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Collegio San Carlo

Italy, Milan

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Italian, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 19 years
Pupil numbers 1916
Type Co-educational
Opened 1869
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE
Taught languages English, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish, French
Typical class size 20
Strengths STEM, Languages, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Collegio San Carlo is a Catholic Archiepiscopal school in Italy offering a continuous education path for ages 2 to 18. The campus hosts Scuola dell'infanzia, Scuola primaria, Scuola secondaria 1° and Licei, with the IB Diploma Programme for the final years and Cambridge IGCSE in English. It combines Cambridge IGCSE-certified curricula in English with an IB Diploma Programme taught in English, and Core elements including Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS. A strong emphasis on English and Italian starts in the preschool years, with optional Spanish and French and CEFR-aligned language study. The school preserves Italy's cultural heritage while integrating modern tools, including DAMA Digital Arts Music Agorà, Theater, and a Library, plus science laboratories and a large sports complex. Founded in 1869, it features historic Palazzo Busca alongside 7,000 m2 of modern spaces and an extensive network of international partner schools to prepare students for universities worldwide today.

Corso Magenta, 71, 20123 Milano MI, Italy

The Essentials

Collegio San Carlo has 1,916 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in Italian, English.

Location
Located in central Milan, Italy, at Corso Magenta 71, 20123 Milano. It is a Catholic Archiepiscopal school open to the world.

Stages
Preschool (2–6 years); Primary School (6–11); Middle School (11–14); High School (Licei, 14–19); IB Diploma Programme (16–18).

Type
A Catholic Archiepiscopal school.

Additional learning support
Inclusive education is provided.

Country affiliation
Italy

Religious affiliation
Catholic
Diving Deeper

Food Options
The school has on-site cafés and a cafeteria.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by a system of two leaders: the Dean (Rector) and the Delegate Advisor. The Collegio San Carlo Foundation administers the school.
Fees
Application fees and entrance-test costs
- Admission test (first session): €220.00.
- Re-test / additional session fees: €55.00 for one subject or €110.00 for two subjects (applies to second sessions).

Tuition fees by school year (per term / per year)
- The school provides a formal tuition plan with the full per-year and per-term amounts and any one‑time contribution to families after participation in an Open Day; specific tuition figures by year group and term are supplied directly to enrolled families as part of the admissions/enrolment paperwork.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Payment of the admission/test fee must be made online through the Admissions Platform prior to taking the test; payment is an essential condition to access the test.
- Once a place is offered, families must formalize enrollment and make the required registration payment within five (5) working days of receiving authorization. Failure to comply with these deadlines may result in forfeiture of the place.
- The school requires a one‑time contribution (registration/enrolment fee) to be paid at first enrolment; this one‑time contribution is non‑refundable in the event of withdrawal.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- The school does not publish any boarding or residential fees on its public admissions and information pages; no boarding/residential programme fees are listed for the Collegio San Carlo school-level provision described in the admissions materials. (No separate boarding fee schedule is provided to applicants on the public admissions pages.)

Other costs and recurring charges
- Entrance/test payments and the one‑time registration/enrolment contribution are specified costs during the admissions process (see amounts above for tests; the one‑time contribution amount is provided in the tuition plan given after Open Day).
- The school lists on‑site services such as cafeteria/cafeterias and other facilities; fees for meals, uniforms, textbooks, extracurricular activities, or optional services are not published as fixed amounts on the public admissions pages and are included or broken down in the tuition plan supplied to families.

Refund information
- The one‑time registration/enrolment contribution payable at first enrollment is non‑refundable in case of withdrawal.
- No separate public refund policy for other tuition installments, meal charges, or ancillary fees is published on the public admissions/information pages; specific contractual conditions and refund rules are communicated as part of the enrolment documentation.

Fee payment options
- Admission/test payments: online payment through the Admissions Platform (credit‑card payment is indicated for test registration).
- Enrollment/registration payment: accepted online via credit card, Apple Pay, and the payment method indicated as MicroSSD in the enrolment instructions; the school specifies that first‑time registration payments are made exclusively online according to the instructions provided during admission.

Brief note on available public information and missing line‑item details
- Public admissions and programme pages publish the entrance-test fees and the enrollment process (including the requirement to pay a non‑refundable one‑time registration contribution), the payment methods for tests and registration, and the procedural deadlines for payment and enrolment. They do not publish a public fee schedule with explicit per‑year and per‑term tuition amounts, boarding fees, uniform or textbook charges, or a full refund schedule; those numerical line items are provided to prospective families in the formal tuition plan and enrolment paperwork delivered after Open Day or at the point of offer.
Academics

Collegio San Carlo teaches IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE for students aged 2 to 19.

