In this guide
Ñemby has 109 public schools, 73 private ones and 23 state-subsidised private ones (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)), so there's no shortage of choice. Decide first on the type of school and the level your child needs, then look at the thing you'll live with every day: which side of the PY01 highway the school is on and how long the trip takes at 7 a.m.
Public, subsidised or private?
- Public (gestión oficial): enrolment is free. The education ministry (MEC) says that enrolling or collecting grades costs "absolutely nothing" and that the parents' association (ACE) fee is a voluntary contribution (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Subsidised private: receives state funding and follows the official MEC calendar (La Nación, 2026 (opens in a new tab)). Ask which fees it charges and what they cover.
- Private: each school sets its own start date; in 2026 most began on 9 February, according to the private schools' association AIEPP. Get enrolment fee, monthly fee, materials, uniform and extras in writing.
If you go private, note that Law 5738/16 does not allow a school to bar a pupil from mid-term or final exams or withhold grades over late fees; complaints go to the MEC regional supervision office (Hoy, 2024 (opens in a new tab)).
Which level does your child need?
Level · Ages · Length
Educación Inicial · 0 to 5 · Up to preschool
Educación Escolar Básica · 6 to 14 · 9 grades in 3 cycles
Educación Media · 15 to 17 · 3 years (science or technical bachillerato)
Source: UNHCR Paraguay (opens in a new tab). For secondary, ask which bachillerato tracks each school offers. A school that runs from preschool to the final year saves a mid-way move.
Which side of the PY01 suits you?
Route PY01, formerly Acceso Sur, splits Ñemby in two (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). In 2026 roadworks add to that: the public works ministry (MOPC) announced works between Cuatro Mojones and Pratt Gill from August and seven grade-separated junctions on the route, one of them in the Ñemby area (Hoy (opens in a new tab)).
- Stay on your side of the highway, especially for younger children. Place your barrio (Villa Anita, Mbokajaty, Salinas, Pa'i Ñu, Cañadita) relative to the highway before building your shortlist.
- Check the bus lines: routes through Ñemby include the 2 (Ñemby–San Lorenzo–Luque), the 15-2 (Ñemby–Asunción), the 38, the 47 and the 233 (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). If your child will ride alone, pick a school on one of those lines.
- Include the next city: Ñemby borders San Lorenzo, Capiatá, San Antonio and Villa Elisa. Near the boundary, a school across it may be closer.
- Do a test run on a weekday at 7:00, not on a Saturday.
When to enrol and when classes start
In MEC's 2026 calendar, schools opened on 10 February, classes began on 23 February, winter break ran from 13 to 23 July and classes end on 30 November (Hoy (opens in a new tab)). That calendar was announced in mid-December 2025, so the 2027 one usually comes out near year-end; it had not been published as of early October 2026.
Don't wait until February for a public school. By late November 2025 several public schools were already enrolling for the next year (La Nación (opens in a new tab)), and in 2024 some parents camped outside schools in Mariano Roque Alonso and Limpio to get a place (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). For 2026 the government expected more families to move from private to public schools (Hoy (opens in a new tab)), so at in-demand schools ask in October or November when enrolment opens.
What does a public or subsidised school provide?
- School supply kit: MEC hands kits to public and subsidised schools; in 2026 there were 23 individual kit types, with a contents list on the bag and a QR code or WhatsApp line to report missing items (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). In March 2025 a school in Ñemby's La Lomita area was still waiting for its kits (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)), so ask how they arrived last year.
- School lunch (Hambre Cero): in 2024 it covered preschool and basic education up to 9th grade, and secondary too in 22 priority districts (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). Ask which levels get it at that school.
- Grants: in 2026 MEC opened applications from 25 May to 12 June for G. 1,300,000 grants for 7th-graders at public or subsidised schools from low-income families (Hoy (opens in a new tab)).
What to ask on a visit
- How many pupils per class.
- Morning, afternoon or extended-day shift.
- How the school talks to families (notebook, WhatsApp, online platform).
- Support for children with specific learning needs.
- At private schools: what happens if you fall behind on fees, and whether there's a sibling discount.
If a public school asks you to pay to enrol, that's not allowed: MEC takes complaints on (021) 497-555, the free line 0800-114975 or quejasydenuncias@mec.gov.py (La Nación (opens in a new tab)).
FAQ
How many schools are there in Ñemby?
According to Wikipedia, Ñemby has 109 public schools, 73 private schools and 23 subsidised private schools.
Is enrolling in a public school in Ñemby free?
Yes. MEC states enrolment costs nothing and the ACE parents' fee is voluntary. If you're charged, report it on 0800-114975.
When does the school year start in Paraguay?
In 2026 classes began on 23 February at public and subsidised schools; most private schools started on 9 February. As of early October 2026, MEC had not yet published the 2027 calendar.
Can a private school bar my child from exams over unpaid fees?
No. Law 5738/16 does not allow schools to deny mid-term or final exams or withhold grades over late fees; complain to the MEC regional supervision office.
