Austria's Education: An Overview

In Austria, many private schools are so-called private schools with public status (Privatschulen mit Öffentlichkeitsrecht ), which means that the children's school reports are officially recognized and legally comparable to those of state schools. Private schools with public status are obliged to follow largely the same curriculum as state schools. In contrast, private schools without public status are not officially recognized and these pupils must take external examinations every year.

State schools are obliged to accept children from the local area, while private schools can select pupils according to their own criteria. The monthly school fees at Austrian private schools range from € 150 to € 400, going up to between € 400 and € 700 including lunch and after-school care. International schools are generally a little more expensive. It is recommended to inform yourself and visit the school before making a decision.

Home schooling is permitted in Austria. Parents only need to apply for home schooling at the beginning of each school year and ensure that the lessons their children receive are at least equivalent to those at state schools. It is also possible for parents to send their children to a private school that is not open to the public. At the end of each year, pupils who are homeschooled or who attend private schools must take an external exam (Externistenprüfung).