Curriculum
A continuous learning path through four levels of schooling: Scuola dell'infanzia (2-6 years), Scuola primaria (6-11 years), Scuola secondaria 1° (11-14 years), and Licei (14-19 years) with the IB Diploma Programme for 16-18-year-olds. The school welcomes children in the preschool years and prepares them to study at the world's best international universities. It is a Cambridge School with IGCSE-certified curricula in English and an IB Diploma Programme. A high level of proficiency in English and Italian is fostered from the early years. Tradition and innovation, combining Italy's cultural heritage with modern tools, support inclusive education through STEM, logic, robotics and coding from the earliest age. An orientation program and an extensive network of international partner schools help prepare students for entrance to top Italian and foreign universities.

Higher Education Progression
Students gain access to the best universities in Italy and around the world through the orientation program and a network of international partner schools. The College provides tools to prepare for the entrance tests of leading Italian and foreign universities. This preparation supports students in building a higher education trajectory. Graduates pursue studies at prestigious institutions across Italy and globally.
Parent Experience

History
Founded 1869. Palazzo Busca-Arconati-Visconti was purchased in 1869 and the Collegio was founded; Achille Ratti, who later became Pope Pius XI, was among its alumni in 1874–1875. During the First World War (1915–1918) the Collegio served as a military hospital, and during the Second World War (1939–1945) it was the clandestine headquarters of OSCAR, helping Jews leave the country. From 1950 to 1970 the Collegio underwent renewal and space expansion, with two deans, Antonio Fustella and Mario Alberti, and in 1965 the President of the Republic awarded the Gold Medal to the school. The Collegio began admitting girls in 1985; the San Carlo Sports Center opened in 1995, and in 1999 the Milan Chamber of Commerce awarded another Gold Medal for Civic Merit. In 2003 the Collegio Chapel was inaugurated, the library was completed in 2009, and modern teaching laboratories and other spaces followed in 2017, with DAMA (2019).

Community
Collegio San Carlo is a charter archiepiscopal school open to everyone who shares its educational project, and its learning path is intercultural and interdisciplinary. The motto Ardens Ad Sidera underpins the development of citizenship and of key European competencies, guiding self-realization, civic participation, social inclusion and employment. The campus offers a 360-degree experience with facilities including a sports center, chapel, cafés, bookstore and library, nursing station, cafeteria, courtyards, play areas, science and technology labs, and theatre and performance spaces. The multilingual program spans English and Italian from early years, with Cambridge IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme, and international exchanges with Maryland and Massachusetts as part of the learning network. The school maintains a broad network of international and solidarity partners, including the British Council in Milan, several U.S. partner schools, the Archdiocese of Milan, Banco Alimentare, Francesca Rava Foundation, Oftal, and Parrocchia Santa Maria del Rosario, plus system partners Develoop, Sinexia and Doc Service.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school has 7,000 m2 of innovative didactic spaces designed for a laboratory-based learning environment. Palazzo Busca preserves the Collegio's historic spaces dating back to 1869. Key spaces include DAMA Digital Arts Music Agorà, Sala Don Aldo, Theater, Library opposite S. Maria delle Grazie, a Chapel, and social spaces such as a Bar, Cafeteria and Bookstore. There are 1,000 m2 dedicated to science with four laboratories, 400 m2 of common spaces for social interaction, and 2,000 m2 of spaces dedicated to sports, including a sports center and Conca del Naviglio pool.

Sports Facilities
The school has 2,000 m2 of spaces dedicated to sports, including pools, gyms and outdoor mini-soccer fields. The physical education and sports department puts these facilities at the disposal of didactics and physical activity, with a sports center for after-school use. Conca del Naviglio is the other pool, located in the Navigli district.

Academic Facilities
There are 1,000 m2 dedicated to science, with four laboratories of science and physics where research, experimentation, curiosity and discovery are encouraged. These science spaces support a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to learning. The spaces also include DAMA Digital Arts, Music and Agorà, enabling cross-disciplinary learning within a modern didactic environment.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The Collegio provides spaces and facilities that support extracurricular activities, including DAMA Digital Arts, Music and Agorà; a Theater for performances; a Library for study and reading; a Chapel for reflection; and Bar, Cafeteria and Bookstore for social interaction and reading.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
STEM, logic, robotics and coding are taught from the earliest years. Collegio San Carlo is a Cambridge School with IGCSE-certified curricular courses in English and an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. All non-language IB Diploma Programme subjects are taught in English, and the Diploma Core includes an independently researched Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and the Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) programme. The orientation program and the international network of partner schools equip students for admissions to top universities in Italy and abroad.

Arts & Creative
The Theater is the space dedicated to meetings and performances. DAMA Digital Arts Music Agorà shows a digital arts and music hub on campus. A Library and Bookstore support reading, thinking and culture, and there are expressive spaces and performance areas on campus. The spaces for theater and performance complement science labs to support arts and creative expression.

Cultural & Language
Cross-culturalism, inclusion and openness are central; the Collegio is a charter archiepiscopal school with an intercultural and interdisciplinary approach. From early years English and Italian are taught, and the Primary School offers two paths: Cambridge classes (English as a second language) and an intercultural program. In the middle and upper years language study includes Spanish and French as optional, with certifications such as Cambridge IGCSE, IELTS and DELE/DELF supported within the curriculum. The IB Diploma Programme is taught in English, with multiple language options and opportunities to study English, French, Italian and Spanish at various levels. The multilingual approach aligns with European citizenship guidelines and CEFR descriptors.

