In this guide
To choose a school in Concepción, decide first between public, subsidised or private and the level your child needs; then check two very local things: how classrooms cope with the heat, and how long the trip is if you live in a rural compañía. There's no official ranking of "best schools", so the comparison is yours to make, with visits and costs in writing.
Public, subsidised or private?
- Public (gestión oficial): enrolment is free. The education ministry (MEC) says enrolling or collecting grades costs "absolutely nothing" and the parents' association (ACE) fee is voluntary (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab)).
- Subsidised private: receives state funding and follows the official 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; in 2026 most began on 9 February, according to the private schools' association AIEPP. Get the enrolment fee, monthly fee, uniform and extras in writing.
How much does a private school cost? It depends on the school. As a national reference, in February 2026 the parents' federation Fedapar estimated that school supplies alone at a private school ran from G. 2,500,000 to G. 5,000,000 (InfoNegocios (opens in a new tab)). Add that to the fees before comparing.
If you go private: Law 5738/16 does not allow schools to deny mid-term or final exams or withhold grades over late fees; complaints go to MEC supervision (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; they differ.
How do heat and the commute play out?
Concepción has a tropical savanna climate with a record high of 43.5 °C; rain peaks from November to January and, because much of the city is flat, flooding is a recurring risk (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
- Look at the classrooms on your visit: ventilation, fans, shade in the yard and drinking water. Go mid-morning, not first thing.
- Ask about start times: the education minister has said each school community can change its start time and only needs to notify the departmental directorate (ABC Color, 2025 (opens in a new tab)). Confirm the actual start and finish times.
- If you live in a compañía: the district has 72 barrios and compañías, 48 of them rural (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Before picking a school in the centre, work out the daily trip and what happens on days of heavy rain.
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)). The 2027 calendar is usually announced near year-end; it had not been published as of early October 2026.
By late November 2025 several public schools were already enrolling for the next year (La Nación (opens in a new tab)), and for 2026 the government expected more families to move from private to public schools (Hoy (opens in a new tab)). For an in-demand school, ask in October or November when enrolment opens.
What does a public or subsidised school provide?
- School meals: in 2025 Hambre Cero reached 39,001 pupils across the department's 14 districts and 46 schools in the city of Concepción, with breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack (La Nación (opens in a new tab)). Ask whether your school is in the programme.
- Supply kit: MEC hands kits to public and subsidised schools; in 2026 the bag came with a contents list and a QR code or WhatsApp line to report missing items (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). Wait for the kit before buying supplies it already includes.
- 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
- Class sizes and which shifts the school runs.
- How the school communicates with families.
- Support for children with specific learning needs.
- At private schools: what the fee covers, what happens if you fall behind, and sibling discounts.
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
Which are the best schools in Concepción?
There's no official ranking. Compare two or three options through visits: school type, levels, classrooms ready for the heat, commute and written costs.
Is enrolling in a public school in Concepción 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 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.
Do public schools in Concepción serve meals?
In 2025 the Hambre Cero programme reached 46 schools in the city of Concepción with breakfast, lunch and a snack. Ask whether your chosen school is included.
