Primary and Secondary Schools in Uruguay

Primary and secondary schools in Uruguay are organised under the General Education Law (Ley 18.437). Education is compulsory from the age of four, through early-childhood education, primary education and secondary education (educación media). State education is governed by the principles of free provision, secularism (laicidad) and equal opportunities, and private schools work alongside the public system under state supervision.

For international families, the main choice is between a Uruguayan public or private school, which teaches in Spanish and follows the national curriculum, and an international school that combines a foreign curriculum with the Uruguayan one. The school in our directory, the Uruguayan American School, is in Montevideo.

How the school system works

The law sets out these levels of formal education before tertiary studies:

• Early-childhood education (educación inicial): ages 3, 4 and 5, compulsory from age 4
• Primary education: basic knowledge and literacy, with emphasis on the mother tongue, a second language, mathematics, arts and sport; it runs up to the sixth year of school
• Lower secondary education (educación media básica): the cycle immediately after primary school
• Upper secondary education (educación media superior): the three years after lower secondary and the last stage of compulsory education

The upper-secondary certificate gives access to tertiary studies, including undergraduate university degrees. Alongside general secondary education there is technical and vocational education, whose credits can be recognised for further study.

Public schools are run by the National Public Education Administration (ANEP), an autonomous body created in 1985 that plans and manages state education at early-childhood, primary, secondary, technical and teacher-training level and also supervises private education at those levels. Its directorates include Early-Childhood and Primary Education, Secondary Education and Technical-Vocational Education (formerly known as UTU). Private schools are authorised by ANEP; the Uruguayan American School, for example, is listed as a "Colegio Habilitado" of ANEP.

Enrolment and recognition of studies

Public schools use online pre-registration through ANEP's GURI Familia platform. For the 2027 school year, pre-registration for early-childhood education and first grade ran from 14 September to 11 October 2026 for children aged 3 to 6 by 30 April 2027, and pupils finishing sixth grade could pre-register for lower secondary education from 28 September to 16 October 2026.

The law states that knowledge and credits obtained at any level are recognised or revalidated so that students can move between programmes. For students who finished secondary school abroad and want to go on to Uruguay's public university, the revalidation of secondary studies is processed by ANEP; the Universidad de la República also accepts a legalised or apostilled foreign school-leaving certificate. Families who move to Uruguay should keep school reports and certificates from the previous country, legalised or apostilled.

International schools

The Uruguayan American School (UAS) was founded in Montevideo on 14 April 1958 by Uruguayans and US citizens. It is a private, college-preparatory school with about 350 students from nursery to Grade 12, and it combines an international curriculum taught entirely in English with the Uruguayan curriculum. According to the school, more than half of its students come from countries other than the United States and Uruguay, and more than 35 nationalities are represented. Students can earn three diplomas: US, Uruguayan and the International Baccalaureate (IB), which UAS offers in Grades 11 and 12. Its academic year runs from August to the following June, and applications are accepted throughout the year.

Costs

State education is free under the General Education Law. Private and international schools charge fees and set their own admission procedures; ask each school directly for current fees, enrolment charges and the documents it requires.

How to choose a school in Uruguay

• Language: Spanish in national schools, English or bilingual teaching in international schools
• Curriculum and diplomas: the Uruguayan secondary certificate, a foreign diploma, the IB, or a combination
• Calendar: check whether the school follows the national school year or a northern-hemisphere calendar, such as August to June at UAS
• Next steps: whether your child will continue at a Uruguayan university or abroad
• Status: private schools should be authorised by ANEP

Frequently asked questions

At what age is school compulsory in Uruguay?

From age four. Early-childhood education from four, primary education and secondary education (educación media) are compulsory under the General Education Law; upper secondary is the last compulsory stage.

Are public schools free in Uruguay?

Yes. State education is governed by the principle of free provision. Private and international schools charge fees.

Are there English-speaking schools in Uruguay?

Yes. The Uruguayan American School in Montevideo teaches an international curriculum entirely in English alongside the Uruguayan curriculum and offers the IB Diploma.

How do I enrol my child in a public school?

Through ANEP's online pre-registration on the GURI Familia platform. For 2027, early-childhood and first-grade pre-registration ran from 14 September to 11 October 2026.