Education & Schools in Georgia: The Complete Expat Guide (2026)

Moving to Georgia with kids means navigating an education system that ranges from genuinely excellent international schools to severely underfunded public ones — and everything in between. The good news: Tbilisi has around 16 international schools with British, American, IB, French, German, and Finnish curricula. The better news: tuition is a fraction of what you'd pay in Dubai, Singapore, or London. The catch: quality varies enormously, waitlists exist at the best ones, and almost nobody talks about the real trade-offs.

This guide covers every option — from free municipal kindergartens to $24,000-a-year American schools, from Georgian public schools to homeschooling legality. Whether you're here for a year as a digital nomad family or relocating permanently, here's what you actually need to know.

How the Georgian Education System Works

Georgia's education system follows a 12-year model split into three levels: primary (grades 1–6), basic (grades 7–9), and secondary (grades 10–12). Primary and basic education — 9 years total — is mandatory. The academic year starts on September 15 and runs through June. If September 15 falls on a weekend, classes begin the next business day.

Children must be 6 years old by September 15 to start first grade at a public school. Private and international schools often have different age cutoffs. The national curriculum is taught entirely in Georgian (or in minority languages in some regions), which makes public schools impractical for most expat families.

Kindergartens & Preschools

Georgian kindergartens accept children from around age 2. There are two types: municipal (free) and private (₾200–1,500+/month). Children aged 5 enter mandatory "preschool readiness" classes. The system works, but the quality gap between municipal and private is significant.

Municipal Kindergartens (Free)

Municipal kindergartens in Tbilisi are free, including meals. The catch: enrollment is through an online portal (kids.org.ge) that's only available in Georgian. Slots fill up fast in popular districts like Vake and Saburtalo. The system typically opens for applications in spring for the September start.

Quality varies wildly. Some municipal kindergartens in central Tbilisi are perfectly fine — clean, caring staff, structured activities. Others, especially in outer districts, can be overcrowded with minimal programming. Visit in person before enrolling. Ask other parents in your neighborhood for recommendations.

Private Kindergartens & Preschools

This is where most expat families end up. Tbilisi has dozens of private kindergartens ranging from basic Georgian-language daycare to bilingual Montessori programs. Prices range from ₾200/month for a basic Georgian facility to ₾1,500+/month for premium international preschools. Most international schools (QSI, New School, BIST, German School) also have their own pre-K programs, which is the easiest path if you're planning to enroll your child there for primary school.

International Schools in Tbilisi

This is the section most expat families care about. Tbilisi has around 16 international schools, but they're not created equal. Some are world-class institutions with accredited curricula and native English-speaking teachers. Others are Georgian private schools that call themselves "international" because they offer some English-language classes. The difference matters enormously for university applications.

Top-Tier International Schools

These are the schools that diplomatic families, embassy staff, and well-established expats typically choose. They have accredited international curricula, mostly native English-speaking teachers, and their graduates go on to universities in the US, UK, and Europe without issues.

Language-Specific Schools

If your family speaks French, German, or Finnish, Tbilisi has dedicated schools for each. These are particularly strong options if you plan to return to your home country or want your child to maintain their native language alongside English.

Georgian-American & Bilingual Schools

These schools blend Georgian and American/British curricula. They're significantly cheaper than the top-tier international schools but also more Georgian in character — most students are local, English may be a second language for many teachers, and the social environment is predominantly Georgian. For families planning to stay long-term and wanting their children to integrate into Georgian society, these can be an excellent choice. For those who need seamless university applications to Western countries, the top-tier schools are safer bets.

How to Choose the Right School

The decision tree is simpler than it looks. Answer these three questions and your shortlist writes itself:

1. How long are you staying? If it's 1–2 years and you're returning to a Western country, pick a school with the curriculum your child will re-enter (British, American, IB, French, German). If you're staying long-term, bilingual schools offer better cultural integration at a lower price.

2. What's your budget? There's a 10x difference between the cheapest and most expensive options. QSI at $27,000/year (tuition + capital fee) is a different conversation than Newton Free School at ₾10,000/year (~$3,600).

3. Does your child need English-language instruction? If yes, your options are limited to international and bilingual schools. If your child speaks Georgian (or you want them to learn), public schools become a possibility — though a challenging one.

Georgian Public Schools

Let's be honest: Georgian public schools are not a realistic option for most expat children, especially those who don't speak Georgian. All instruction is in Georgian, class sizes can reach 30–35 students, facilities are often dated, and the teaching style tends toward rote memorization rather than the critical thinking approaches you'd find at international schools.

That said, public education in Georgia is free and improving. The Ministry of Education has been modernizing the curriculum, and some of Tbilisi's selective public schools — like the Komarov Physics-Mathematics School No. 199 — are genuinely competitive. If your child speaks Georgian (perhaps because one parent is Georgian) and you want them fully integrated into local society, public school is a valid choice. Just know what you're getting into.

Enrollment in public schools is done through an online registration system managed by the Ministry of Education. First-graders register in spring for the September start. Mid-year transfers require contact with the specific school and credential recognition through the NCEQE.

What Education Actually Costs

Education costs in Georgia span an enormous range. Here's a realistic breakdown of what expat families actually spend:

For context: a QSI education in Tbilisi costs roughly the same as a mid-tier international school in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, and about half what you'd pay in Dubai or Singapore. The local international schools (Newton, Georgian-American) are genuine bargains by global standards — ₾10,000–18,000 per year ($3,600–$6,500) for a solid education.

IB Schools: What You Need to Know

Three schools in Tbilisi are authorized IB World Schools: New School (International School of Georgia), Newton Free School, and the European School. New School is the only one offering all three IB programmes — Primary Years (PYP), Middle Years (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP). It's been operating for 25 years and is the most established IB option in the country.

The IB Diploma Programme is widely recognized by universities globally and is an excellent choice if you're unsure which country your child will attend university in. It's more rigorous than many national curricula and develops strong critical thinking, research, and writing skills. The downside: it's demanding, and not every child thrives under its structured requirements (the extended essay, CAS hours, and Theory of Knowledge can be stressful for some students).

Homeschooling

Homeschooling is legal in Georgia and essentially unregulated. There's no registration requirement, no mandatory reporting to the Ministry of Education, and no standardized testing that homeschooled children must pass. This makes Georgia one of the most homeschool-friendly countries in the world for expats.

Many digital nomad families take advantage of this, using online curricula like Khan Academy, IXL, Outschool, or formal distance-learning programs from the US or UK. Some families combine part-time homeschooling with Georgian language tutors, local sports clubs, and art classes for socialization.

University & Higher Education

Georgia has several universities that accept international students, with tuition far below Western levels. The main ones for English-language programs:

Georgia's medical schools have become popular with international students, particularly from India and the Middle East, due to WHO-recognized degrees and affordable tuition. Quality varies — do your research on specific programs and check accreditation with your home country's medical licensing body.

Practical Tips for Expat Families

Best Neighborhoods for Families with Kids

Where you live often depends on where your child goes to school. Tbilisi traffic during school drop-off and pick-up hours is no joke — being close to the school saves sanity. Here's how the main neighborhoods stack up for families:

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions