The Best International Schools in Milan

By Richard Greenbury
31 Aug 2019

So you are moving to Milan with the family and don’t know how to chose an International school in Milan? Keep reading as we have summarized the best international schools in Milan to help you decide. As we know, education first starts in the family, but there is also one very crucial thing. As a parent, the most important task is to decide which school your kid should enroll. This decision can put your child on a path towards lifelong learning.

In Italy, education is offered free to all children who are resident in Italy, regardless of their nationality. This education is compulsory starting from the age of six till sixteen. Both public and private schools comply with the teaching methods of the Ministry of Public Education (Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione) of Italy.

So, let’s begin, here we have listed out the best schools that offer education from:

First Cycle (scuola primaria and scuola secondario di prima grado)
Second Cycle (liceo – equivalent to high school)

taking into account the accreditation system in Italy and some opinions of students who have actually studied in these schools. We will also help you how to choose your school depending on your location preference and the accessibility options.

Here is a map of the schools we are listing out to have an overall idea.

map of the international schools in milan

1. American School of Milan (ASM)

american school of milan

Set in 9 acres of green space, The American School of Milan is a non-profit college located south of Milan, Italy. ASM has been educating international approx. 800 students from 54 nations for more than 55 years.

The school offers instruction in English from Early Childhood through High School. ASM is a member of the ECIS and is accredited by MSA.

ASM is divided into 4 different scholastic areas:

Early Childhood (ages 3–4), a full day pre-school program where children learn through play and exploration.
Elementary (grade Kindergarten-5): American International Program with specials that include science lab, art, music, gym, library and Italian lessons.
Middle School (grades 6-8): ASM designed program aligned to US common core standards, mixing required and elective classes.
High School (grades 9-12). The High School program is composed a Diploma Preparation Program in grades 9-10 (to prepare students for the IB Diploma program). The program offers a mix of core subjects and elective courses in the arts, technology and other academic areas; Grades 11-12 follow the IB Diploma program and students also finish with an American High School Diploma.

The 9-acre green campus has:

Seven state-of-the-art science labs with two prep rooms;
A large lecture hall;
A spacious multi-purpose room;
A multimedia library containing 27,000 volumes;
A theater;
A state-of-the-art film studio;
Two full-sized American gyms;
Two spacious art studios;
A natural grass soccer field;
Two tennis courts;
An outdoor basketball court;
Separate play areas for Early Childhood and Elementary school students;
A dining hall and full kitchen;
Several conference rooms.

Address: Via K. Marx, 14 20090 Noverasco di Opera, Milan, Italy
Tel: 39 02-5300.0035
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Website: https://www.asmilan.org/

2. International School of Milan (ISM)

international school of milan

This is the longest established international school in Milan, here you will be able to find a very progressive thinking linked to the strong academic standards that have served the international and Italian communities in Milan for over 50 years.

The school uses an international curriculum based on the British school system. The school is fully authorized to offer the Primary and Middle Years Program and is a fully authorized IB Diploma. The High School leads to the IB diploma. A good knowledge of English is usually required, but special cases in the international community will be considered on their merits.

Address: Via Pier Alessandro Paravia, 5 20148 Milan, Italy
Tel: 39 02 404 1261
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Website: https://www.internationalschoolofmilan.it/

3. Sir James Henderson British School Milan (SJHS)

Sir James Henderson School

Identified as one of the top 10 British Schools in the world and the only school in Milan rated 'Excellent' by UK Government inspectors, the British School of Milan (BSM) is a co-educational day school, with an international constituency extending across the city of Milan and beyond. Established in 1969, the school offers an academically rigorous as well as a broad and balanced curriculum for students between the ages of 3 and 18.

In the Primary School, students follow the English National Curriculum, culminating in the Senior School with public exams at (I)GCSE. In Years 12 and 13 (the Sixth Form), students pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma – considered the gold standard of world education and the best preparation for universities and the globally competitive world of work.

The school is a recognized center for the GCSE and A Level examination and for the Royal School of Music examinations. Italian students are prepared for their official Elementary and Middle school leaving certificates. The school has 3 Houses: Darwin, Austen and Drake.

