Schools in Itauguá: how to choose a place that fits

In Itauguá, the school that fits best is usually one your child can reach without crossing Ruta PY02 every day, because the highway splits the municipality into two nearly equal halves (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Start by deciding between a public, state-subsidized private or fully private school; then visit two nearby options and ask about places and costs before enrollment.

Public, subsidized or private?

All three exist in Itauguá, and they change your budget and calendar quite a bit:

• Public (oficial): free and on the Ministry of Education (https://www.abc.com.py/nacionales/2023/02/23/mec-pide-a-docentes-y-directores-que-no-exijan-compra-de-utiles/) calendar. Receives MEC school kits.
• Subsidized private: charges a fee but also receives the kits; in 2026 the national delivery day was February 27 (La Nación⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).
• Private: full fees and often its own calendar. Private and subsidized schools usually run a different calendar, and some start in early February (ABC Color⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).

A well-known public option in town is the Colegio Nacional E.M. "Itauguá", the former Escuela Normal No. 18 (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If your child is into music, Itauguá also has a branch of the Conservatorio Nacional de Música (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), worth fitting around the school timetable.

Which side of the highway works for you?

Itauguá has many barrios and rural compañías: north of the highway, areas like Estanzuela, Patiño, Guayaibity or Valle Karé; south of it, Mboi'y, Aldama Cañada, Itauguá Guasú or Potrerito (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). For primary school, a school on the same side of the PY02 as your home saves the daily crossing.

Crossing the highway is a safety issue, not just a time one: in the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe barrio, at km 31.5, a pedestrian was killed while crossing the PY02 (Última Hora⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If your child will cross alone, check where and at what time they would do it.

If the school is in a neighboring city such as Capiatá, Areguá or Ypacaraí (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), do a test run at drop-off time to see how long it really takes.

When to enroll and when classes start

In 2026, public schools began administrative work on February 10 and classes on February 23; winter break ran from July 13 to 24 and the school year ends on November 30 (Última Hora⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Private schools may use other dates, so ask:

• When enrollment opens and whether there's a waiting list for your grade.
• Which documents they need (school records, ID card, birth certificate, vaccination card).
• Whether a payment holds the place and whether it's refundable.

What to ask on the visit

• Full costs: enrollment, monthly fee, uniform, supplies, canteen, activities and transport, not just the fee.
• Supplies: if the school gets the MEC kit, how much of the list it already covers. The MEC has asked public schools not to require families to buy what the kit includes (ABC Color⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).
• Hours and shift: morning, afternoon or extended day, and whether children are supervised after dismissal.
• Transport: whether there's a school bus, its route and cost.
• Communication: how they announce changes or cancellations (WhatsApp group, notebook, platform).

How to decide between two options

Visit both during class hours, not at an event or fair. Watch drop-off and pick-up, notice whether teachers know students by name, and see how the office answers your questions. Choose the one that gives you clear written answers on costs, hours and places.