The Ministry of Education and Children sets national policy, curriculum and oversight. Municipalities, called sveitarfélög, organise school placement, run compulsory schools and most preschools, and provide local specialist services. Each school also sets its own school curriculum, timetable and daily arrangements. Leikskóli is non-compulsory pre-primary education. Families normally apply to the municipality or school linked to the child’s legal domicile, called lögheimili. Municipal and private providers operate leikskóli, and waiting lists are common. Families generally pay fees; the amount and available discounts depend on the municipality, with reductions often available for single parents, students and siblings. Attendance commonly covers four to nine hours on weekdays. In 2024, more than 20,200 children attended 258 preschools, representing about 88% of children aged one to five. Grunnskóli combines primary and lower-secondary education in one structure. Grades 1–4 form the youngest level, grades 5–7 the middle level and grades 8–10 the upper level. School attendance is compulsory from ages 6 to 16, and parents register their child and ensure attendance. A child has a right to a place at the public school serving the municipality of domicile. Public municipal education is free, while private schools may charge tuition. The school year generally runs from August to May and includes at least nine months and 180 school days. The school day is normally continuous, with lessons, breaks and lunch. In the 2024–25 school year, 47,162 pupils attended 174 compulsory schools; 13 private schools served about 1,560 pupils, and 16.2% of pupils had a foreign mother tongue. Schools assess learning throughout the year. Under the regulation in force in 2026, standardised assessments in Icelandic and mathematics are required in grades 4, 6 and 9. Completing grade 10 supports transition to upper-secondary education but does not guarantee admission to every programme. Framhaldsskóli is upper-secondary education after compulsory school. It is not compulsory, but education remains a statutory entitlement until age 18. Schools offer academic, vocational and trade programmes, with some also providing distance, blended or evening study. Admission depends on the school’s criteria and capacity. Applications are submitted through Ísland.is using electronic identification; the general published application window is 1–30 November. Applicants finishing grade 10 may normally name two schools and two programmes at each school, with an optional third school. If a minor is not placed, MMS, the national school-services centre, arranges placement and support. In 2024, 94.7% of 16-year-olds were registered in upper-secondary education, and 34.9% of upper-secondary students were in vocational programmes. Schools charge registration fees, whose amount and payment schedule vary. Students travelling from rural areas may have access to distance learning, a dormitory or a municipal or equalisation grant when local attendance is not available. Children with disabilities have a right to compulsory education at their school of domicile. The usual approach is inclusion in a public school with necessary support, adapted teaching or an individual education plan, although specialised departments, learning centres and special schools also exist. Preschool early intervention can begin through specialist services without a formal diagnosis being a prerequisite. Availability varies between municipalities; in 2024, three public special-education schools served 186 pupils, with named specialist schools and departments concentrated around the capital area. Municipal specialist services can provide psychological, student and educational counselling. Parents commonly consent to referrals, and they can also contact services directly. Preschool, compulsory school, upper-secondary school and social services can connect a child with child-welfare support. Measures against bullying and violence form part of basic school services. A dispute in compulsory school can first be addressed through the school council and then brought to the Ministry. Icelandic-language support is part of school integration for children whose first language is not Icelandic; standalone language courses belong to language learning rather than the school system.
School in Iceland
Iceland’s school system runs from leikskóli, non-compulsory pre-primary education usually offered from about 18 months until school entry, through grunnskóli, the compulsory school covering grades 1–10, to framhaldsskóli, upper-secondary education after compulsory schooling. Children generally attend grunnskóli from ages 6 to 16, while education remains a statutory entitlement until age 18. Municipalities run and finance public leikskóli and grunnskóli, while the state runs and finances framhaldsskóli.
Tip
Plan schooling in Iceland around the child’s age, legal domicile and next transition. Apply early for leikskóli because waiting lists and local fees vary, secure the compulsory-school place through the municipality, and prepare upper-secondary applications before the published deadline. Request support as soon as a learning, disability, attendance or language need appears.