Social & Hobbies
The campus features a 7,000 m2 of innovative spaces designed to foster learning and social interaction, including DAMA, a theater and common spaces. A 1,000 m2 area is dedicated to science, with four laboratories for practical learning, and 2,000 m2 of spaces dedicated to sports such as pools and outdoor facilities. Common spaces include Bar, Cafeteria, Library and Chapel to support social life and personal well-being. The Theater and performance areas provide venues for cultural life and student expression.

Community & Service
Pastoral activities are part of school life in an educational community with church roots. The Pastoral team coordinates spiritual life, sacraments and guidance for students as they choose diplomas and future paths. Volunteer activities occur throughout the year, including study support for younger students, food drives, charitable initiatives with partners, and summer volunteer programs overseas or as day-camp counselors. The school's partners include Church of Milan, Parrocchia Santa Maria del Rosario, Banco Alimentare, Fondazione Francesca Rava and Oftal, among others.

Leadership & Professional
CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) is a cornerstone of the IB Diploma Programme, fostering leadership, collaboration and time management. The IB Diploma Programme aims to develop critical thinkers, global citizens and life-long learners through its core requirements and language options. The orientation program and the international network of partners prepare students for university study and future careers, including admissions testing and opportunities across Italy and abroad.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports facilities include pools, gyms and outdoor fields as part of a large sports complex. Social spaces such as Bar, Cafeteria, Library and Chapel support community life and well-being. Pastoral life and liturgical activities accompany students throughout the year, including Mass and religious observances, contributing to a holistic and balanced school experience. The campus is designed to provide spaces for rest, reflection and social interaction alongside academics.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught include English (Cambridge/IGCSE; IB non-language subjects taught in English), Italian (compulsory across levels), Mandarin Chinese (Preschool program), Spanish (optional) and French (optional). The Cambridge IGCSE is part of the Cambridge programme; the IB Diploma Programme is taught in English, with options to study English B, French B, Italian A/B, Italian ab initio and Spanish B ab initio. The school's multilingual learning paths align with CEFR guidelines for European citizenship.

Bilingual Teaching
The school provides English–Italian bilingual instruction from the preschool years. In the Primary School, there are two English pathways: Cambridge classes (English as a second language) with 20 hours taught in Italian and 10 hours taught in English, and an intercultural program with Italian and native-English teachers (English as a first language). In the High School, the IB Diploma Programme is taught in English for non-language subjects, with language study options including English B, French B, Italian A/B, Italian ab initio and Spanish B ab initio.

Immersion Programs
English-language immersion starts in the Preschool (English from age two) and continues through Primary and Secondary levels. The Primary School offers a Cambridge English pathway (L2) and an intercultural program with native-English teachers (English as L1), providing substantial English exposure. A Mandarin Chinese language program is offered in the Preschool. Spanish and French are optional language offerings at different levels.
Admissions

Admissions
Five steps to join the Collegio San Carlo community: 1. Apply on the admission platform from April 2, 2025 onwards; log in and register on the admission portal, fill out the form with parents' and applicant's personal data, and verify that you have received a confirmation email. The required documents include parents' personal information, candidate's personal information, the candidate's most recent ID photo, and the selected course. 2. Participate in open days/presentation meetings from September 2025 onwards; check your email for the Open Day date, connect to the Admission Platform, register for the Open Day via the portal, verify the confirmation email, attend the Open Day, and after participation log back in to provide the information indicated: most recent report card, orientation judgment formulated by the school board, personal statement, documented learning disabilities certifications, and any language certifications or sports certifications. 3. Admission Testing from October 2025 onwards; check your email for confirmation of admittance to the test and the date, connect to the Admission Platform, register the candidate for the admission test via the same platform, pay the test via credit card, verify the confirmation email, and carry out the test. 4. Family Interview from October 2025 onwards; connect to the Admission Platform, select the available interview date with the Principal, verify that you have received a confirmation email, and take part in the interview via Microsoft Teams with the presence of both parents and the student. 5. Enrollment from October 2025 onwards; check your email for the outcome of the interview, formalize your application by filling out the required forms (tuition payment form, enrollment form, privacy policy, mailing address, vaccination certificate, authorization to the processing of personal data by the psychology service, co-responsibility agreement), and pay the one-time registration fee within five working days of admission authorization. This process applies across the school's offerings: preschool, primary, middle school, high school, and the IB Diploma Programme.

Waitlist
Priority enrollment is given to brothers/sisters of internal students and to sons/daughters of former students, provided that the application has been completed properly and enrollment is authorized within five working days. If all available places have been assigned, a ranking is drawn up to form the waiting list, taking into account the time required for authorization and online registration of the application.
School Events
The school has not added events
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