Private and international schools in Croatia

Private and international schools in Croatia: a parent’s guide

Start with the place where your family will live, then compare the teaching language and programme for your child’s grade. Zagreb, Opatija and the Split area offer different school routes. This directory also includes private schools following Croatian programmes; private ownership alone does not mean English-medium teaching.

Choose a school location before arranging housing

A school’s name may describe the region it serves rather than its municipality. Split International School lists its campus at Kninska ulica 9 in Dugopolje. Check the actual address and school-day transport before choosing accommodation in central Split.

Split International School: campus address and programmes ↗ · Checked 5 October 2026

NOVA’s official contact page places the school at Splitska 1, Zadar. Contact the school about the intended secondary year before relying on a general city search.

NOVA: official contact details ↗ · Checked 5 October 2026

Compare English-language, British, IB and Croatian routes

• A US-influenced route with a senior IB option: AISZ describes Pre-K to Grade 12, with the IB Diploma in Grades 11–12. An IB option in high school does not make every preceding grade an IB programme.
• A British qualification route: British International School of Zagreb describes English-medium classes, IPC in primary education, IGCSE/GCSE in Years 10–11 and AS/A2 study in Years 12–13. Ask about available subjects when transferring during an examination course.
• An IB continuum in Opatija: Adria describes English-medium education for ages 3–19 and authorised PYP, MYP and Diploma programmes. Confirm the entry stage and language support for your child.
• A Split-area high-school choice: Split International School describes English-language elementary and high-school education, an IB Diploma and an MSA-accredited American-style diploma. Discuss the appropriate graduation pathway with admissions.
• A Croatian state programme with a different teaching approach: EPOHA’s primary school follows the state programme and describes Waldorf-inspired methods. Ask separately about the language of instruction and transfer requirements.

Official programme sources, checked 5 October 2026: AISZ ↗ · BISZ ↗ · Adria ↗ · Split International ↗ · EPOHA primary ↗

For older pupils, use our IB versus A levels guide to prepare questions about subject combinations, previous coursework and university plans.

More Zagreb schools to consider

Families comparing English-, French- and German-language routes can also explore the following schools. Follow their official admissions pages to discuss the appropriate year group and language preparation.

French International School of Zagreb — École française internationale de Zagreb

Based at Eurocampus, Fratrovac 36, this school uses French as its main language of instruction. Its British International Section adds English-language literature and part of history and geography from sixth grade. The school welcomes applications from non-French-speaking families and describes language support. For the final two secondary years, its admissions page explains CNED registration with teaching guidance on site; discuss this arrangement before transferring.

Its 2026/27 fee page distinguishes families paying directly from employer-funded places: primary tuition is €6,900 for self-paying families or €8,800 when an employer pays. Initial registration is €700. Check the applicable stage, additional services and any CNED charges on the full schedule.

Official sources, checked 5 October 2026: Teaching languages ↗ · Admissions ↗ · 2026/27 fees and address ↗

German International School Zagreb — Deutsche Internationale Schule Zagreb

DISZ shares Eurocampus at Fratrovac 36 with the French school. It is a separate school, offering kindergarten, primary and secondary education through the Abitur. Its German-as-a-foreign-language support is free for pupils who need it, with placement based on language assessment and consultation with teachers. Ask how the support and entry requirements apply to your child's intended class.

The published 2026/27 annual fees for Grades 1–4 are €8,100 for self-paying families and €10,530 for third-party-funded places. The fee ordinance also lists a one-time €1,500 admission charge. Use the relevant fee category and ask about additional services.

Official sources, checked 5 October 2026: School stages ↗ · German-language support ↗ · 2026/27 fees ↗ · Campus address ↗

PKG European School Zagreb

This private secondary school at Jabukovac 26 teaches in Croatian, with selected content in English and support for students acquiring Croatian. It is not part of the Schola Europaea network: its name should not be read as a promise of the European Baccalaureate. Discuss the European programme or Croatian-American diploma route directly with admissions, including transfer arrangements.

For 2026/27, the European programme's published instalment schedule totals €8,280 across 12 payments of €690, from July 2026 to June 2027. The lower €7,900 single-payment price had an end-of-June 2026 deadline; confirm the quotation for a later start. Meals and trips are additional.

