB
Languages of instruction
English, Greek
Ages
3 to 12
This school does not make their fees public.

International School of Athens

As the only three programme International IB World School in Greece, the International School of Athens offers an academically challenging, socially engaged culturally rich education.
Curriculum
IB
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
This school does not make their fees public.
Reviews
(1 review)
Curriculum
French
Languages of instruction
French, Greek
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €4,550
to: €5,360

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