La Scuola International School vs Schweizer Schule Rahn Education Mailand

	L La Scuola International School Milan, Italy	S Schweizer Schule Rahn Education Mailand Milan, Italy
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €10,200 - 15,300	Fees / year €7,750 - 13,600
Age range	Age range 2 - 14 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Bespoke Curriculum, Reggio Emilia Approach	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 380
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Italian	Instruction language German, Italian
Opened	Opened 2002	Opened 1860
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location La Scuola International School, Milano campus is located at Via Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis 8, 20155 Milano, Italy. This campus is part of La Scuola International School, a network that includes Mission Campus in San Francisco, Dogpatch Campus in San Francisco, and Silicon Valley Campus in East Palo Alto. Doors to the Milano campus will open for the 2026/27 school year, enrolling students aged 2 to 11.	Location Schweizer Schule Rahn Education Mailand, Via Andrea Appiani, 21, 20121 Milan, Italy. It sits in the pulsating heart of the Lombardy capital.
Stages	Stages PreK–8th grade	Stages Kindergarten; Primary (1–5); Secondary (6–8); Gymnasium (9–12).
School type	School type Independent, non-profit La Scuola International School; Milano campus blends International Baccalaureate Programme, Reggio Emilia Approach, and Language Immersion; the Milano campus will apply for IB candidacy prior to opening.	School type Swiss international school in Milan; German is taught as the first language; bilingual German-Italian instruction; English begins in 3rd grade; French and Latin begin in 7th grade; Spanish is offered as a core or elective subject in Gymnasium; language instruction is delivered by native-speaking teachers.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix Approximately 250 students of various nationalities; cosmopolitan.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Differentiation and after-school tutoring will be available to support students in language learning.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Italy	Country affiliation Switzerland
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & Registration Fees - Registration fee (one-time, due on acceptance): EUR 2,300 for the first child; EUR 0 for each additional concurrently enrolled child when the second (and subsequent) child is enrolled at the same time. A registration-fee waiver is also applied for certain transfers into specific grades. Tuition Fees — Annual and Per-Term/Installment (by year group) - Early Years (ages 2–6): Annual tuition EUR 8,500. Under the school's standard 40%/30%/30% installment schedule this would be: first installment EUR 3,400; second installment EUR 2,550; third installment EUR 2,550. Paying the full tuition early by the school's early-payment deadline carries a 3% tuition discount (early-pay total: EUR 8,245). - Primary Years (ages 6–11): Annual tuition EUR 11,500. Under the 40%/30%/30% installment schedule this would be: first installment EUR 4,600; second installment EUR 3,450; third installment EUR 3,450. Early full-payment total with 3% discount: EUR 11,155. - Middle Years (ages 11–14): Annual tuition EUR 13,000. Under the 40%/30%/30% installment schedule this would be: first installment EUR 5,200; second installment EUR 3,900; third installment EUR 3,900. Early full-payment total with 3% discount: EUR 12,610. Additional Annual Fees (apply in addition to tuition) - Enrollment fee (annual): Early Years EUR 1,200; Primary Years EUR 1,200; Middle Years EUR 1,800. - Building & Maintenance Fund (annual): EUR 500 per student. - Meals (annual): EUR 1,650 per student. Sibling and Founding/Transfer Discounts - A 5% tuition discount is applied to a second concurrently enrolled sibling; a 10% tuition discount is applied to the third and each additional concurrently enrolled sibling. Founding-family tuition rates are offered for families enrolling for the specified academic year; the school also applies registration-fee waivers for certain transfer students. Billing Schedule & Payment Terms - Registration fee payment deadline: due within 10 days of the acceptance letter. All remaining tuition and school fees may be paid either by: (a) full early payment by May 31 (qualifies for a 3% tuition discount), or (b) the installment schedule: 40% of tuition by 30 April, 30% by 30 September, and 30% by 31 January. These dates and split percentages are the published payment options. Boarding Fees - Boarding is not listed as an offering for this campus; the school's materials and FAQs describe day-school schedules and before/after-school services rather than any boarding program. Other Costs and Fees (uniform, transport, after-school, etc.) - Uniform: students will not wear daily school uniforms; a dress code applies. A PE uniform is required. The school will offer La Scuola logo tops and jackets for purchase; specific prices are not published in the fee schedule. - Before-/After-school care and Morning Care: morning care and after-school care are offered; these services incur additional fees (amounts not published in the tuition & fees table). After-school program hours and morning-care availability are shown as services with separate charges. - School bus / transportation: bus service will be offered for an additional fee; the cost is not listed in the published fee table. - Other incidental or program-specific charges (for example field trips, special activities, or optional services) are described as possible additional fees; specific line-item amounts are not published in the tuition & fees table. Refunds and Withdrawal - No public refund or withdrawal schedule is published in the tuition and FAQs that accompany the published fee schedule. Families should note the registration-fee timing and the payment deadlines above when making financial plans. Fee Payment Options and Contacts - The school uses the OpenApply admissions and enrollment platform for applications and enrollment management. Specific payment methods (for example: credit card, bank transfer, or wire-transfer instructions) are not itemized in the published tuition and admissions materials; families seeking the accepted payment methods and invoicing details should use the school contact information provided. Contact email published: info@lascuolainternational.org.	