Updated 2026 · 80+ private schools in Asunción · MEC-regulated
Schools in Paraguay. Top schools at US$ 4,000–9,200/year. Same curricula as Boston or Berlin.
Annual fees at top international schools in Asunción run from US$ 4,000 to US$ 9,200 (top tier — American School of Asunción) — a fraction of equivalent expat schools elsewhere, and a manageable line in the local cost of living. Public schools are free but underfunded; almost all expats choose private. Start your search 6 months out; waitlists are real.
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.
Public schools
Free, but chronically underfunded with weak infrastructure.
Private schools
The de-facto standard for expats and middle-class Paraguayans. ~80 in Asunción alone, 400+ countrywide. The public/private split is the line that matters here.
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 schools in Asunción are the ones expats actually pick. The full list runs ~80 deep. Annual fees at the top tier range from US$ 4,000 to US$ 9,200 (American School of Asunción tops the list per the 2025 US State Department fact sheet).
| School | Location | Grades | Curriculum | Languages | Annual fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American School of Asunción (ASA) | Av. España 1175, Villa Morra | Pre-K – 12 | American + MEC diploma | English, Spanish | Pre-K $5,700 / K-12 $9,200 |
| Pan American International School (PAIS) | Luque (near airport) | Preschool – 12 | American + MEC diploma | English, Spanish | On request |
| St. Anne's School | Asunción | Preschool – 12 | British + Paraguayan | English, Spanish | On request |
| The British School of Asunción (BSA) | Asunción | Preschool – 12 | British (IGCSE, A-Levels) | English, Spanish, French | On request |
| Colegio Goethe (Deutsche Schule Asunción) | Cnel. Silva esq. Tte. Rocholl, Asunción | Pre-K – 12 | German + IB Diploma Programme + Abitur | German, Spanish, English | On request |
| Colegio Alemán Concordia | Asunción | K – 12 | German + MEC, multilingual (founded 1976 by German-speaking Mennonites) | German, Spanish, English, Guaraní | On request |
| Asunción Christian Academy (ACA) | Av. Santísimo Sacramento 1181, Asunción | Pre-K – 12 | American with Christian focus (ACSI/COGNIA/MEC dual diploma) | English (Spanish second) | On request |
| Del Sol School | Asunción | Preschool – 12 | Bilingual | English, Spanish | On request |
| CCPA School | Asunción | Pre-K – 12 | Bilingual (non-profit) | English, Spanish | On request |
| Trinity School | Luque | K – 12 | STEAM + American standards | English, Spanish | On request |
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 March 2025 — comprehensive early-development centers being built nationwide, with US$ 100M+ committed through 2028 and 100 centers planned across all 17 departments and the capital.
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. In 2026, 22 disciplines are offered: chess, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, fencing, football, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, handball, judo, karate-do, Olympic wrestling, swimming, padel, artistic skating, squash, taekwondo ITF, tennis, table tennis, indoor volleyball, and beach volleyball. Adults have a separate "Actívate-Vida Sana" program (boxing + zumba). Classes run at the SND complex, Centro Acuático Nacional, San Francisco/Cateura/La Chacarita community centers and indigenous communities in the interior.
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 — The Recycled Orchestra: children from low-income families play instruments built from landfill material. The story has toured worldwide; the program still runs in Cateura.
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
What actually matters.
- Pick private. Start six months out. Put the kid in an SND sports school the same month you arrive — that's where Spanish gets learned, on the football pitch, not the classroom.
- Asunción concentrates the options; Ciudad del Este has five solid bilingual schools if you're settling there.
- Even at English-language schools, Spanish is what determines whether your child has friends. Plan a tutor for the first three months.
FAQ
Schools in Paraguay — common questions
How much do international schools in Paraguay cost?
Annual fees at top international schools in Asunción run from US$ 4,000 to US$ 9,200, with the American School of Asunción at the top of the range — a fraction of equivalent expat schools elsewhere. Most schools also charge an application fee, and older grades may require entrance exams in Spanish and/or English.
Are there good schools in Paraguay for expat children?
Yes — Asunción has around 80 private schools, including six or seven international schools that expats consistently choose, such as the American School of Asunción, the British School, and Colegio Goethe. They follow American, British, German, or IB curricula. Ciudad del Este adds five solid bilingual schools for families settling in the east.
Are public schools in Paraguay free?
Yes — public schools in Paraguay are free, but they are chronically underfunded with weak infrastructure. Because of that gap, private schools are the de-facto standard for expats and middle-class Paraguayans alike. The public-versus-private divide matters more here than how Paraguay compares to your home country.
When should I start looking for a school in Paraguay?
Start your search about six months before you move. Popular international schools have real waitlists, especially in primary grades, so early contact matters. Enrollment is a four-step process: gather documents, visit the school, complete an interview and any entrance exams, then wait for confirmation.
Do my child's foreign school records work in Paraguay?
They do, but the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC) must validate the prior transcripts before a child can enroll after a foreign school year. You'll bring transcripts from the previous school along with an apostilled, Spanish-translated birth certificate and the family's residency documents.
How will my child learn Spanish in Paraguay?
Even at English-language international schools, Spanish is what determines whether your child makes friends — so plan for it actively. A good route is enrolling the child in a free SND sports school the same month you arrive, where Spanish gets learned on the football pitch, plus a tutor for the first three months.
Sources
Verify with official sources
Every fact on this page links to a Paraguayan government authority or accepted third-party data source.
- MEC — Ministry of Education and Sciences mec.gov.py ↗
School registration, curriculum, foreign-transcript validation.
- SND — National Sports Secretariat snd.gov.py ↗
Free Escuelas Deportivas after-school sports programs (ages 6–17).
Plan your move
Need help picking a school for your child?
Book a consultation and we'll match your child's age, language level, and timeline to the right school in Asunción or Ciudad del Este — before you fly.