Address: Via Pisani Dossi 16 - 20134 Milan, Italy
Tel: 39 02 210941
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Website: https://www.britishschoolmilan.com/

4. St. Louis School

St Louis School

This is a private International school catering to pupils from 2 to 18 years old. Curriculum is based on the British National Curriculum with the option of an Italian stream for children fluent in Italian. The school has also been granted the Italian official status of Parità (Scuola Primaria) and is the first International school in Italy to achieve Eco school status. The Cambridge IGCSE program and IB diploma program are offered.

St Louis High School offers its students an international curriculum through the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) program in years 10 and 11, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP) in years 12 and 13.

Their IB Diploma program is accredited by the Italian ministry of education and is legally equivalent to a Diploma of Maturità. During the school day, students have the opportunity to receive support from their classroom teachers and participate in extracurricular activities and clubs.

Address: Via Caviglia 1 - 20139 Milano
Tel: 39 02 55231235
Tuition Rates: €8,500 - 13,200 per year

Website: https://www.stlouisschool.com/

5. French School in Milan, Lycée Stendhal

French school in Milan

Located in the Lombard capital for nearly 70 years, the Stendhal School welcomes nearly 1150 students, from the Small Kindergarten Section to the Terminale, on the same site near the stadium Meazza San Siro.

This institution, in direct management, is one of the 494 schools of the network of the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) located in 136 countries. It therefore applies the programs of the French Ministry of National Education. During their schooling, students will benefit from a very privileged cultural environment conducive to project pedagogy and enhanced language teaching.

The best feature of the school is: it’s link between France and Italy, Lycée Stendhal offers an Esabac program that allows students to obtain a double degree in French and Italian.

Address: Via Laveno, 12- 20148 Milano, Italia
Tel: 39 02 48 70 5 66
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Website: http://www.lsmi.it/

6. German School of Milan, Scuola Germanica di Milano (DSM)

German School of Milan

The DSM is a bilingual school; The learning of the second language which can be German or Italian starts already in kindergarten. The primary school lasts four years. Literacy takes place in two languages; German and Italian teachers take lessons following the study plans of the two countries. At the end of primary school, pupils have achieved the knowledge and the ability to study alone and in groups necessary to successfully face school life in secondary schools, the "Gymnasium".

Starting with the 5th class, students learn English. From the 7th class they must choose another language which can be French or Latin. The first six years of secondary school, called "Mittelstufe", prepare the students in high school. The high school, "gymnasiale Oberstufe", in three years takes them to the high school exam which is recognized both by the German State and by the Italian State. This exam marks the arrival point of our school's bilingual and bicultural path. Graduates prepare for the German Abitur and the Italian Maturità Scientifica.

Address: Via Legnano 24- 20121 Milano, Italy
Tel: (0039) 02.6597614
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Website: http://www.dsmailand.it/

7. Japanese School in Milan, Scuola Giapponese di Milano

Japanese School in Milan

The Scuola Giapponese di Milano (ミラノ日本人学校 Mirano Nihonjin Gakkō) is a Japanese international school, founded on 25 February 1976, that specializes in teaching Japanese language as well as providing an international education.

The school has about 120 pupils. Almost all of the students have parents working for Japanese multinational companies who had been transferred to Milan.

The Japanese School is an institution that includes elementary school courses and media and is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education as private school.

Today, in Milan, there are 137 Japanese and 2200 Japanese operating companies, including 122 children attending the Japanese School of Milan.

Address: Via Arzaga, 10- 20146 Milano, Italy
Tel: 39-02-4150291
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school

Website: http://www.mngitalia.net/

If you want to decide where to live in Milan before you choose the school you should read this article that highlights the best areas to live in Milan depending where you work or study.

Check out this article to see what you can do with your kids after school or on the weekend in Milan.

Author
Recent Posts

Richard

Richard is the founder of Cribmed. He was born and grew up in New Zealand. In his twenties, he traveled and backpacked extensively before finally settling down in Rome, Italy in 2011.