Schools in Santa Rita: how to choose, enrol and what to ask

To choose a school in Santa Rita, first decide between a free public school (colegio nacional) and a private one, then think about language: almost half the town is of Brazilian origin and Portuguese is widely spoken (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Then shortlist two or three schools near home or work, visit them, and ask about places for next year before the school year ends.

What are the options in Santa Rita?

• Public schools: the town has several state-run schools. Early-years and secondary education are compulsory and free in public schools under Law 4.088 (UNHCR⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).
• Private schools and institutes: some are bilingual or linked to the area's Brazilian and German communities. Ask how much teaching is in another language and whether the final diploma is the official Paraguayan bachillerato.
• After school: the town has a branch of the Universidad Nacional del Este, private universities and a teacher-training institute (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠), so many students carry on studying without moving away.

Paraguay's system runs early years up to age 5, basic school (Educación Escolar Básica) from 6 to 14 over nine grades, and secondary (Educación Media) from 15 to 17, with an academic or technical track (UNHCR⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).

When to enrol

The school year runs February to November. In 2026 classes started on 23 February, end on 30 November, and schools close administratively on 11 December (Última Hora⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Many public schools open enrolment for the next year before classes end: in November 2025 several were already enrolling for 2026 (La Nación⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If you need a place for 2027, ask in October or November.

Public schools: what they cannot charge

• Enrolment is free. Nothing is paid to enrol, confirm a place or collect grades.
• The parents' association (ACE) fee is voluntary: it helps with upkeep but cannot be a condition for enrolment.
• If you are charged anyway, report it to the Ministry of Education (MEC) on (021) 497-555, the free line 0800-114975, or quejasydenuncias@mec.gov.py (La Nación, 2025⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).

Private schools: what to ask before signing

• Full yearly cost: registration, monthly fees, uniform, materials, extra activities and transport, not just the monthly fee.
• Language and diploma: how many hours in Spanish, Portuguese, German or English, and whether the MEC issues the final diploma.
• Shift and transport: whether there is a school bus to your barrio or farm, and when it comes.
• If you fall behind on fees: Law 5738/16 bars schools from denying partial or final exams, withholding report cards, making the debt public or taking measures that affect the pupil's right to stay, with fines of 5 to 50 minimum wages (Hoy, 2024⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).

If your child comes from a school in Brazil

Paraguay and Brazil are parties to the Mercosur protocol on recognising primary and non-technical secondary studies. Completed studies are recognised through certificates from officially recognised institutions, and incomplete studies are recognised so the pupil can continue, using an equivalence table (Protocol, Brasília 2002⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).

In practice:

• Get the school transcript (histórico escolar) from the Brazilian school up to the last year completed, before you move.
• Recognition of basic and secondary studies is handled by the MEC's citizen service centre (CIAC) in Asunción (Spanish Ministry of Education guide, 2018⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Check beforehand what legalisation they require.
• Ask the school which grade your child will join under the table and whether it offers Spanish support.