If you are planning a move with children, it is essential to understand schooling in Greece for expat families. From state schools to international campuses, Greece offers several routes – each with different costs, languages and long-term implications for your family.
Moving country with children is never just about property prices and sunshine hours. You are thinking about friendships, language, routine and whether your child will feel settled and supported. Greece appeals to many expat families for its outdoor lifestyle, strong family values and relatively affordable cost of living compared with much of western Europe. Add to that a safe environment and a slower daily rhythm, and it is easy to see why families decide to put down roots here.
Contents
- Understanding the Greek schooling system
- State schools in Greece – what to expect
- Private Greek schools
- International schools in Greece
- Higher education pathways
- Practical considerations when choosing a school
- Emotional adjustment for your children
- Is Greece right for your family?
- Summary
- FAQs about schooling in Greece for expat families
Understanding the Greek schooling system
If you are relocating permanently, you may consider enrolling your child in the Greek state system. Education in Greece is compulsory from age four to 15, covering two years of pre-primary (nipiagogeio), six years of primary school and three years of lower secondary school.
The academic year typically runs from mid-September to mid-June. School days generally begin around 8:15am and finish early afternoon, although all-day school options are available in many areas.
Teaching is delivered in Greek. This is the single biggest consideration for expat families. Younger children often adapt quickly and can become fluent within a year or two, particularly if they are immersed fully. Teenagers may find the transition more challenging, especially if they are approaching important exam years.
State schools in Greece – what to expect
If you choose a Greek state school, you will find a structured curriculum with a strong emphasis on core subjects such as maths, Greek language and literature, history and science. English is taught as a foreign language from primary level, and many children also study a second foreign language such as French or German.
Class sizes vary depending on location, but in urban areas you can expect around 20 to 25 pupils per class. Rural schools may have smaller cohorts.
The advantages for your family include:
- No tuition fees
- Full integration into Greek society
- Rapid language acquisition for younger children
- Building long-term local friendships
However, you should also consider practicalities. Administrative processes can be paperwork-heavy and conducted entirely in Greek. You will need residence documentation, vaccination records and translated school reports. In smaller towns and islands, English-speaking administrative support may be limited.
If your goal is full integration and you are moving long term, state education can work very well – particularly for children under 10.
Private Greek schools
Private schools in Greece follow the national curriculum but often offer enhanced facilities, smaller class sizes and additional foreign language instruction. Fees vary significantly depending on location and reputation, but you can expect annual tuition ranging from around €6,000 to €12,000, with higher fees in Athens’ northern suburbs.
Many private schools place a stronger emphasis on English. Some offer bilingual streams, which can ease the transition for expat children while still keeping them within the Greek system.
If you are planning to stay in Greece permanently and want your child to sit Greek university entrance exams later on, a private Greek school can provide continuity while offering more flexibility than the state system.
International schools in Greece
For many expat families, international schools provide the smoothest transition. These are concentrated mainly in Athens and, to a lesser extent, Thessaloniki and a few popular expat areas such as Crete.
International schools typically teach in English and follow curricula such as the International Baccalaureate, British GCSE and A-levels or the American high school diploma. This can be reassuring if you expect to move again or want to keep university options open in the UK, US or elsewhere.
Fees are higher than Greek private schools. In Athens, annual tuition can range from approximately €8,000 in primary years to more than €15,000 in senior years, depending on the school and programme.
The benefits include:
- Teaching in English
- Globally recognised qualifications
- Multinational student communities
- Structured support for relocating families
The downside is cost and location. If you are buying a home on a smaller island or in a rural area of the Peloponnese, access to an international school may involve a long commute or relocation to a larger city.
Higher education pathways
If you are thinking ahead to university, it helps to understand the broader context.
According to Eurostat, Greece has one of the highest upper secondary education completion rates in the EU, with more than 96% of 20–24 year-olds having completed at least upper secondary education in 2024, compared with an EU average of 84.3%. This suggests strong progression through the secondary system before students move on to higher education.
Public universities are tuition-free for EU citizens, although entry is competitive and based on national examinations.
International school qualifications such as the IB are recognised by Greek universities, though specific grade requirements apply. If your child intends to study outside Greece, an international curriculum may offer more straightforward access to overseas institutions.
Practical considerations when choosing a school
Before you complete on a property, map out schooling options carefully. Visit schools in person if possible. Ask about:
- Language support for non-Greek speakers
- Pastoral care and transition programmes
- Extracurricular activities
- School transport
- Waiting lists and admissions timelines
In popular areas of Athens and on islands with established expat communities, places at international schools can fill quickly. You may need to apply months in advance.
Also consider lifestyle alignment. If you are moving to Crete for a more outdoors-led family life, does the school day schedule allow time for that? If you are settling in a busy suburb of Athens, how will traffic affect the daily commute?
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Emotional adjustment for your children
Academics matter, but emotional wellbeing matters more. Children often take their cues from you. If you approach the move as an exciting chapter rather than a disruption, they are more likely to do the same.
Encourage them to learn basic Greek phrases before arrival. Explore the neighbourhood together. Sign them up for sports clubs or music lessons early on. Greece has a strong community culture, and local activities can accelerate integration.
You may find that within months your child is correcting your pronunciation and translating supermarket labels for you.
Is Greece right for your family?
Schooling in Greece for expat families is not one-size-fits-all. If you want full cultural immersion and are committed long term, the Greek state or private system can offer depth and integration. If you value continuity and flexibility, international schools provide reassurance and portability.
The key is matching your schooling choice to your broader relocation plan. Are you building a permanent base? Keeping options open? Planning a five-year chapter before another move?
When you view properties, think beyond bedrooms and balconies. Think about the school run, parent evenings and weekend sports fixtures. That is what daily life will really look like.
Greece offers warmth – in climate and community. With the right planning, your children can thrive here academically and socially, while you build the life you envisaged when you first started browsing homes overseas.
Summary
In short, moving to Greece with children requires careful thought about language, curriculum and long-term goals. From free state education to international schools in Athens, you have clear options. Align your property choice with schooling access, plan early and your family can settle with confidence and clarity.
FAQs about schooling in Greece for expat families
Greece has a well-established public education system with compulsory schooling from age four to 15. State schools are academically structured and free, while private and international schools offer additional flexibility and English-language pathways. Standards are consistent nationwide, although resources can vary by region. For expat families, the “right” system depends largely on your child’s age, language ability and long-term plans.
Many expat families find Greece an excellent place to raise children thanks to its outdoor lifestyle, strong sense of community and family-oriented culture. Children often benefit from a slower pace of life, plenty of time outside and close-knit neighbourhood networks. Safety levels are generally good by European standards, and family life is highly valued socially.
Public education in Greece is free at primary and secondary level for residents, regardless of nationality, provided you are legally living in the country. Greek public universities do not charge tuition fees to EU citizens for undergraduate study, though entry is competitive. Private and international schools, however, charge annual tuition fees, which can be significant.