Fee details Application fees - No publicly published application or registration fee amount for Schweizer Schule Rahn Education Mailand is available in the school's published materials for the current academic year. Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year) - The school has not published a detailed tuition-fee schedule by year group or per term for the current academic year in the documents and downloads made publicly available. No specific per-term or per-year numeric tuition figures are published in the accessible admission/download/FAQ materials. Billing schedule and payment terms - A dedicated online payments facility is listed for the Rahn Education schools, indicating that the school uses an online payment system for school fees. Specific billing schedule details (for example, number of instalments, exact due dates, late-payment penalties or discounts for advance payment) are not published in the public admission/download materials. Boarding fees (if applicable) - No boarding provision or boarding fees are listed for Schweizer Schule Rahn Education Mailand in the school's public materials; boarding fees are therefore not applicable as no boarding service is published. Other costs or fees (uniforms, transport, materials, extracurriculars) - Uniform: A school dress code requires a school T‑shirt from kindergarten through primary/secondary; no published price for the uniform is provided. - Transport: School transport is offered and route-based costs vary by neighbourhood; no fixed price list for transport is published. - Materials / extracurriculars: Fees for textbooks, school materials, optional extracurricular activities, music lessons or special projects are not published as fixed amounts in the available public documents. Refund information - No published refund policy or specific refund amounts/conditions for tuition or other fees is available in the downloadable or FAQ materials for the current academic year. Fee payment options - The school lists an online payment portal as a payment channel. Contact details (school office phone and email) are published for administrative and billing enquiries. Specific payment methods accepted through the portal (for example, which credit cards, bank transfer details, or direct-debit options) are not published in the publicly available admission/download materials. Notes: The above statements summarize the school's publicly presented fee-related information and the absence of specific numeric fee amounts or published schedules in the school's public downloads, admissions and FAQ materials for the current academic year.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The school does not require daily uniforms. There is a dress code outlined in the school handbook; for physical education, students wear a PE uniform, and the school provides La Scuola logo tops and jackets.	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options The school has an on-site kitchen that will prepare student lunches.	Food options The school's canteen offers a lunch prepared on-site, with ingredients sourced from certified suppliers. Menus can be adapted for allergies or intolerances with medical certification, and Swiss dishes, Mediterranean specialties, and world cuisines are regularly served.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership Governance is provided by a Board of Directors. The school operates as a nonprofit organization. This nonprofit model extends across its campuses.	Governance and ownership The school is owned and governed by the Fondazione Scuola Svizzera Rahn Education Milano (Fondazione Scuola Svizzera Rahn Education Milano). The foundation's legal seat is in Milan, Via Appiani 21, 20121 Milano.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school uses the International Baccalaureate Programme, the Reggio Emilia Approach, and language immersion. Milano will apply for IB candidacy prior to opening, while other campuses are fully accredited. Language immersion follows the Montreal Language Immersion Model with Italian/English splits by grade: PreK 10% Italian and 90% English; K–1st 20% Italian and 80% English; 2nd 30% Italian and 70% English; 3rd–5th 50% Italian and 50% English; 6th–8th 50% Italian and 50% English.	Curriculum details The curriculum follows Lehrplan 21, implemented across 21 Swiss cantons, with cycle structure aligned to the Italian system: Kindergarten/Primarschule (1–5), Sekundarschule (6–8), Gymnasium (9–12). Fifth-year students complete a program to prepare for the Licenza Media exam at the end of primary school; in Sekundarstufe I (grades 6–8) students begin preparation for Licenza Media from the second semester of seventh grade; Gymnasium students are prepared for the bilingual Italian-Swiss Matura, an internationally recognized diploma. Language instruction is central and delivered by native-speaking teachers; German and Italian are introduced in kindergarten; English from grade 3; French and Latin from grade 7; Spanish is offered as a core or elective subject in Gymnasium. International language certificates are available (Goethe C1, IELTS and Cambridge Advanced C1 for English, DELF B2 for French, DELE B2 for Spanish). Parent language support is available on request, and enrollment does not require German proficiency from parents.