Schools in Paraguay. International quality, 2–3× cheaper than the US or EU.

— How the system works

Three education levels and the public-private gap.

Paraguay's education system is regulated by the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC, mec.gov.py). To enroll a child after a foreign school year, you'll need MEC to validate the prior transcripts.

• Ages 3–5

  Pre-school (Educación Inicial)

  Optional. Most children attend for early literacy, numeracy, and group socialization.

• Ages 6–14

  Basic schooling (Educación Escolar Básica)

  Mandatory 9 years. Math, language, sciences, social studies, civics.

• Ages 15–18

  Middle education (Educación Media)

  3 years. Choose technical or science-humanities track. Required for university entry.

Start your school search before you move — popular international schools have waitlists, especially in primary grades.

— Top international schools

Asunción: the schools expats actually pick.

Six or seven international schools in Asunción genuinely deliver on what they promise. Annual fees range from US$ 5,700 to US$ 15,000 — a fraction of comparable schools in the US, EU, or other expat hubs.

Most schools require an application fee, parent interview, and (for older grades) entrance exams in Spanish and/or English.

— Beyond Asunción

International school options in other cities.

Ciudad del Este

• International School of Ciudad del Este (ISCDE) — Bilingual Spanish-English. National Paraguayan curriculum with international elements. iscedu.com.py
• St. John's School of Ciudad del Este — Bilingual school with a holistic development approach. saintjohn.edu.py
• Del Sol School — Bilingual with a personalized, family-style approach.
• Las Almenas School — Another bilingual option in the city.
• Berta International School — 18 years of experience, focus on bilingual education and tech skills.

Encarnación

• Limited international options — Encarnación has private schools but few full-international ones. Local expat groups and real-estate agents are the best source for current enrollment leads.

— Preschool & kindergarten

Options for children aged 3–5.

• Programs at international schools — ASA, PAIS, BSA, CCPA School and others run Pre-K and Kindergarten from age 3–5. The most popular expat choice — children acclimate to the language environment and the school early.
• Maple Bear Global Schools — Canadian network that opened in Paraguay in 2024. Bilingual English-Spanish for ages 1.5–5 using Canadian methodology.
• "Semillas del Futuro" (state program) — Government early-childhood program launched 2025 — early-development centers across the country. Targets 280,000 children with safe spaces for early development.

— Sports, arts and clubs

Free state programs and cultural centers.

Free sports schools (SND)

Paraguay's National Sports Secretariat (snd.gov.py) opens enrollment annually for Escuelas Deportivas — sports schools for children and teens aged 6–17. In 2026, 22 sports are offered: football, basketball, volleyball, chess, badminton, fencing, judo, taekwondo, table tennis, squash, beach volleyball, and more. Classes run at the SND complex, the National Aquatic Center, and other Asunción venues.

Arts, music and dance

• Centro Paraguayo Japonés — Founded 1988, this center is a goldmine for families. Classes for children from age 3 in dance, music, fine arts, IT, and languages. Adults 60+ get free English, choir, and gymnastics classes.
• Teatro Agustín Barrios — On the grounds of the Centro Paraguayo Japonés. Year-round music, dance, and theater performances.
• Orquesta de Reciclados de Cateura — World-famous "Recycled Orchestra" — children from low-income families play instruments built from landfill material. More than a club; a symbol of social transformation through music.

Where to find more

• Through the school: international schools run extensive after-school programs from robotics to English-language theater.
• Watch local listings — Asunción runs children's events, fairs, and festivals throughout the year. Local Facebook expat groups are the best information channel.
• Parks: Parque de la Salud in Asunción and similar parks in Encarnación and Ciudad del Este are well-suited for cycling, sports, and weekend outings.

— How to enroll

Four-step enrollment plan.

• 01

  Gather your documents

  Birth certificate (translated to Spanish and apostilled); parent passport + residency document (cédula or carnet de residencia); proof of address (Certificado de Residencia or utility bill); vaccination card (carnet de vacunación); transcripts from the previous school (if applicable).

• 02

  Visit the school

  Contact the school to request the application form (Ficha de Inscripción) and confirm school-specific requirements.

• 03

  Interview & entrance exams

  Most private and international schools interview parents and the child. Some (e.g. Trinity School) administer entrance exams in math and English.

• 04

  Wait for confirmation

  After submission, the school confirms enrollment. Plan ahead — popular schools have waitlists.

— Bottom line

Five things to remember.

• Pick private — for expats, this is the only meaningful quality marker.
• Start 6 months early — gives you time for translations, apostilles, interviews, and waitlists.
• Use sports and clubs to help your child adapt — the fastest route into the language and culture.
• Asunción concentrates the options — but Ciudad del Este has 5 solid bilingual schools too.
• Spanish matters — even in English-language schools, Spanish is critical for socializing outside class. Consider a tutor for the first months.