This call covers named international/bilingual schools, curricula, and tuition only — other Education subtopics not covered here.
Good to know
Good to Know
- ISF is the only IB World School in Florence and the oldest continuously operating international school in Italy, so it's the default choice for families wanting full IB continuity (PYP through DP).
- Budget beyond tuition: ISF charges a separate one-time, non-refundable Entrance Fee (currently €7,800) on top of annual tuition, plus a non-refundable Application Fee — factor these into a first-year move.
- Bilingual/foreign-curriculum options (Florence Bilingual School, Lycée Victor Hugo, Canadian School of Florence) are generally smaller and less internationally well-known than ISF, and none of them publish full tuition schedules online — you'll need to email or call the school directly for current pricing.
- If a nomad family is only in Florence short-term, note that most of these schools run on standard September–June academic-year enrollment and full-year tuition commitments, not flexible short-term terms.
- If relocating to Florence with school-age kids, start contacting international/bilingual schools as early as possible — ideally 6-12 months out — since class sizes are small and popular grades can have real waitlists, not just for the September intake but especially for mid-year arrivals.
- Vaccination documentation is generally required as part of Italian school enrollment, so have your child's immunization records translated/organized before applying.
- Homeschooling is a genuine, legal option in Italy (istruzione parentale), but it comes with real annual paperwork (a yearly declaration to the local school director) and mandatory annual exams — it is not an informal, no-oversight arrangement.
- There's no dedicated, documented Florence-specific homeschooling co-op that we could confirm — families here currently rely on national Italian homeschooling organizations and general regional Facebook groups rather than a local Florence-only community.
Schools And Curricula
International School of Florence (ISF)
- Locations
- Junior School at Villa le Tavernule (Bagno a Ripoli); Upper School at Villa Torri di Gattaia, near Piazzale Michelangelo
- Curriculum
- IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP); optional Italian Program for host-country students preparing for the Esame di Quinta / Terza Media; historically rooted in an American-curriculum tradition (the school was previously named 'American International School of Florence' before its 2003 rename).
- Ages Served
- 3 to 18/19 (Preschool through Grade 12)
- Accreditation
- IB World Organization, Council of International Schools (CIS), Middle States Association (MSA)
- Boarding Option
- Yes
- Language Of Instruction
- English, with Italian, French, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese offered as additional languages
- Notes
- The only IB World School in Florence and one of the oldest international schools in Europe (founded 1952).
One Time Fees
EUR
EUR
Tuition Annual
- Range Low
- €14,950
- Range High
- €26,420
Florence Bilingual School (FBS)
- Curriculum
- Operates under an Italian 'paritaria' agreement blending the Italian national curriculum with the Cambridge International Pathway; part of the Cognita education group.
- Ages Served
- 1 to 18 (nursery through high school)
- Accreditation
- Cambridge International Pathway assessments; Italian Ministry of Education (paritaria status)
- Tuition Annual
- Not publicly published by the school in available sources — contact the school directly for a current fee schedule.
- Language Of Instruction
- Bilingual Italian–English; from Grade 3, many subjects taught in English (CLIL); a third language (French or Spanish) is offered
- Notes
- Offers DELF/DELE exams as an option and an England-based immersion stay as part of the program.
Lycée Victor Hugo Florence
- Location
- Palazzo Venturi Ginori
- Curriculum
- French national education system (programme français), part of the AEFE network and run under Mission laïque française.
- Ages Served
- Preschool (maternelle) through terminale (~age 18)
- Tuition Annual
- Not found in available sources — AEFE network schools typically publish fee schedules directly; contact the school for current figures.
- Language Of Instruction
- French, with added emphasis on Italian language and culture
- Notes
- Leads to the French Baccalauréat.
Canadian School of Florence
- Founded
- 2017 (formerly known as Blyth Academy of Florence)
- Curriculum
- Ontario (Canada) curriculum integrated with Italian and international standards; Reggio Emilia approach at preschool level; part of the Globeducate international school network.