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression The diploma opens doors to national and international universities; the bilingual Italian-Swiss Matura is an internationally recognized diploma.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning The school uses the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework and the Responsive Classroom approach.	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Language immersion is offered in Italian and English with grade-level language ratios: PreK 10% Italian / 90% English; K-1st 20% Italian / 80% English; 2nd 30% Italian / 70% English; 3rd–5th 50% Italian / 50% English; 6th–8th 50% Italian / 50% English.	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, sliding scale tuition, and other school-administered programs. The school also does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs or activities. If you feel you may have been discriminated against on the basis of sex or would like more information, contact Dani Sollberger, Director of Administration, at dani.sollberger@lascuolasf.org or 415-558-9006 or by mail at 728 20th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107.	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The Milano campus will open in the 2026/27 school year in a newly renovated facility. It offers preschool through Grade 8 and uses International Baccalaureate Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes with English/Italian language immersion. The Milano campus will apply for IB candidacy prior to opening, while other campuses are fully accredited. The language immersion model follows the Montreal Language Immersion Model with grade-by-grade distributions: PreK 10% Italian / 90% English; K–1st 20% Italian / 80% English; 2nd 30% Italian / 70% English; 3rd–5th 50% Italian / 50% English; 6th–8th 50% Italian / 50% English. The campus is located at Via Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis 8, 20155 Milano, Italy.	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities Physical Education & Athletics is one of the Ateliers in La Scuola's Reggio Emilia-inspired program.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Ateliers include Art, Environmental Science/Garden, Music, Physical Education & Athletics, Languages, and Design & Technology. The Music program includes the Ambassador Ensemble and two all-school concerts per year. The Garden & Environmental Studies Atelier provides hands-on ecology learning.	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Ambassador Ensemble is a plucked string orchestra that rehearses and performs at events; all-school concerts occur twice yearly. The Garden program provides outdoor environmental learning opportunities as part of La Scuola's Ateliers.	Extra curricular facilities Sprachatelier – The German language laboratory provides targeted German language learning with up to 15 hours per week in small groups, in a dedicated classroom with a specialist teacher, and a program tailored to age and German proficiency. The approach is dynamic and engaging, using rituals, songs, games, mime, and group and individual activities with materials created for the age group, and it supports the development of German language skills and confidence. Sport – The school offers sports activities that foster a positive attitude toward an active lifestyle, teach responsibility, and promote respectful competition; it organizes sports days and competitions with internal and external associations. Musica – The music program for grades six to eight includes one weekly lesson per class, culminating in a school concert performed with a professional band, with preparation that provides a live-performance experience. Campi invernali – The winter camps in Fiesch provide recreational and educational experiences for primary to high school students, with access to a ski area, a resort offering a pool, gyms, squash, bowling, and multimedia spaces, and on-slope dining that supports authentic community growth and cross-school exchange; the school is located at Via Andrea Appiani 21, Milano.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Founded in 2002, La Scuola International School is the world's only IB PYP and MYP, Reggio Emilia-inspired, Italian immersion world school. The independent, non-profit La Scuola International School blends the International Baccalaureate Programme with the Reggio Emilia Approach and language immersion across campuses in San Francisco (two campuses), Silicon Valley, and a Milan campus opening in the 2026-27 school year. The Milan campus opening reflects the school's expansion; the institution is recognized by MAECI as a Scuola Paritaria. Language immersion uses English and Italian, with Spanish introduced beginning in Grade 4; children are not required to speak Italian to enroll. The mission is to inspire brave learners to shape the future and to engage across languages and cultures.	History The school began in 1860 as an institution offering German-language education in Milan as an alternative to the majority Catholic schooling system. In 1919 it was recognized by the Swiss Confederation as a Swiss school abroad. Since 1939 it has been located at Via Appiani 21 in Milan, marking a 160-year history. It is part of Rahn Education and is recognized by the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs and Italian authorities. The curriculum follows the Lehrplan 21, with bilingual German-Italian instruction from kindergarten, English beginning in grade 3, French and Latin from grade 7, and the bilingual Italian-Swiss Abitur recognized by both Switzerland and Italy.
