International Schools in Rome: The 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Rome is one of Europe's oldest and most rewarding cities for internationally mobile families. It combines a 2,500-year-old cultural backdrop with an unusually deep choice of international schools — several founded in the 1970s or earlier, some among the longest-established in continental Europe. For families relocating from the UK, the Gulf, Asia or anywhere else, the city offers genuine continuity across the British, American and International Baccalaureate (IB) systems.

This hub guide gives you the overview: who the main schools are, what they cost as of 2026, where families tend to live, and the residency essentials you will need to navigate. Each section links to a dedicated guide that goes deeper.

Why Rome Works for Globally Mobile Families

Three features make Rome stand out. First, curricular breadth: you can choose a fully British pathway through to A-Levels, a US diploma with Advanced Placement, or an IB continuum from age three to eighteen. Second, portability: the IB Diploma and the English National Curriculum are recognised by universities worldwide, so a placement in Rome rarely closes doors for a family that may move again. Third, maturity: many Rome schools have been serving diplomatic, corporate and entrepreneurial families for forty or fifty years and are practised at integrating children who arrive mid-year and speak no Italian.

The Main International Schools in Rome

The table below summarises the principal English-medium international schools. Curricula and age ranges are accurate as of 2026; always verify current details with each school.

School	Founded approx.	Ages	Main curriculum
St. George's British International School	1958	3–18	English National Curriculum, IGCSE, IB Diploma, A-Levels (from 2025/26)
The New School Rome	1972	3–18	English National Curriculum, IGCSE, A-Levels
Marymount International School Rome	1946	3–18	US Diploma, AP, IB Diploma (Catholic, co-ed)
St. Stephen's School	1964	14–18	US Diploma and IB Diploma (day and boarding)
Rome International School	2003	3–18	IB PYP, IGCSE, IB Diploma
Ambrit International School	1981	3–14	IB PYP and MYP
Southlands English School	—	3–18	English National Curriculum, IGCSE, IB
Castelli International School	1977	primary/middle	Cambridge curriculum + Italian ministerial
Core International School	1983	3–11	English National Curriculum + Italian
Greenwood Garden School	1974	2–6	English EYFS (nursery/pre-school)
Notre Dame International	—	varies	International (verify with school)

For the British pathway specifically, see our guide to British schools in Rome. For the IB pathway, see IB schools in Rome.

Fees: What to Budget for in 2026

Rome is more affordable than London, Geneva or Singapore at the top end, but international schooling is still a significant cost. As of 2026, indicative annual tuition runs from around EUR 11,000 in the early years to roughly EUR 28,000 in the senior years at most schools, with St. Stephen's day fees notably higher (around EUR 34,000) reflecting its small, selective sixth-form model and boarding option. One-off enrolment fees of EUR 3,000–7,500 and extras for lunch and transport are normal.

Our international school fees in Rome guide breaks this down school by school and explains the recurring extras families often overlook.

Choosing the Right Area

Where you live in Rome is shaped heavily by school location. Most international schools sit either in the leafy northern districts — Parioli, Pinciano, Flaminio, and the suburban Cassia/Olgiata belt — or in the south near the EUR business district and the FAO headquarters. School bus routes are extensive, but proximity still matters for daily life. See best areas in Rome near schools for a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood breakdown.

Admissions and Waiting Lists

Rome's strongest schools fill early. The practical advice is to begin 9–12 months out, apply during the main autumn window, and treat waiting lists seriously rather than waiting for a single first-choice answer. Our guides on how to apply to international schools in Rome and international school waiting lists in Rome walk through the process and the tactics that work.

Residency Essentials

Schooling sits inside a wider relocation. EU/EEA nationals move to Italy freely; non-EU nationals (including UK citizens post-Brexit) need an appropriate visa and, once in Italy, a permesso di soggiorno. Everyone needs a codice fiscale (tax code) and most families register their residenza (civil residency) with the local comune. Italy also operates a flat-tax regime for qualifying new residents, which can be relevant to higher-net-worth families — though the figures changed recently and professional advice is essential. Our settling your child into school in Rome guide covers the practical side, and our residency and citizenship hub covers the wider picture.

Looking Ahead to University

A Rome international education leads naturally to universities in the UK (via UCAS), the EU, the US and beyond. Fee status — particularly UK "home" versus "international" fees for British families living abroad — is a common source of confusion. See university admissions from Rome international schools.

How Global Investments Can Help

Global Investments has supported internationally mobile families for more than three decades, coordinating the property, residency and wealth-planning decisions that surround an international move. Whether you are weighing a purchase near a particular Rome school, structuring your affairs as a new Italian resident, or planning for university costs years ahead, our advisers can help you see the whole picture and connect you with trusted local specialists. Explore our other guides or get in touch to discuss your relocation.

This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration or financial advice. School fees, curricula, admissions rules and residency and tax regulations change; figures are indicative as of 2026. Investments can fall as well as rise. Always seek qualified professional advice for your circumstances.