In this guide
In Presidente Franco, choose a school first by the daily commute: one on your side of the Monday River or on your way to work, because the city is so closely joined to Ciudad del Este that many families compare options in both. Then decide between public, subsidised or private, visit two or three, and get the full year's costs in writing.
A school in Franco or in Ciudad del Este?
Presidente Franco borders Ciudad del Este to the north, and the two cities are integrated economically, in education and in health services (opens in a new tab). For school hunting, that means your real search area covers both sides of the line.
- If you work in CDE: a school on your route saves an extra trip at pick-up time. You enter Franco via Ruta PY02 and then PY07 from the km 4 roundabout (opens in a new tab); time the drive at drop-off hour.
- If you live south of the Monday: the river splits the district; most people and the urban area are to the north, and the south is mostly rural (opens in a new tab). Count on crossing it twice a day before picking a school on the other side.
- If your child will travel alone or by school transport: try the full route on a weekday at the real time.
Public, subsidised or private?
- Public (gestión oficial): enrolment is free, and nothing can be charged to enrol, confirm a place or hand over grades (opens in a new tab). Contributions to the ACE (parents' association) are voluntary and cannot be a condition for enrolment.
- Private: sets its own start date. In 2026, most private schools started on 9 February, according to the private schools' association AIEPP (opens in a new tab), two weeks ahead of public schools. By law, no school may bar a student from midterm or final exams, or withhold grades, because of unpaid fees (opens in a new tab).
- Subsidised: follows the official MEC calendar; ask what fee it charges and what it covers.
For reference: basic education (Educación Escolar Básica) runs from age 6 to 14 over nine grades, and secondary (Media) from 15 to 17, with a science or technical track (opens in a new tab). If your child is entering secondary, ask which track each school offers.
When to enrol
In 2026, public school classes started on 23 February and end on 30 November (opens in a new tab). By late November 2025, some public schools had already started enrolling for the following year (opens in a new tab). So if you need a place for next year, do your visits in October and November rather than waiting for February.
What to ask on a visit
- Shift: morning or afternoon, and whether it fits your working hours.
- Total yearly cost: enrolment fee, monthly fee, uniform, supplies and activities. Get it in writing.
- Class size: how many pupils are in your child's grade.
- Communication: how they announce schedule changes or cancellations, especially on stormy days (Alto Paraná gets the highest annual rainfall in the country (opens in a new tab)).
- Secondary track: science or technical, and with what focus.
If you're coming from Brazil or live in Foz do Iguaçu
Mercosur countries recognise primary and non-technical secondary studies using an equivalence table, including incomplete studies (opens in a new tab). Bring your child's school records and ask the MEC (Ministry of Education) which documents they need before you enrol.
If you plan to cross the Puente de la Integración every day, note that from 14 September 2026 private cars may cross only from 7:00 to 13:00, and only local residents with the Documento de Tránsito Vecinal Fronterizo for every occupant (opens in a new tab). On 18 September 2026 those rules were unchanged (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)); check before crossing in case they change. The Presidente Franco–Foz urban passenger service can use it from 7:00 to 19:00 with the same document. Check whether that fits your school's finishing time.
Where to complain about improper charges
At a public school, if enrolment is made conditional on a payment, the MEC takes complaints on (021) 497-555, the free line 0800-114975 and quejasydenuncias@mec.gov.py (opens in a new tab). You can also go to your area's school supervision office (opens in a new tab), which handles issues locally.
FAQ
How do I find a school in Presidente Franco?
Search "colegio" on your phone's map, keep those on your side of the Monday River or on your way to work (including the Ciudad del Este side), and visit two or three before deciding.
Is enrolment at public schools free?
Yes. Enrolment at public schools is free and the ACE contribution is voluntary; a place cannot be made conditional on payment.
When should I enrol for next year?
Start in October or November: by late November 2025 some public schools were already enrolling for the following year.
Can a private school stop my child sitting exams over unpaid fees?
No. The law bars schools from denying participation in midterm or final exams, or withholding grades, because of fee arrears.
