Education in Peru
Most expat families choose international schools for their children. Peru's education system follows the southern hemisphere academic calendar (March-December), which requires adjustment for families from the northern hemisphere.
School System Overview
Structure:
- Primary: 6 years (ages 6-12)
- Secondary: 5 years (ages 12-17)
- Higher Education: Universities and technical institutes
Calendar:
- Term 1: March-July
- Term 2: August-December
- Summer break: January-February
Important: Two schools (Colegio Roosevelt and ICS Lima) follow the northern hemisphere calendar (August-June) to accommodate diplomatic and short-term expat families.
International Schools in Lima
There are approximately 25 international schools in Lima, mostly in southern districts (Surquillo, Monterrico, Santiago de Surco).
Top Schools:
| School | Curriculum | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Colegio Franklin D. Roosevelt | American, IB | $14,000-16,000 |
| Markham College | British-Peruvian bilingual | $8,000-12,000 |
| International Christian School | American | $12,000-14,000 |
| Colegio Peruano Britanico | British | $8,000-12,000 |
| Casuarinas International College | IB Continuum | $10,000-14,000 |
| Newton College | Peruvian-British | $7,000-11,000 |
| Colegio Franco Peruano | French-Peruvian | $6,000-10,000 |
Enrollment Process
Typical requirements:
- Application form and enrollment fee (often in USD)
- Previous school transcripts
- Entrance exam or placement test
- Parent interview and financial background check
- Students may need to advance or repeat a semester due to calendar differences
- Register the year before for kindergarten/elementary entry
Outside Lima
International school options are very limited outside Lima:
- Arequipa has a few bilingual schools but no major international schools
- Cusco has limited options
- Families outside Lima often consider homeschooling or online learning
Higher Education
Top Universities:
- Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (oldest in Americas, founded 1551)
- Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru (PUCP) - top private university
- Universidad de Lima
- Universidad ESAN (business focused)
- Universidad del Pacifico (economics/business)
For Foreign Students:
- Student visa available
- Many programs taught in Spanish
- Growing number of English-language programs
- Tuition significantly lower than US/European universities
Alternative Education Options
- Homeschooling: Legal in Peru, growing community
- Online schools: K12, Stanford Online High School, etc.
- Bilingual Peruvian schools: Lower cost alternative ($3,000-6,000/year)
- Spanish language programs: Available at universities and language schools
Pro Tips
- •Apply to international schools well in advance - popular ones fill quickly
- •Roosevelt and ICS follow northern hemisphere calendar (Aug-Jun)
- •Budget $8,000-16,000/year per child for international schooling
- •Outside Lima, international school options are very limited
- •The calendar difference (March start) may require grade adjustment
Have questions about education in Peru?