Choosing a private or nonpublic school in Poland

On this page:

1. Consider your needs
2. Do your initial research
3. Visit your shortlist of schools

1. Consider your needs

Finding the right private or non-public school in Poland is all about fit. What makes a school perfect for someone else won’t necessarily make it the right for you. Your family situation, your child’s learning and social needs, and your views about education, among other things, should all enter into the equation.

There are lots of different types of private schools in Poland. There are alternative schools, such as Montessori, Waldorf, social, and IB schools. There are also day, boarding, international, language, special needs, and learning disability schools. The list goes on and on. And keep in mind, many of these schools are suitable for both foreign, English-speaking students, as well as local Polish residents.

So before you start rifling through brochures or browsing websites, take the time to consider, as a family, what you’re looking for in a private Poland school and why.

Important considerations

Your family’s values, goals, and priorities
Your budget
How important the location of the school is
Your child’s personality, learning style, and academic ability
Special learning strengths and weaknesses your child may have
The type of academic or curricular approach you’re looking for
Your must-haves, such as small class sizes or arts or science programs
Coed or same sex, boarding and/or day school preferences
School size
Grade levels: preschool, elementary, middle, and high school
The importance of extracurricular activities

Make note of what’s essential. And write down your desirables. It’s up to you to decide what’s most important to you and what you can live without.

Keep your list and refer back to it while you search for the right private school in Poland. Remember, the bells and whistles may be nice to have, but keep sight of what’s really important. Knowing your priorities is crucial.

2. Do your initial research

This can’t be said enough: do your research. Having the right information and knowledge about private and non-public schools in Poland will help you make the right choice. Try to also involve your child in the school search process whenever possible.

Quick tips

Start your search early. A year in advance is not too soon.
Do your own research. Don’t rely only on what others say about schools.
Make good use of the this website: we provide extensive profiles of schools across Poland, including Warsaw, Kraków, Poznań, Wrocław, Łódź, Gdańsk, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Lublin, and Rzeszów.
Contact several schools and ask them to send you information about them.
Attend open houses and private school fairs, if possible.

Now that you’ve collected some information, it’s time to make good use of it. Compile a list of the schools you think are the best fit for your child. This shortlist will narrow your search and really get things rolling.

3. Visit your shortlist of schools

Most private and non-public schools in Poland are thrilled to show parents around campus. So, if you’re going to be in Poland, pick up the phone and arrange a tour. A first-hand look will help you to get a sense of whether the school is right for your child. If time permits, go back for more than one visit (first impressions can be misleading). Make sure you ask a lot of questions. School officials welcome them, and it’s in their best interest to give you an accurate and complete picture of what their school does and doesn’t offer.

Ask schools about:

Their philosophy and vision, and how it works in practice
How they communicate with families
Teacher qualifications and professional development
Their curriculum
Where their students go after graduation
In the case of a high school, the percentage of students who advance to the university of their choice
Admission requirements, such as entrance tests
The type of student they’re looking for
The ways they measure individual achievement and progress
How they respond to a child who isn’t meeting academic expectations or lacks background knowledge or skills
Their homework policy
Student-to-teacher ratios and maximum class sizes at different grade levels
Tuition fees and what they include

Ask schools to provide you with:

An outline of the their curriculum, including textbooks and teaching materials
Names and numbers of parents whose children are currently at the school or alumni, whom you can contact for information
A chance to speak with the principal, administrators, teachers, and staff
A chance for your child to interact with other students
A chance to observe a class or other school functions
Information about financial aid

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