Back to School in Italy: Understanding the Italian Education System

Sep 3

2 min read

At the beginning of September, Italy slowly shifts from summer relaxation to routine.

Shops reopen. Cities feel fuller. And families begin preparing for il rientro a scuola — the return to school.

Unlike in some countries where school starts in late August, most Italian schools begin between mid-September and early October, depending on the region.

But how does the Italian school system work?

Let’s explore it.

The Structure of the Italian School System

Italian education is divided into several levels:

1️⃣ Scuola dell’infanzia (Ages 3–6)

This is optional preschool.

Children learn social skills, basic structure, and early creativity. It is not mandatory, but very common.

2️⃣ Scuola primaria (Ages 6–11)

This is elementary school.

It lasts five years and includes:

Italian
Mathematics
History
Geography
Science
English

At this stage, students build foundational skills.

3️⃣ Scuola secondaria di primo grado (Ages 11–14)

Often called scuola media.

It lasts three years and ends with a final state exam (esame di terza media).

Students begin to specialize more and receive grades in individual subjects.

4️⃣ Scuola secondaria di secondo grado (Ages 14–19)

This is high school — but in Italy, there are different types.

Students choose based on interests and future plans.

There are three main categories:

Liceo (academic focus — classical, scientific, linguistic, artistic)
Istituto tecnico (technical subjects — economics, technology)
Istituto professionale (vocational training)

High school lasts five years and ends with the national exam called la maturità.

The esame di maturità is a major milestone in Italian life.

The Cultural Meaning of “La Maturità”

The word maturità literally means “maturity.”

It represents not only academic achievement but personal growth.

Every June, students take written and oral exams. It is stressful, emotional, and deeply symbolic.

You may hear:

Sto preparando la maturità.
Ho superato l’esame!
È stato difficilissimo.

It is one of the most important moments in a young Italian’s life.

School Culture in Italy

School in Italy is formal compared to some other countries.

Students address teachers using the formal Lei.

You might hear:

Professoressa, posso fare una domanda?
Mi scusi, non ho capito.

Respect and structure are central.

At the same time, strong friendships are often formed during high school years.

🔎 Grammar Hint: Expressing Obligation with “Dovere”

When talking about school, Italians often use the verb dovere (must/have to).

Examples:

Gli studenti devono studiare molto.
Dobbiamo fare i compiti.
Devo prepararmi per l’esame.

Notice how dovere changes:

Io devo
Tu devi
Lui/Lei deve
Noi dobbiamo
Voi dovete
Loro devono

This verb is essential for expressing obligation.

🔎 Upper-Intermediate Grammar Hint: “Si” Impersonale in Rules

School rules are often expressed using the impersonal “si”:

A scuola si studia molto.
Si devono rispettare le regole.

Structure: Si + verb (3rd person singular/plural depending on object)

Example:

Si parla italiano in classe.

This structure expresses general rules and habits.

September in Italy is not only the end of summer.

It is a new beginning.

New notebooks.New teachers.New routines.

And just like school, learning Italian is a structured journey — step by step, level by level.

If you’d like to build your Italian with clarity and confidence, I would love to guide you.

👉 Book your Italian lesson and start your new season with progress.