I’ve already spotlighted Zagreb as a great place to live for a multitude of reasons, but things are always more complicated when kids get thrown into the mix. Thankfully, Croatia isn’t short on international schools, and the increasingly popular capital city has you covered. In true Mediterranean form, education begins later in Croatia than it does in most Western European countries.
Don’t be fooled by that however, as this country places a huge amount of emphasis on schooling.
According to the 2021 Census, there are less than four million people living in Croatia, and demographic issues abound. Despite that, there are over 900 primary schools, almost 400 secondary schools, close to 100 public and just over 30 private education institutions dotted all over the country.
With the influx of foreign nationals that have been pouring into Croatia of late – with many of them being highly skilled tech employees working for the likes of Mate Rimac and his empire – you can imagine that the international student population has shot up. That spans kindergarten age children, all the way to those stepping out into the more adult world of university.
There are a lot of talented, highly educated people in Croatia. Whether they choose to actually remain here following the completion of their studies or hop on the first flight to the United Kingdom, Ireland or Germany is another matter entirely. But it can be said with absolute certainty that this country breeds talent across the board.
If you’re a foreigner here with kids who don’t understand the language, a Croatian international school is where you need to be directing your search in getting them not only settled, but set up to succeed.
Croatian, much like all tricky Slavic languages, is notoriously difficult to learn for all those who don’t speak another Slavic language as their native tongue. While there is help on offer for foreign children in state schools where lessons are taught solely in Croatian to help their language skills improve, Croatia appears well aware of the fact that this isn’t a solution for all, and the international school offerings nationwide are quite impressive.
Some of these international schools are recognised on a global level, which speaks volumes about what their programmes teach. International schools in Zagreb and Croatia as a whole teach in the main languages of English, Spanish, French, and German, but other languages are also on offer. This makes things much easier if you have children who would do better to continue their education in their native languages, with Croatian also being drip fed in to help them find their footing both in and out of the classroom.
Regardless of your situation, language and nationality, you’re very likely to find something that will suit your children and not hinder their path as they navigate their schooling.
Here are the international kindergartens and schools on offer in the Croatian capital, which logically
boasts the highest number and widest range of these education institutions in the country:
The British International School of Zagreb
The school opened in 2013. But it’s connected to Kreativan razvoj Primary School, a private educational institution that has been operating for 29 years. BISZ the first Cambridge International School in Croatia, offering a Cambridge Secondary (IGCSE) and Cambridge Advanced (International AS and A Level) qualification. These programmes qualify students to enter apply for any uni program in the world including Ivy League in the United States, European, Commonwealth, and Asian schools.
Boarding is available and you can see the fees here.
The American International School of Zagreb
Kindergarten to 12th grade.
The American International School of Zagreb curriculum is designed to ensure students meet learning standards and grade level benchmarks. Students needing support in learning English as an additional language, academic support, and extension are provided for through the student support services.
The curriculum includes International Baccalaureate.
There’s a lot of current info about activities on the school’s Facebook page.
The Bright Horizons British International School of Zagreb
Founded in 2013, this is a Cambridge Assessment school under the British National Curriculum, but it’s not clear on their website what ages the school accepts though it looks like it starts with a separate kindergarten.
Annual tuition ranges from 8,900 for years 1 thru 6 to 15,000 euros for years 10 and 11.
You can get more information here.
Obzori Kindergarten is the kindergarten, which is at a different site.
Dječji vrtić zvjezdica (The Little Star Kindergarten)
This English-language kindergarten, founded in 1991, is operated by the Croatian American Society, which is funded by American companies. Ages are from 3 to 6 years old and you can enroll here.
Other schools
• MIOC is a Croatian public school specializing in mathematics and computer science, but it has an IB program in English.
• The Matija Gubec International School is a Croatian school with an IB program. Enrollment starts with kindergarten and goes to middle years.
• Ecole Française Internationale de Zagreb has a curriculum only in French.
• Deutsche Internationale Schule Zagreb has a curriculum in German but other languages are spoken.
• Mala kuća International Kindergarten (Little House) offers an English curriculum for children from age 1 to age 7.
• The Learning Tree International Kindergarten is a private school for children ages from 2 to 7.
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See more about Zagreb here in Dispatches’ archives.
Lauren Simmonds
Lauren Simmonds is the editor of Total Croatia News, the largest English language portal in Croatia. She lives in Zagreb, Croatia, and is a translator, content writer, interpreter and the co-author of "Croatia - A Survival Kit for Foreigners," which was published in 2022.
