For families relocating to Paraguay, schooling is usually the biggest hurdle. Families settling far outside the capital often end up homeschooling or using online curricula, because local school infrastructure thins out quickly. But families moving to Greater Asunción have access to several high-caliber private, bilingual, and international schools.
Here’s how private schooling actually works here, what the fees look like, and the main English-language options.
How private school fees work in Paraguay
Before comparing schools, understand the financial model most private institutions use:
- School calendar — the Paraguayan school year runs from February through late November.
- Entrance fee (cuota de ingreso) — a one-time, non-refundable fee paid when enrolling a student for the first time.
- Annual registration (matrícula) — a yearly fee paid before the school year starts, covering operational and administrative overhead.
- Monthly tuition — annual tuition divided into 10 monthly installments across the 10-month academic year.
That entrance fee is the part that surprises new arrivals. It’s substantial, it’s per-child, and you don’t get it back.
Full English-immersion schools in Asunción
These run primarily in English for roughly eight hours a day, while still delivering the compulsory national curriculum modules required by Paraguay’s Ministry of Education (MEC) — Spanish, Guaraní, and Paraguayan history.
American School of Asunción (ASA)
- Location: Villa Morra (Avenida España), Asunción
- Founded: 1953
- Student body: ~800
- Entrance fee: ~$8,500 USD one-time
- Matrícula: ~$700 USD/year
- Monthly tuition: ~$800 USD × 10 installments
ASA is the flagship American international school in Paraguay and receives US government grant support. It’s the default choice for US Embassy staff and international diplomats.
One thing to know going in: ASA educates many of Paraguay’s prominent political and business families. Your child will be socializing in an environment of significant local wealth.
Pan-American International School (PAIS)
- Location: Luque, near Silvio Pettirossi International Airport
- Founded: 1993
- Student body: ~250 (student-teacher ratio ~14:1)
- Entrance fee: ~$4,000 USD first child, $2,000 second, capped after that
- Matrícula: ~$900 USD/year
- Monthly tuition: ~$550 USD × 10 installments
PAIS has students from over 20 nationalities. Smaller class sizes and a genuinely global student body make it an easier landing for expat kids adapting to a new country.
Bilingual schools (roughly 50/50 English and Spanish)
For families who want their children genuinely fluent in Spanish while keeping strong English instruction, bilingual schools split the day.
| School | Location | Est. entrance fee | Est. monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity School | Luque (near International Tennis Club) | ~$3,500 USD | ~$500 USD |
| Colegio Internacional (“Inter”) | Barrio Mariscal López, Asunción | ~$2,000 USD | ~$500 USD |
| Colegio Lumen | Barrio Mburucuyá (near Botanical Gardens) | check with school | ~$500 USD + matrícula |
Other notable bilingual private options in Asunción include Colegio Santa Ana (St. Anne’s) and SIL (San Ignacio de Loyola).
Choosing the right track for your family
- Full English immersion (ASA, PAIS) — best for families expecting to move again, or who want an international diploma that transfers cleanly.
- Bilingual, 50/50 (Trinity, Inter, Lumen, SIL) — best for families settling in Paraguay long-term who want their kids natively fluent and locally integrated.
- Other language tracks — Goethe Schule (German) and Collège Français (French) serve European curriculum pathways.
School versus homeschooling in Paraguay
Homeschooling and online curricula are viable for short stays or for living in interior towns where there’s no real alternative. But if you’re in Greater Asunción, putting your children in a physical school buys something homeschooling can’t: social integration.
Moving abroad is isolating for kids. An international or bilingual school gives them an immediate peer group, sports, and cultural exposure — and that tends to determine how well the whole family adapts, not just the children.
