Primary education in Croatia is mandatory and free for all children aged 6 to 15 years, or up to 21 years for children with developmental disabilities. Children who turn six by 1 April of the current year are required to start school. This means parents must register them for enrolment and ensure they undergo an assessment to determine their readiness for first grade.
To enrol a child in primary school (grades 1-8 in Croatia), contact your nearest primary school directly. The school's professional staff will discuss the enrolment process, determine the appropriate grade if the child is continuing primary education in Croatia, and explain the required documentation if the child is enrolling for the first time.
If you have documents proving previous education (such as report cards from previous grades), bring them to the school meeting. However, if no official documents are available, this will not prevent enrolment. In such cases, the school will assess the child's knowledge and determine the appropriate grade level.
Choosing a school
Children are usually enrolled in the school closest to their residence. However, parents can request enrolment in a different school with the approval of the desired school's principal. If approved, you must inform your local school that your child will not be attending.
There are some exceptions to this procedure. These include enrolment in a special education school for children with developmental disabilities, enrolment in a religiously affiliated or private school, or enrolment in a town with only one primary school, where all children are automatically assigned.
School enrolment process
The enrolment process begins by submitting an application to the school’s administration. Details can be found on the school’s website, and brief instructions are often posted on the school’s entrance doors.
Before enrolment, the child's knowledge, motor skills, and overall readiness for school are assessed. A professional committee evaluates the child’s psychophysical condition and provides parents with a certificate of school readiness. The expert committee consists of a school medicine doctor, a school pedagogue/psychologist/educational rehabilitator and a 1-4 grade school teacher.
Schedule of child readiness assessments
A school medicine doctor will examine the child and provide an opinion on their readiness for school. Additionally, a school psychologist and/or pedagogue will assess their preparedness for first grade in a separate meeting.
The assessment takes place at the primary school assigned to the child based on their residential address, while the medical check-up is usually conducted at a designated school outpatient clinic. You will receive scheduled appointments for both, but if you are unable to attend, you must notify the school and doctor to reschedule.
If the child has specific difficulties requiring an assistant or alternative schooling, parents must provide documentation from relevant institutions, including prior assessments, medical evaluations, rehabilitation reports or findings of a unified expert body. Parents must submit this documentation to the school to ensure the child receives appropriate support.
For students who have limited proficiency in the Croatian language, primary schools provide preparatory Croatian language classes. During these classes, students receive descriptive, rather than numerical, evaluations. Once they pass the Croatian language exam, they receive numerical grades.
There are also circumstances under which parents can request early school enrolment for a younger child or postpone enrolment for a child who is required to start school, particularly if the child has significant health issues or other special circumstances. However, this decision is made with expert assessment and not solely by parents. You can inquire about this process during the initial school consultation or at the local education office in the town/municipality in which you are currently residing. Necessary forms and information are often available on school or county education office websites.
In Croatia, schools are established by local governments, municipalities, and cities, meaning that some rights and opportunities vary depending on local decisions. While primary education is free, municipalities and cities across Croatia have different programs for subsidizing school meal and transportation costs. School textbooks are provided free of charge nationwide, while parents must purchase supplementary materials such as workbooks, notebooks, and art supplies.
All relevant information is available at schools.
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