- Tuition Annual
- Not found in available sources — contact the school directly.
- Leaving Qualification
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma
- Notes
- A comparatively newer and smaller school than ISF, still building out its full program offering.
Homeschooling Italy
- Legal Basis
- Homeschooling (istruzione parentale) is a legal educational option in Italy, grounded in Article 30 of the Italian Constitution and specifically regulated by the Consolidated Education Law (Legislative Decree 297/1994, Articles 111-112), along with Legislative Decree 62/2017 governing assessment.
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Florence Specific Community
- No documented, Florence-specific homeschooling co-op or in-person support group was found during this research; existing structured support (declaration templates, exam-prep guidance, and community connections) comes primarily from national-level organizations such as LAIF (Associazione Istruzione Familiare), the Libera Schola Foundation, and EDUpar, plus informal regional Facebook groups searchable under "istruzione parentale" or "homeschooling Italia," rather than a dedicated Florence-only network.
- Growth Context
- Homeschooling in Italy has grown substantially in recent years, with the Ministry of Education reporting an increase from around 4,000 students before the pandemic to more than 15,000 by 2024, reflecting a broader national trend rather than something specific to Florence.
- Notes On Enforcement
- A recent high-profile case in the Abruzzo region, where children were removed from a homeschooling British-Australian couple, drew renewed attention to Italian homeschooling rules in late 2025; notably, Italy's education ministry confirmed the family had actually complied with homeschooling regulations, and the court's stated concern was about social interaction rather than educational compliance, illustrating that meeting the paperwork/exam requirements does not eliminate all scrutiny.
How It Works
- Families choosing home education must submit a formal declaration to the local school director (dirigente scolastico) each academic year, notifying them of the intent to educate at home rather than automatically pre-approving it.
- Alongside the notification, parents must declare they possess the technical or economic capacity to provide the education themselves, without needing to prove formal teaching qualifications.
- Homeschooled children are required to sit annual exams (esami di idoneità) as external candidates at a state or accredited private school to verify progress and move to the next grade level, and instruction should broadly track the national curriculum, though families have flexibility in how they teach it.
International Bilingual School Enrollment
- Overview
- Florence has a small number of established international/bilingual schools (the city is not a huge expat hub compared to Milan or Rome, so options are limited but well-regarded, and popular entry grades can fill up well before the school year starts).
- Waitlist Reality
- Waitlists are a genuine possibility rather than a formality, particularly for the most in-demand grades and for families arriving mid-year rather than at the September intake. Families relocating on short notice should contact schools directly and early, ask specifically about current availability by grade, and have documents ready to move quickly if a spot opens.
- Typical Application Timeline
- Most families should plan to apply 6-12 months ahead of the intended start date. For a September start, realistic planning means starting the application process the preceding autumn/winter (roughly October-January) rather than waiting until spring or summer, especially for early years, kindergarten, and early primary grades, which tend to be the most competitive because class sizes are small.
Practical Tips
- Contact schools directly for the current year's specific deadlines and fee schedule rather than relying on general guidance, since these details change year to year and were not independently confirmed for this entry.
- Mid-year arrivals (a common nomad/relocation pattern) face tighter availability than families applying for the standard September start.
- Ask each school specifically about sibling priority policies and whether spots vary meaningfully by grade level.
Required Documents Generally Requested
- Completed application form
- Copies of the child's passport and/or residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) where applicable
- Previous school records/transcripts and, if available, an academic reference or report card from the current or most recent school
- Proof of immunization/vaccination records (Italy has vaccine documentation requirements for school enrollment)
- Birth certificate
- Proof of address in Florence or intended residence
- Language assessment or short entrance interview/placement test, especially for older grades entering mid-curriculum
- Application fee (amount varies by school; confirm directly with the school as this was not independently verified at the time of research)
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
This section has no cited sources.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.