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Below, we discuss some of the main types of private and non-public schools in Warsaw. Keep in mind, this isn’t an exhaustive list.
Living arrangements
Boarding schools: Warsaw boarding schools offer room and board. Since many offer day programs as well, these schools tend to have both international and domestic students. Boarding schools thus often have diverse student bodies. They also normally feature international education programs (such as IB), challenging academics, leadership programs, and close-knit communities.
Day schools: Warsaw day schools come in all different flavours. Each has their own special focus, curricular philosophy, teaching approach, and more. While these schools don’t offer room and board, most are open to both domestic and international students. Some may offer international students assistance in finding living accommodations.
Age levels
Preschool: Preschool (or pre-primary school) is geared toward kids from three to six years old. Some Warsaw schools also have programs for infants and toddlers (from birth to 12 months) as well. Preschool is optional in Poland, except for the so-called “zero year” which is compulsory for all Polish children. This year is meant to help kids get off to a good start in elementary school.
Elementary school: Elementary (or primary) school is for kids from age 7 to 13. Along with the final (zero) year of preschool, it’s the only mandatory level of education for Polish kids. Elementary school in Poland is divided into two stages. The first stage (I Etap), Grades 1 to 3, involves more integrated teaching. The second stage (II Etap) covers Grades 4 to 6, and involves more subject-specific teaching.
Middle school: Middle (or junior high) school is also sometimes called “lower secondary schools.” It covers grades 7 to 9 or the ages of 13 to 16 (equivalent to schools in Canada and the US). While middle school is no longer mandatory for Polish kids, many do attend it. It’s the third stage of education (III Etap) in Poland and covers stages 1 to 3.
High school: High (or upper secondary) school is also optional in Poland. These schools are for kids from age 16 to 20, which is roughly equivalent to grades 10 to 12 and the first 2 years of university or college in North America. Poland high schools are meant to prepare students for upper secondary school (i.e., university or college). They also prepare students for the workforce, though they don’t provide them with any professional credentials.
Curriculum
Montessori schools: There are Montessori schools (and preschools) in Warsaw and throughout Poland. These schools follow the student-centred educational philosophy of Maria Montessori. They offer self-directed learning, individualized curricula, hands-on learning (especial at the lower levels), child-to-child teaching, and more. Many Poland Montessori schools (including those in Warsaw) are accredited by a Montessori certifying body, such as the Polish Montessori Institute or the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI).
Special needs schools: Special needs schools provide support for students with one or more learning, developmental, or physical disability. Private learning disability schools, which may support kids with ADD or dyslexia, are especially common in Warsaw. Some schools have full-time special needs support, while others offer part-time support (for instance, through a special education class or in-class accommodations).
Social schools: Social schools in Warsaw, Poland are normally non-public (and non-profit) schools created by social organizations, such as the Social Education Association (STO) in Poland. These schools feature plenty of parent involvement: parents often work closely with teachers, staff, and students. They also aim to cultivate the social skills and competencies of students. As the STO puts it, “It’s about shaping a student as a person: in a mental, social, cultural, and physical sense.”
Language schools: Many private and non-public schools in Warsaw offer language programs. Many Warsaw international schools use English as the main language of instruction. And many offer intensive courses in other languages, such as French, Italian, Spanish, and German. These schools can be ideal for both international students and Polish kids who are looking for a challenge and are interested in languages.
International schools: International schools in Warsaw have many foreign students, including from Canada, the United States (US), Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and Korea. Often, these schools, provide English-language instruction. Some also offer bilingual, Polish-English instruction. Like all Poland international schools, these schools normally have a challenging curriculum, with international programs such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), which can be offered in the primary, middle, and high school years. Many international schools also admit local residents, from Warsaw, but also from other cities in Poland, such as Kraków, Poznań, Wrocław, Łódź, Gdańsk, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Lublin, and Rzeszów.
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