Primary Schools in Slovakia 2026: Full List of ZŠ with Addresses

The complete directory of primary schools in Slovakia: 2,281 schools in 1,406 towns and villages — name, address, district, region and official website. The data comes from the register of schools kept by the Slovak Ministry of Education and from CVTI SR statistics for the academic year 2025/2026.

If you have moved here with a child, this page answers the first practical question: which school is nearby and where to write. Secondary schools and universities are in our separate directory of schools and universities in Slovakia.

What a základná škola is

Základná škola (ZŠ) is a nine-year school that combines what in Ukraine and Russia is split into primary and lower secondary education. It is compulsory for every child living in Slovakia, regardless of citizenship or residence status.

• The first stage (prvý stupeň) — years 1–4, with one main class teacher.
• The second stage (druhý stupeň) — years 5–9, with subject teachers.
• After year 5 or year 8 a child can move to a osemročné or a päťročné gymnázium — entry is by examination and is aimed at motivated children.
• After year 9 the child goes on to a secondary school: a gymnázium or a vocational school.

Teaching at state schools is free. Parents pay only for lunches, the after-school club (ŠKD, the Slovak after-school centre), trips and some teaching materials — usually €20–60 a month in total.

How to enrol a child in school

Your local school has to accept you

Every state school has an assigned catchment area — školský obvod. If your address falls inside that area, the school must accept your child, even if the classes are full. You can apply to any other school, but admission depends on free places.

You can find out your catchment area at the education department of your town (školský úrad at the mestský úrad) or simply at the nearest school.

Deadlines and documents

The main enrolment for the first year (zápis do 1. ročníka) takes place from 1 to 30 April for the following school year. Each school announces the exact date and time on its own website.

If you arrive mid-year, there is no need to wait for April — contact the school straight away and your child will be enrolled during the school year. You will usually need:

• the child’s and the parent’s passport or ID and proof of residence status (for Ukrainians — doklad o tolerovanom pobyte / odídenec);
• proof of your address;
• a report card or a certificate from the previous school, if you have one. Missing documents are not a reason for refusal — the school can place the child by age and an interview;
• an application on the school’s own form.

What if the child does not speak Slovak

That is not an obstacle to enrolment. Schools are obliged to provide language support: separate lessons in Slovak as a foreign language, help from a teaching assistant, and an adaptation period with gentler marking. Children under 10–11 usually reach a working level of the language within 6–12 months.

A practical tip from parents: alongside school it is worth hiring a tutor at least for the first six months — it shortens the settling-in period sharply. You can find Russian-speaking teachers in our directory of specialists and services.

The full list of primary schools in Slovakia

Find a school by town or village: type the name into the search box or choose a region and a district. Fifty entries are shown at a time.

Schools that teach in languages other than Slovak

In Slovakia, 258 primary schools teach in a language other than Slovak — these are national-minority schools and bilingual programmes. Hungarian schools are the largest group (around 200 in the south of the country); there are also Slovak-Ukrainian, Slovak-Rusyn and Slovak-English schools, plus a few schools teaching in Russian and Ukrainian.

To find them, type the name of the language into the table search — for example Ukrainian, Russian or Hungarian. The language of instruction is shown under the school name.

One thing to keep in mind: a school teaching in Russian or Ukrainian is rare and is usually tied to a particular community or embassy. For most families the realistic route is an ordinary Slovak school with language support.

How to choose a school

• Distance. For a six-year-old, ten minutes on foot matters more than any ranking. Children tire quickly of the journey, and you will be making it every day.
• Size. Village schools have classes of 12–18 children, town schools up to 25–28. A smaller class usually means more attention for your child, which is critical during the settling-in period.
• Language support. Ask directly whether the school has experience with children who do not speak Slovak and whether a teaching assistant works there. Schools in Bratislava, Košice and the border towns already have that experience.
• After-school club and lunches. Check whether the ŠKD runs until 17:00 and what the lunches cost — for working parents this determines the whole day.
• Word of mouth. It is far more useful to ask other Russian-speaking parents in the Facebook groups than to read formal rankings.

Recognition of previous schooling

For primary school, formal nostrification is usually not needed: the head teacher places the child in a year group by age, holding an interview if necessary. If you have a report card from a Ukrainian or Russian school, bring it with a translation — it makes placing the child easier.

The official rules for recognising education documents are on the ministry website: minedu.sk. The register of all schools is kept by the Slovak Ministry of Education.

Where the data comes from and how you may use it

Once you have chosen a school, what remains is the procedure itself — we have covered separately how to enrol a child in school or kindergarten in Slovakia: application deadlines and the documents you need.

Frequently asked questions

Is it compulsory to send a child to a Slovak school?

Yes. Compulsory schooling applies to every child living in Slovakia for more than 90 days, including children with temporary protection status. Studying online at a Ukrainian school does not replace the Slovak základná škola, although many families combine the two.

At what age do children start school?

At 6, if the child turns 6 by 31 August. If the child is not ready, the start can be deferred by a year — the head teacher decides on the basis of an assessment by a psychologist and a paediatrician.

Can a school refuse to admit a child?

The school for your catchment area cannot refuse. Another school can, because of a lack of places. A refusal is issued as a written decision and can be appealed.

How much does schooling cost?

State schools are free. Private schools charge from €150 to €600 a month; church schools are usually free or ask for a token contribution.

Where can I see secondary schools and universities?

In our second directory: gymnáziá, vocational schools and universities in Slovakia — 871 institutions with addresses and websites.

Also useful: the complete guide to moving to Slovakia and ways to find a job.

Data source: Register of Schools and School Facilities of the Slovak Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth, CVTI SR statistical lists, academic year 2025/2026.