Community	Community Open Houses, Virtual Information Sessions, and More are offered for the San Francisco Dogpatch, Mission, and Silicon Valley campuses. In-person campus tours and virtual information sessions are scheduled for each campus, and VR360 self-guided campus tours are available for viewing. Connect with La Scuola to arrange a video call or request a recording of an event; contact details are provided on the Tours & Events page.	Community The school serves around 250 students of diverse nationalities, creating a cosmopolitan community. It hosts events such as a Christmas concert on December 18, 2025 at the Protestant Church on Via Marco de Marchi 9. A Christmas bazaar is scheduled for November 28, 2025. The school emphasizes the contributions of parents, teachers, and students in shaping a respectful, multilingual community.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The Parents Association of La Scuola (PALS) works collaboratively with La Scuola faculty and staff to support and facilitate programming, experiences, ideas, and opportunities that welcome, engage, and foster the La Scuola community and support the school's mission to inspire brave learners to shape the future. La Scuola has grown from an Italian language playgroup to more than 250 families across three campuses, with parents contributing over 10,000 hours of their time per year. All La Scuola parents are PALS members and are encouraged to share their talents and participate in leadership roles, classroom or event volunteering, or ongoing on- or off-campus support. PALS organizes events such as the Annual Welcome Picnic, Back to School Coffees, Staff and Teacher Appreciation, Book Fair, Holiday Party, Beach Clean-ups, the Annual Spring Fiera, Weekly Library Reading, Field Trip Chaperones, Italian Heritage Parade, Lunar New Year Celebrations, Diwali Celebrations, National World Day of Cultural Diversity, Mission Carneval, and Graduation at Preschool and Middle School. PALS also supports the school through committees (Library, Garden, Music, Yearbook, La Dolce Vita, Admin and Konstella, Community, Leadership, SPEAK, Service Learning) and maintains parent communications via pals@lascuolasf.org and the Parent Educational Series.	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The Milano campus blends the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme through Grade 8, with English/Italian language immersion. The IB Programme opens our minds while the Reggio Emilia Approach is the heart of the learning. Language immersion follows the Montreal, Canada model to support multilingual academic development. Our Milano campus will apply for candidacy for the International Baccalaureate Programme prior to opening; all other campuses are fully accredited.	Academic & intellectual German and Italian are introduced playfully from kindergarten. English begins in the third grade; French and Latin begin in the seventh grade. Spanish is offered as a core or elective subject at gymnasium level. The languages are taught by native-speaking teachers in accordance with Swiss educational standards, with recognized certifications available in German (Goethe C1), English (IELTS, Advanced C1), French (DELF B2), and Spanish (DELE B2).
