International School Waiting Lists in Athens: What Families Need to Know (2026)
Waiting lists are a fact of life at the most sought-after international schools in Athens. Demand — from both the established expat community and Greek families seeking prestigious private education — consistently outpaces supply at certain schools and year groups. Knowing where the pressure points are, and how to manage your family's position, is essential planning for any family relocating to Athens with school-age children.
Where Are the Waiting Lists Longest?
Athens College and Psychico College (HAEF)
Athens College and Psychico College operate under the Hellenic-American Educational Foundation (HAEF) and are among the most academically prestigious schools in Greece. They are also the hardest to enter.
Entry is via competitive examination held annually in March. The examination is sat for three specific entry points: Grade 3 (Elementary), Grade 7 (Junior High School Year 1), and Grade 10 (High School Year 1). Places are limited and the cohort of qualified applicants consistently exceeds available spaces.
The practical consequence:
- Families who miss the March examination deadline for a particular year must wait until the next March — a full year's delay
- Even successful examination candidates may not be offered a place in their preferred year if demand is especially high; they may be placed on a reserve list
- Demand at Grade 7 entry (Junior High Year 1) is particularly acute, as this is the natural entry point from Greek primary schools as well as from families arriving internationally
Realistic planning advice for HAEF: Apply to sit the entrance examination at least one year before you intend your child to start. If a family is planning to be in Athens by September 2027, the application to sit the March 2027 examination should be filed in the preceding October/November at the latest.
Campion School
Campion operates rolling admissions but is not immune to waiting lists. Year 7 (the first year of secondary school under the British curriculum) is the most pressured year group, driven by families arriving from the UK and other British-curriculum countries where Year 7 is the natural transition point. Waiting times for Year 7 at Campion can realistically extend to one to two years at peak demand periods.
Other year groups — particularly in primary (Years 3–6) and in the sixth-form years (Years 12–13) where some students leave for university — tend to see faster movement. Campion's Pallini location also means that families living in the northern suburbs who prefer a closer school may self-select to St. Catherine's, which can ease pressure on Campion's waiting list at certain times.
St. Catherine's British School
St. Catherine's experiences similar patterns to Campion. Year 7 is the most competitive entry point. Nursery and Reception places are often easier to secure (and early registration here can protect a place through to secondary). For families with young children, getting on the St. Catherine's list at Nursery or Reception is a sound strategy even if the secondary school place feels a long way off.
International School of Athens (ISA)
ISA, as Athens's only full IB World School, attracts a distinctive international clientele — UN and EU employees, US expats, and globally mobile professionals who specifically want the IB continuum from Primary Years through to the Diploma. As of 2026, ISA has been expanding its fee schedule and capacity. Waiting times are generally shorter than at Campion or HAEF but can develop at specific year groups, particularly in the upper secondary IB years.
How Waiting Lists Work in Practice
Getting on the list: Contact the registrar, submit your application form and documents (see applying to international schools in Athens), and pay the application fee. The school will confirm your child's position on the list.
Staying on the list: Most schools expect families on waiting lists to confirm their continued interest annually, particularly over the summer. Failure to respond to a school's check-in can result in removal from the list.
Notification of a place: Schools typically notify families as places become available — often when a departing family gives notice. In a mobile expat community, departures can happen at any time of year, not only at the end of a school year.
Deposits and deadlines: When a place is offered from a waiting list, the family is usually given a short window (one to two weeks) to accept and pay the reservation deposit. If you are on multiple lists, you will need to decide quickly.
Managing Multiple Applications
The pragmatic approach for families with a firm relocation date is to apply to all schools for which the child is eligible, simultaneously. This is standard practice and is understood by registrars. If you receive an offer from your second-choice school before your first choice comes through, you face a decision: accept and secure a place now, or continue to wait.
Factors to weigh:
- How firm is your move date? If you need a place by September, a second-choice offer in hand is worth more than a first-choice waiting list position that may not materialise in time
- What is the child's age and year group? Missed school time is more costly at GCSE/IB preparation stages than at early primary
- What are the transport and location implications of each school?
Options While Waiting
A waiting list position does not mean a child cannot be educated in Athens. The most common approaches while waiting include:
Greek private schools with English support: Athens has numerous quality private Greek-medium schools (gymnasia and lycea) that operate alongside international schools. Many educated Greek families choose these for their children. For young children, immersion in a Greek private school can accelerate Greek language acquisition — potentially useful if the family plans a long stay in Greece.
Private tutoring: Home education with a combination of qualified subject tutors and structured online curricula (including UK-accredited distance learning programmes) is used by some families awaiting a place. This requires more parental involvement but can maintain curriculum continuity.
Other international schools: If your preferred school has a long wait but ISA or Doukas has a place, consider whether a temporary enrolment there — maintaining an IB-curriculum pathway — bridges the gap acceptably.
Year Groups with Fastest Movement
As a general guide, year groups with relatively faster waiting list movement at Athens international schools include:
| Year Group | Reason for Faster Movement |
|---|---|
| Early primary (Years 1–4) | More places; higher turnover as families depart mid-year |
| Sixth-form years (Years 12–13) | Some students choose other sixth-form options or depart Greece |
| Post-IGCSE entry (Year 12) | Some families arrive specifically for IB Diploma study |
Year groups with slower movement include Year 7 (secondary transition point), Year 10 (IGCSE start), and Grade 7 at HAEF (major exam entry point).
The Athens vs Rest of Greece Reminder
Waiting lists are an Athens phenomenon. Outside Athens, the problem is not too many families wanting places — it is the absence of schools to attend. If you are considering Greece and international schooling is a requirement, Athens is the only realistic base. See international schools in Athens for the full hub guide.
How Global Investments Can Help
Families who are planning a move to Greece should approach both the school search and the property search in parallel. A property purchase in the right Athens neighbourhood can reduce commute times to your target school and improve your child's daily experience. Our team can advise on Athens property suited to each school's catchment area, and on the Golden Visa residency route for qualifying investors. View our listings or contact us to discuss your plans.
This guide is for information purposes only. Admissions policies and waiting list procedures are subject to change. Always contact schools directly for current information.
Frequently asked questions
How long are waiting lists at Athens international schools?
It varies significantly by school and year group. Athens College/Psychico College (HAEF) is the most constrained — demand for places at Junior High entry (Grade 7) consistently exceeds supply, and families are sometimes advised to wait a full examination cycle. At Campion, St. Catherine's, and ISA, Year 7 waiting lists can extend to one or two years at popular entry points. Other year groups often have quicker movement.
Which Athens international school has the longest waiting list?
Athens College and Psychico College (HAEF) are historically the most difficult to enter, given their competitive examination model, limited places, and very strong local demand from Greek families as well as expats. Among the British curriculum schools, Campion and St. Catherine's experience the most pressure at Year 7.
Can I jump a waiting list at an Athens international school?
No legitimate means exist to bypass a waiting list. Schools do not accept payments or incentives to advance a child's position. The best approach is early registration — within days of confirming your move — and keeping the school updated on any changes to your timeline. Flexibility on year group (if appropriate for the child's age) sometimes opens faster options.
What should my child do while on a waiting list for an Athens international school?
Options include: enrolling temporarily in a quality Greek private school (some offer good English support), home-schooling with a tutor, or enrolling in one of the other international schools with available places while waiting. Younger children in a Greek-medium private school often make rapid language progress, which can be a benefit in itself.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and regulations change frequently; verify current requirements with a qualified adviser before acting.