How to choose a secondary school in Prague
Children from the whole region and beyond apply to secondary schools in Prague, and places at popular gymnázia are in high demand. Decide by what your child enjoys and where they will thrive, not just by the rankings.
1. Which type of school
- Gymnázium (academic secondary school; four, six or eight years): general education and preparation for university.
- Technical school with the maturita (střední odborná škola): a field (business, IT, healthcare, construction…) plus the maturita school-leaving exam.
- Apprenticeship with a vocational certificate (učební obor s výučním listem): a trade, hands-on practice, and the option of a follow-on course to the maturita.
Decide by what your child enjoys and is good at. A school where they would be among the weakest may not do them more good than one where they will be happy.
2. Entrance exams and applications
- In the first round, students apply to up to three schools or courses, ranked by preference.
- Courses ending with the maturita have a national entrance exam in Czech and maths.
- Schools add their own criteria to the test: primary school grades, competitions, sometimes their own exam or an interview.
- Applications are submitted in winter, earlier for courses with an aptitude test. Check each year's dates on the CERMAT and school websites.
3. What to compare
- The journey. Four years of travelling every day: an hour there and back daily adds up to almost 200 hours over a school year. On Městomat you can see exactly where each school is.
- Open days (autumn to winter): the atmosphere, teachers, languages, work placements.
- Czech School Inspectorate (ČŠI) reports and the experiences of students and parents for every school.
- Courses and specialisms: languages, programming, exchanges, placements with companies.
Secondary schools by city district
4. Living near the school
Moving to Prague to study, or looking for a flat with an easy journey to school? See where the centre is quickest to reach from.
Frequently asked questions
How many secondary schools can my child apply to?
In the first round of admissions you can apply to up to three schools or courses, ranked in order of preference.
When are secondary school applications submitted?
Applications are submitted in winter, earlier for courses with an aptitude test than for the rest. The exact dates for each year are published by the Ministry of Education and CERMAT; you can apply online or on paper.
What is the national entrance exam?
A nationwide test in Czech and maths (jednotná přijímací zkouška) for courses ending with the maturita school-leaving exam. Schools add their own criteria, such as grades or their own exam.
Gymnázium or a technical school?
A gymnázium mainly prepares students for university. A technical school gives both the maturita and a trade or field you can go straight into work with, or keep studying.