In Austria, children start compulsory school in September after their sixth birthday, and most go to the public elementary schools (Volksschulen) in their region.
For the 2027/28 academic year, children born between 2nd September 2020 and 1st September 2021 must be enrolled.
The Vienna education authority expects the main registration period to run from 9th to 20th November 2026. Parents can register their child at a public primary or special school or at a private school with permanent public status.
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You'll need to book an appointment (by phone or online), and you can register at only one location. Parents will receive an official invitation by post in October, with the details and form to complete.
Documents for registration
Proof of address (e.g. the completed official enrolment invitation, a current Meldezettel or for families whose main residence is outside Vienna, a declaration from their home municipality).
Your child’s birth certificate
Proof of citizenship/identity (e.g. passport)
Social security number (e-card)
Confirmation of employment or training (if you need day care)
Proof of kindergarten attendance (if applicable)
Medical or specialist reports for children with disabilities or chronic conditions
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How school places are assigned
Vienna has no fixed school districts. You can apply to any public school.
If more applications than places are available, the authority will decide based on legal criteria. These are whether the child already has siblings at the school, the distance from home, the available space and the organisational requirements of the school (for example, the availability of special educational support).
You can name a second choice school, but that doesn't necessarily get you in either.
Allocation letters are normally sent out in early February 2027. These will tell you which school your child has been allocated to and will invite you to book the next stage, which is the School Readiness and Language Assessment.
The school readiness and language test
Every child goes to a second appointment at their allocated school where their school readiness and German language skills are assessed.
The school readiness assessment looks at concentration, motor skills, social/emotional development and cognitive skills. It's designed to determine whether a child is ready for first grade or would benefit from a year in pre-school (the Vorschulstufe).
If the child's German isn't up to the level required for the lessons, there is a more detailed assessment via the MIKA-D 2.0, which will then determine what level of additional language support is required.
Children born between 2nd September 2021 and 1st March 2022 can start school early if they are found ready. Parents must apply for early admission as part of the November 2026 registration.
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Full-day and after-school care
Afternoon care is not available at all public schools.
When you apply, you'll be asked whether you require the full-day school (Ganztagsschule) or just the morning classes (Halbtags).
If your child is accepted onto a half-day school, you can apply separately for a spot in a municipal or private after-school care.
Applications for the municipal after-school care for children commencing in September 2027 are open from 30th March to 16th April 2027. You apply via the City of Vienna's online service.
You'll need confirmation of your child's school place first. Families are informed of after-school care places by the end of May 2027.
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Children with disabilities or special needs
Parents of children who are entitled to special education can choose to have them in a regular elementary school or in a special school (Sonderschule).
Schoolwork can be adjusted later if a child's needs change.
Private and alternative schools
Vienna has many private and denominational schools. Some use their own teaching methods, such as Montessori or Waldorf. Most set their own admission timelines, so it's best to contact them directly early on.
Some alternative schools aren't publicly recognised, so their certificates aren't automatically recognised. In those cases, parents would have to inform the Vienna Board of Education, and children would be required to sit the annual external exams (Externistenprüfungen), as they do when kids are homeschooled in Austria.
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Finding and comparing schools
You can find an overview of all the schools in the Vienna School Directory. The Austrian School Atlas also shows pupil numbers, class sizes, and where children go after 4th grade.
After four years of primary school (usually at age 10), the child moves on to either a Mittelschule or the academically oriented secondary school (the AHS).
Key vocabulary
Volksschule – primary or elementary school
Schulpflicht – compulsory education
Ganztagsschule – full-day school with afternoon care
Sonderschule – special school for children with additional needs
Schulreifeüberprüfung – school readiness assessment
Anmeldung – registration or enrolment
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