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.