Official sources, checked 5 October 2026: Programmes, teaching language and admissions ↗ · 2026/27 fee schedule ↗ · Address ↗

American Academy in Zagreb

American Academy offers Grades 9–12 in English at Agram Office Center. Its American High School Diploma route includes Advanced Placement options and a STEM programme. The separate Grades 7–8 Prep Program is an after-school course, rather than a full-time middle school. Admissions involve an application, essay and personal interview.

The school publishes 2026/27 tuition of €12,800 for High School and €14,000 for STEM High School. Ask admissions for the payment schedule and any additional charges. Compare this route with AISZ, which offers a senior IB Diploma option.

American Academy: programmes, teaching language, admissions and 2026/27 tuition ↗ · Checked 6 October 2026

Matija Gubec International School

Matija Gubec is a public school with a fee-paying international IB programme at Davorina Bazjanca 2, Zagreb. Its English-medium PYP runs from preschool through Grade 4, and MYP covers Grades 5–8. The school describes a support team including a psychologist, counsellor and speech and language therapist.

Its admissions policy uses age by 31 March for placement: five for PYP 0 through thirteen for MYP 3. English and mathematics assessments help determine placement and support; English Language Support is available where needed. These placement ages are not a universal admissions cutoff. Families seeking a later IB Diploma route can also compare AISZ and Adria in Opatija.

The 2026/27 schedule lists annual tuition of €7,000 for each PYP 0–4 and MYP 0–3 class, plus a €500 enrolment fee. Tuition is payable in four €1,750 instalments. Late entry has separate monthly calculation rules; obtain a quotation for the intended start date. The older admissions policy lists a different enrolment fee, so use the dated 2026/27 financial schedule for budgeting.

Official sources, checked 6 October 2026: Programmes, teaching language and support ↗ · Admissions and placement ages ↗ · 2026/27 annual fees ↗

School fees in Croatia: compare the full bill

AISZ’s published 2026/27 tuition schedule provides one dated example. These figures are tuition by stage, not a price range for all Croatian schools.

The same page lists a €500 application fee, admission fees of €500 for Pre-K or €1,500 for K–12, and a €2,700 annual capital fee for K–12. It also lists an approximate €750 Grade 12 IB fee. Request the applicable schedule and any exemptions before calculating your family’s total.

AISZ: tuition and additional charges for 2026/27 ↗ · Checked 5 October 2026

Adria’s fee structure separates tuition from annual membership and capital fees and a one-time admission fee. Its transport arrangements involve a separate contract with a provider on the Rijeka–Opatija route. Ask for the dated school-year quotation and transport charge rather than comparing headline tuition alone.

Adria: fee structure, inclusions and transport arrangements ↗ · Checked 5 October 2026

Is boarding available in Croatia?

British International School of Zagreb advertises on-campus boarding for ages 13–19, from Key Stage 3 onwards. Discuss the boarding place as well as the academic place, weekend arrangements and the full accommodation package. An international-school label alone does not establish that accommodation is available.

BISZ: boarding ages and education stages ↗ · Checked 5 October 2026

Applying after a move: grade placement and support

AISZ’s 2026/27 admissions page describes rolling review, subject to places. Grade 11 applications must be submitted by September 1; Grade 12 applications are accepted only under extenuating circumstances. Families planning a late senior-school transfer should contact admissions before making moving arrangements.

AISZ: dated admissions rounds and senior-school entry ↗ · Checked 5 October 2026

Prepare these questions for every school on your shortlist:

1. Which grade would the child enter, and how will previous reports and coursework be assessed?
2. Which subjects are taught in each language, and what English-language or learning support can the school provide?
3. What places are available for the intended start date, and which documents or assessments are required?
4. What are the complete first-year and continuing-year costs, including transport, meals, examinations and boarding where relevant?

Use our international school admissions checklist, then open the profiles above to follow the schools’ own sources. The directory is a starting shortlist, not a ranking or a complete list of schools in Croatia.

SchoolMatch Europe editorial · Existing entries reviewed 5 October 2026; American Academy and Matija Gubec sources reviewed 6 October 2026.