Secondary schools in Ostrava: how to choose
Children from all over the Moravian-Silesian Region commute to Ostrava's secondary schools. Decide by what your child enjoys and where they will thrive, not only by a school's reputation. Ostrava has 49 secondary schools.
1. Which type of school
- Gymnázium (four-, six- or eight-year): general education and preparation for university.
- Vocational school with maturita: a field (economics, IT, healthcare, construction, electrical engineering…) and the maturita.
- Apprenticeship with a vocational certificate: a trade, practice, and the option of a follow-up course to the maturita.
Decide by what your child enjoys and is good at. A school where they are among the weakest may not help them more than one where they are happy.
2. Entrance exams and applications
- In the first round you apply to up to three schools or fields, ranked by preference.
- Fields with the maturita have the unified entrance exam in Czech and maths.
- Schools add their own criteria to the test: grades from primary school, competitions, sometimes their own exam or an interview.
- Applications are submitted in winter, earlier for fields with a talent exam. Check the year's dates on the CERMAT and school websites.
3. What to compare
- The commute. Four years of travelling every day: an hour there and back each day adds up to almost 200 hours a school year. On Městomat you can see where exactly each school is and, for each address, how long the trip to the centre takes.
- Open days (autumn to winter): atmosphere, teachers, languages, practice.
- ČŠI inspection reports and experiences of students and parents for each school.
- Fields and focus: languages, programming, exchange stays, work placements.
Secondary schools by city district
4. Commuting from the region
Many students commute to Ostrava from all over the region by train and bus in the ODIS system. Schools near the main station, Svinov station or the big interchanges are the easiest to reach; for each school Městomat shows the nearest stops.
5. Living near the school
Moving to Ostrava to study, or looking for a flat with an easy commute? See where the trip to the centre is fastest and check the specific address.
Ostrava neighbourhoods closest to the centre
- 11 min to the centre Moravská Ostrava Moravská Ostrava a Přívoz
- 12 min to the centre Mariánské Hory Mariánské Hory a Hulváky
- 13 min to the centre Vítkovice Vítkovice
- 18 min to the centre Bělský Les Ostrava-Jih
- 19 min to the centre Hrabůvka Ostrava-Jih
For university students there is the guide where to live in Ostrava as a student; choosing a primary school for younger siblings is covered in primary schools in Ostrava.
Frequently asked questions
How many secondary schools are there in Ostrava?
Ostrava has 49 secondary schools: gymnázia, vocational schools and apprenticeship schools. For each one Městomat shows its fields, inspection reports and reviews, listed by city district.
How many secondary schools can I apply to?
In the first round of admissions you can apply to up to three schools or fields, ranked by how much you want each.
What is the unified entrance exam?
A national test in Czech and maths for fields ending with the maturita exam. Schools add their own criteria, such as grades or their own exam.
Gymnázium or a vocational school?
A gymnázium mainly prepares for university. A vocational school gives the maturita and a trade you can work in straight away or continue studying; Ostrava has a strong tradition of technical fields.
