TOP-10 prestigious primary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic, where international students can get high-quality primary and secondary education

Nowadays, education in Czech schools is compulsory for all students up to grade 9. Students can study in gymnasiums, narodni skola and zakladni skola. Children begin their education after the age of 6: the initial stage lasts 5 years, and another 4 years - the average. After receiving an incomplete secondary education, you can continue to study or begin to work.

Secondary education in Czech schools can also be obtained in English - this format is possible in British and American schools under the IB (International Baccalaureate) programme. Foreign students can enter the international programme from 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 years old.

SMAPSE offers you to choose from 10 best primary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic, where foreign students can get high-quality primary and secondary education. 

Complete secondary education (after grade 9) is provided by several types of educational institutions:

• United Secondary Schools

This is a harmonious combination of academic studies and professional programs that give students initial, fundamental knowledge about various fields of professional activity.

• Gymnasiums (gymnazium)

Here students can study 4 or 6 years, depending on the chosen curriculum. At the end of the course students pass subject and language examinations. With the test results, you can submit documents to the selected institution - as a rule, 2/3 of the students enter chosen universities as the level of preparation is high enough for successful university education.

• Secondary technical schools (stredni technicka skola)

Such schools accept students who plan work or studying in a technical college: education lasts 4 years and ends with a profile exam for maturity.

• Secondary vocational schools (stredni odborna skola)

Here students study for 2.4 or 5 years. Students who have completed a full course and successfully passed final exams can start working.

The school year begins in September, and ends in June. The specialization of a particular school determines the whole set of subjects, but students also can choose additional ones. Mandatory for all is mathematics, the Czech language and national literature, and as an additional one you can get biology, a foreign language, chemistry or physics.

In the list of 10 best schools you will find best educational institutions with primary and secondary school education in the Czech Republic. Also SMAPSE experts have placed for you descriptions and prices for programs and courses, ratings, students' reviews, budget, so that it would be easier for you to choose the most suitable option.

After graduating from 9 grade, the graduate has an opportunity for employment or continuing education during 4 years in leading Czech gymnasium or college. The foreign students, interested in studying in prestigious university in other countries, must study at an elite gymnasium in the Czech Republic. 

To become a student of gymnasium in Czech Republic, participation in a large competition is required. Upon completion of studying, the graduates receive a certificate of secondary full education. To obtain Czech certificate of secondary school education Maturity, it is required to pass two compulsory disciplines, namely Czech language and literature, foreign language and two more subjects, which are independently selected by a foreign student.

You make the right choice of studying in technical or medical school in Czech Republic in case of further enrolment in prestigious university in this direction due to more in-depth academic preparation. Upon graduation from a ranking private gymnasium in the Czech Republic, the students pass exam for obtaining a certificate of maturity, which allows to freely enrol in prestigious university. 

Gymnasiums may differ in the direction of study: humanitarian, natural science or mathematical bias. In case of having certificate Maturity the international students enroll in ranking university in Czech Republic.

Duration of studying varies in Czech vocational schools. Four-year schools in the Czech Republic combine teaching in the framework of an educational secondary school and vocational education. Therefore, graduates have an opportunity to obtain secondary education, work within the specialty, or receiving higher education. 

Please note, that conservatories belong to the types of Czech professional schools, in which duration of studying varies from 6 to 8 years. The foreign students acquire skills in singing, music, dancing, and dramatic art. Czech conservatories provide opportunity to obtain higher education.

• Full immersion in cultural and language environment

• The certificate of secondary education is recognized not only in the Czech Republic, but in other European countries.  

Upon graduation from the advanced gymnasium of the Czech Republic, the students pass unified final exam, allowing not to take entrance exams in Czech universities.  Moreover, due to teaching in Czech in gymnasiums, passing the Czech language exam or confirmation of good level of foreign language is not required in case of enrolment in prestigious university in Czech Republic.  

• Service – «graduating class in Czech Republic» - as a rule, target audience is children, who make a decision to obtain secondary education in Czech Republic and who have finished 8-9 grades. The cost of studying on this educational program is 3,500 euro per the first year of studying, 1,500 euro for the following year. Also to attention of foreign students intensive language courses in Czech are offered. 

Not having sufficient knowledge of the Czech language, the foreign students can face difficulties during adaptation period. Moreover, prestigious schools in Czech Republic accept international students for studying, who do not speak Czech at a good level. It is also necessary to note the high degree of complexity of exams in literature and the Czech language in elite secondary schools in the Czech Republic. All foreign students are given 2 attempts to pass these exams. 

Pre-university program in the Czech language, developed on the basis of Charles University, located in Podebrady, is the most popular among foreign students. To student’s attention educational program, aimed at intensive studying technical, humanitarian, natural sciences in Czech, are offered.  Tuition fee during year accounts on average 5,000 euro. Also educational courses, designed for foreign students, enrolling on Bachelor, Master, postgraduate programs, are developed.