International school admissions in Athens have become noticeably more competitive as Greece attracts remote workers, returning diaspora families and multinational hires. The most sought-after schools in the northern suburbs fill key year groups months before the September start, so understanding the timeline, the paperwork and the assessments is the surest way to secure a place for 2026. This guide explains each step of the process.
The Athens admissions timeline for 2026
Greek international schools follow a September-to-June academic year. As a practical rule:
- Nine to twelve months ahead: shortlist schools, book tours and register interest. Waiting lists open earliest for kindergarten and the IB Diploma years.
- Four to eight months ahead: submit full applications, complete assessments and receive offers. Most families relocating for a summer 2026 move apply between November 2025 and March 2026.
- On arrival: finalise enrolment contracts, pay the registration fee and complete residence paperwork.
Mid-year admission is usually possible outside examination year groups, but places in popular grades can vanish quickly, so apply as soon as your relocation is confirmed rather than waiting for a signed lease.
Required documents
Athens schools typically ask for a consistent core file. Prepare these early, with certified translations into English where originals are in another language:
- School reports from the previous two academic years
- A copy of the child's passport or ID and birth certificate
- Immunisation records and a recent health certificate
- A confidential teacher reference, usually requested directly by the new school
- Any educational psychologist reports or learning support plans, where relevant
Families transferring from IB or British-curriculum schools should also bring predicted grades or examination results for students entering Years 10–13, as placement in IGCSE and Diploma courses depends on them.
How the main schools assess applicants
ACS Athens – American Community Schools
ACS Athens, the city's long-established American school, reviews transcripts holistically and uses placement testing in English and mathematics for older applicants. The school operates rolling admissions, but competitive grades — particularly middle school — benefit from early application. Its optimal learning programme can support a range of learning profiles, which the admissions team assesses case by case.
St. Lawrence College – The British School in Greece
St. Lawrence, the leading British school south of the city, screens applicants through age-appropriate assessments in English and maths plus a previous-school reference. Entry into A-Level courses requires solid IGCSE results or equivalents. The school draws families from the coastal suburbs along the Athens Riviera, and bus routes shape where students live as much as academics do.
Byron College
Byron College in the northern suburbs follows the English National Curriculum through A-Levels and interviews every family as part of admissions. Assessments are diagnostic rather than selective in the younger years, focused on placing students in the right support groups. The college is known for smaller class sizes, which makes it a frequent choice for children who benefit from closer attention during a relocation.
Costeas-Geitonas School
CGS, an IB World School on a large green campus in Pallini, admits international students into its IB programmes with an English screening and a review of prior schooling. It combines the Greek national programme with the IB track, which suits mixed Greek-international households planning a longer stay, since children can move between systems as their plans evolve.
English support for non-native speakers
All four schools accept students who are not yet fluent in English, with intensive EAL support concentrated in the primary and early secondary years. Honest disclosure helps here: schools that understand your child's real language level place them correctly from day one, whereas an overstated application can lead to a stressful first term. From around age fourteen, expect schools to require a working level of academic English for entry into examination courses, and ask what one-to-one provision is included in fees versus billed separately.
Fees and deposits at admission
Annual tuition at Athens international schools generally runs from €8,000 to €15,000, with the IB Diploma years at the upper end. At the point of admission most schools invoice a one-off registration fee of €500–€1,500 plus a deposit that is later offset against tuition. Buses, lunches, uniforms and examination fees are extra, and sibling discounts of 5–15% are common, so ask for a complete fee schedule with your offer letter.
Choosing between curricula during admissions
Your admissions strategy should follow your longer-term plans. Families expecting to move again within three or four years usually favour the IB or American tracks, which transfer smoothly between countries, while those settling in Greece for the long haul often value CGS's dual Greek-IB structure or a British school whose IGCSE and A-Level qualifications are widely recognised by Greek and European universities alike. If you are undecided, apply to two schools on different tracks; application fees are modest compared with the cost of a mid-year switch, and holding two offers gives you room to make the final call once you have visited both campuses in person.
Age placement also differs between systems. A child born late in the year may sit in different grades in the American, British and Greek systems, and schools in Athens apply their cut-off dates strictly. Confirm the intended year group in writing before accepting an offer, especially for children moving from the Southern Hemisphere calendar, where a half-year adjustment is sometimes recommended.
After the offer: enrolment and first weeks
Once an offer arrives, most schools give families two to four weeks to sign the enrolment contract and pay the registration fee. Ask about induction days, buddy programmes and summer reading lists at this stage. Schools in Athens are used to welcoming children who arrive knowing nobody, and the good ones assign a peer mentor in the first week and check in with parents before the October break. Keep digital copies of every document you submitted; you will need the same file again for residence permits and, eventually, for university applications.
Practical tips for relocating families
Match your housing search to the school run: the northern suburbs of Kifissia, Marousi and Pallini serve the schools in that arc, while families at St. Lawrence usually settle along the coast from Glyfada to Vouliagmeni. Cross-city commutes at rush hour are punishing, so choose the school first and the neighbourhood second. If your dates slip, tell the admissions office immediately; schools hold places when they know you are serious, and many will arrange a video assessment before you land. You can compare verified profiles, fees and parent reviews for every school mentioned here on International School Advisor.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply for a 2026 place at an Athens international school?
Apply four to eight months before the September 2026 start, and up to a year ahead for kindergarten and IB Diploma places. Rolling admission is common, but popular year groups fill early.
Do Athens international schools require entrance exams?
Most use age-appropriate assessments in English and mathematics plus previous school reports, rather than competitive exams. Entry to IGCSE, A-Level and IB Diploma courses depends on prior results.
Can my child join an Athens international school without speaking Greek?
Yes. Instruction at international schools is in English, and Greek is taught as an additional language. Non-native English speakers receive EAL support, especially in primary years.