Schools in Capiatá: how to choose the right one

To choose a school in Capiatá, first decide between a public, subsidised private or fully private school, then test the commute from your barrio at drop-off time. Public enrolment is free; at a private school, get the full list of yearly charges in writing before you reserve a place.

Public, subsidised or private?

Capiatá has all three:

• Public (oficial): enrolment is free and automatic⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, and charging to enrol a pupil is prohibited.
• Subsidised private (privada subvencionada): receives state support, charges a fee and follows the official Ministry of Education (MEC) calendar.
• Private: sets its own fees and approach within MEC rules.

Before comparing buildings, check which levels each school covers: early years (nivel inicial), basic school (Escolar Básica, grades 1 to 9) and secondary (nivel medio). If you want your child to stay in one place, ask whether all three are offered and which bachillerato tracks they have.

When do you need to enrol?

The MEC publishes a calendar every year. For 2026, public schools began admin work on 10 February and classes on 23 February, with winter holidays from 13 to 24 July and classes ending on 30 November⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠. To avoid missing enrolment for the following year:

• Ask the school office which days enrolment opens and what documents they need.
• Have the child's and the parent's ID (cédula) ready, plus the previous year's school certificate if your child is changing schools.
• At a private school with few places per grade, reserve before December.

How long will the commute be?

Capiatá is about 23 km from Asunción⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, crossed by Ruta PY02 and route D027, the area's two main roads. It has more than 35 barrios, from Costa Salinas, Laurelty and Aldana Cañada to Villa Militar, Candelaria or Puerta del Sol, and borders San Lorenzo, Luque, Itauguá, Areguá, Ñemby, Ypané and J. Augusto Saldívar. Two schools that are both "in Capiatá" can mean very different journeys.

• Do the trip once on a weekday at drop-off time.
• Have a plan B: in September 2025 a crash in central Capiatá fully blocked the Asunción-bound lane of the PY02⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ during the morning.
• If your child will take the bus, ride the route together and check whether they need to cross the highway.
• If you hire a school transport service, ask about the route, pick-up time and who is responsible if something goes wrong.
• If you work in Asunción or San Lorenzo, compare a school near home with one on your way to work.

What should you ask on a visit?

Visit during class hours, not just at the admissions meeting:

• How many pupils per class, and how many sections per grade?
• Morning shift, afternoon shift or extended day?
• How do they communicate with families: notebook, WhatsApp or an online platform?
• What support is there for children with learning difficulties or special needs?
• Do classrooms have fans or air conditioning? Capiatá's hot season runs from late November to late March⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, and classes start in February.

What costs come on top of the fee?

At a private or subsidised school, ask for the full list: enrolment fee, monthly fee and how many payments per year, uniform, supplies, books, trips and extra activities. Compare the yearly total, not just the monthly fee.

At a public school enrolment is free, but there may be a contribution to the parents' association (Asociación de Cooperación Escolar, ACE). That contribution is not mandatory and the ACE cannot impose fees⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, and teachers are not allowed to collect it. If enrolment is made conditional on a payment, you can report it to the MEC on the free line 0800 11 49 75, on (021) 497-555 or at your local school supervision office.