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Reggio Emilia Approach-inspired Ateliers include Art, Environmental Science/Garden, Music, Physical Education & Athletics, Languages, and Design & Technology. These Ateliers connect creative expression with hands-on learning across disciplines. Languages are included within the Ateliers supporting multilingual expression. Physical Education & Athletics is included as an Atelier.	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Language Immersion follows the Montreal, Canada Language Immersion Model. Italian and English are the languages of instruction. Grade-level distributions show the following Italian/English percentages: PreK 10% Italian, 90% English; K–1st 20% Italian, 80% English; 2nd 30% Italian, 70% English; 3rd–5th 50% Italian, 50% English; 6th–8th 50% Italian, 50% English.	Cultural & language The school offers a quiet, multicultural environment and is politically and confessionally independent, respecting the identities and decisions of students, parents, and staff. Languages are taught by native-speaking teachers according to Swiss standards. Tolerance, respect, and openness are fostered within a multilingual community.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional The International Baccalaureate Programme opens minds. La Scuola blends IB Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes with the Reggio Emilia Approach and English/Italian language immersion to guide students toward leadership. The school aims to guide students to become leaders of their own learning — and lives. Be Open to the World describes a global, interconnected learning model that supports leadership development.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Niente Senza Gioia! Nothing Without Joy! A curiosity-first environment blends grounded academics with exuberant exploration. Language immersion spirits students into a wider, more wonderful world. Be Open to the World promotes global perspectives as part of everyday learning.	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision Languages taught are Italian and English. The Milano campus uses English/Italian language immersion.	Language provision German is taught as a first language, and Italian is taught from kindergarten. English begins in grade 3; French and Latin begin in grade 7; Spanish is offered as a core subject or elective in Gymnasium. Certifications are available in German (Goethe C1), English (IELTS or Advanced C1), French (DELF B2), and Spanish (DELE B2). Enrollment requires no German knowledge from parents; the school can arrange language introduction courses on request.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching English/Italian language immersion. The Milano campus offers Italian and English language instruction as part of its bilingual program.	Bilingual teaching German is taught as a first language. Italian is taught from kindergarten. Foreign language instruction is delivered by native-speaking teachers. The Gymnasium prepares students for the internationally recognized Italian-Swiss bilingual Abitur.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs Language immersion uses the Montreal, Canada Language Immersion Model. It provides English/Italian instruction with grade-based proportions: PreK 10% Italian / 90% English; K601st 20% Italian / 80% English; 2nd 30% Italian / 70% English; 3rd5th 50% Italian / 50% English; 6th8th 50% Italian / 50% English.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations Milano campus will apply for candidacy for the International Baccalaureate Programme prior to opening. All other La Scuola International School campuses are fully accredited.	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Admissions: La Scuola International School Milano offers a founding-family opportunity as it opens a new campus. Applications are processed through OpenApply. Language requirements: Preschool, Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 6 do not require students to speak English or Italian; Grades 2–5 and Grades 7–8 are assessed individually for readiness for bilingual learning; differentiation and after-school tutoring support language learning. Admissions timeline: November 2025 admissions process begins with Open Day and information sessions; January 12, 2026 OpenApply portal goes live; January–February 2026 submit applications and upload required forms; January–February 2026 schedule interviews; March 15–25, 2026 admissions decisions communicated and enrollment begins; April 2026 admissions events; April–June 2026 rolling admissions decisions continue. Admissions events: Preschool Admissions Playdate (ages 2–5) and Elementary Admissions Playdate (rising 1st–5th); Learn More about Milano event with RSVP details. Tuition and fees for 2026–27: Founding-Family Rates: Early Years €8,500; Primary €11,500; Middle Years €13,000. Fees: Registration €2,300; Enrollment €1,200; Building & Maintenance €500; Meals €1,650. Discounts: 5% tuition reduction for a second concurrent sibling; 10% for the third and additional siblings. Payment options: pay in full by May 31, 2026 with a 3% tuition discount, or 40% by April 30, 2026, 30% by September 30, 2026, and 30% by January 31, 2027.	Admissions Step 1: Online Registration. Register your child online through the school's online registration portal. An automatic confirmation is issued after successful registration. The school office will contact you to submit the latest report card and any other required documents. You will receive additional enrollment information by email. Step 2: Trial Days and Admission Test. Students participate in level-appropriate placement tests—Primary School (Grades 1–6) in German and Mathematics; Secondary School (Grades 7–10) in German, Mathematics, and English; Upper Level / GIB (Grades 11–12) follows the IB policy. Students from abroad may require additional tests in relevant national subjects. Fees total 2,500 EGP: 1,500 EGP for three Trial Days and 1,000 EGP for Admission Tests. Payment can be made online or at the school office; fees are non-refundable. Step 3: Parent Meeting. After the trial days, you will receive an invitation for a parent meeting to discuss results and possible placement. If you are still abroad, the meeting can be conducted online. The meeting provides the opportunity to ask questions and clarify enrollment steps. Step 4: Decision and Notification. The school management makes the final admission decision. You will be informed by email with the current fee schedule, the documents required for enrollment, and any further organizational steps. If classes are full, your child will be placed on a waiting list and notified when a place becomes available.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Waiting list: If the classes are full, your child will be placed on a waiting list. You will be notified when a place becomes available.
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