Prague school catchments: how a child's address decides the school

Parents moving to Prague with a child of six soon learn that the question "which school?" is partly settled by the map before they begin. Czech public primary education is organised around catchment areas, and the address where a child lives determines which school has to take them. For buyers and tenants, it can be as important as the flat itself.

Rules and dates change, and the authoritative answers come from your district office, the school and the Ministry of Education.

Who runs the schools

Many primary schools (základní školy) in Prague are run by the municipal districts, the city's 57 městské části, and the district usually sets the catchment too. The districts are described in Prague's districts and numbered areas, and the structure of city government is covered in how Prague is governed.

Secondary schools, including grammar schools and vocational schools, admit pupils through entrance procedures in which the child's address does not decide the place. Private and international schools are a separate category, with their own admissions and fees. The catchment rule applies to public primary schools.

Compulsory education in Czechia lasts nine years, and the legal basis is the Education Act (Act No. 561/2004 Coll.).

What a catchment area is

The school catchment (školský obvod, spádový obvod) is a defined area set by the municipality. It assigns each address to a school, which becomes that child's "catchment school" (spádová škola). The school's head teacher must admit a child who lives within the catchment area, as long as the child meets the conditions for starting school.

A child outside the catchment can apply too, but the school can accept them only if it has free places. Head teachers publish the criteria they use for those applicants, and the criteria differ from school to school.

The practical effect is that two addresses on the same street may be in different catchments, and a move of a few hundred metres can change the school. Always check the exact address with the district office, not just the district name.

Starting school at six

A child normally begins compulsory schooling on 1 September after turning six. In the spring before, parents register the child. If the child is not ready, parents can ask for a deferral (odklad), which requires a recommendation from an educational-psychological counselling centre and a doctor, and a request to the school. Ask the school and your district office about the procedure and deadlines (as of 2026; check the Ministry of Education).

Nursery school (mateřská škola) is a separate stage. The final pre-school year is compulsory. Kindergarten admission has its own procedure and timing, and the district publishes its rules. Ask your district office.

Foreigners and the catchment

Foreign children who are legally resident in Czechia, including children of EU citizens and of third-country nationals with a residence permit, have access to basic education under the same conditions as Czech children (as of 2026; check the Ministry of Education). The catchment rule applies in the same way, because it follows the child's place of residence. Registering your address is covered in our guide to registering your address. Ask the district office which proof of address it accepts in your case.

Schools can arrange Czech-language support for foreign pupils. The offer varies, so ask before registration what the school provides. Families who prefer a different language of instruction can look at private and international schools, which have their own fees and procedures; we do not list them here.

Catchment and the housing decision

Because the catchment follows the address, families often check it before choosing a flat. That is sensible, with two cautions. First, catchments can be redrawn by the municipality, so the school that serves an address today may not do so in future years. Second, a catchment school guarantees a place, not a particular quality or class size, and families who care about a specific school should visit it.

If school is a factor in a move, check the catchment before you sign a lease or a contract.

The same logic applies to the commuter belt. A town outside Prague has its own catchments, set by its own municipality; see Prague outskirts and commuter towns explained.

Practical points for newcomers

Many districts publish their catchment list as a PDF or a map on the district website, with the list of streets in each catchment. Because street names and numbers matter, check the full address including the house number.

Language is the first hurdle for many foreign families, and the Ministry of Education's website carries information for foreign pupils. For the broader context of living with children in Prague, see our guides to public health insurance and registering with a GP, which children also need.

What happens after registration

Once a child is admitted, a few practical matters follow. Primary schools in Czechia usually provide an after-school club (družina) for younger pupils, which covers the hours between the end of lessons and the end of the working day, and a school canteen where children can have a cooked lunch. Both involve small payments, and places in the club may be limited, so ask about them at registration. Costs and rules are set by the school and its founder.

School supplies, trips and some activities are paid by parents, and the school will explain the list at the start of the year. Transport to school is the family's concern, though children in Prague can use public transport at the fares set out in how to buy tickets for Prague public transport. If the child has special educational needs, tell the school at registration, so that it can arrange support or refer you to a counselling centre.

A practical timeline

For a child starting in September: in autumn, find your catchment school; in winter, check the registration date and prepare documents; in April, register; then follow the school's own calendar for the decision and the after-school club.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child attend a school outside our catchment?

You can apply, but the school can admit the child only if it has free places after admitting catchment children. The school publishes its criteria.

When is primary school registration?

Usually in April of the year the child turns six, but check the exact dates with the school and the Ministry of Education.

Do foreign children have a right to a place?

Legally resident foreign children have access to basic education under the same conditions as Czech children. Check details with the school and the district.

Who sets the catchment?

The municipality, which in Prague usually means the district office. Ask your district for the list.

Before you commit to a flat, write down the exact address and ask the district office which school it falls under.

This is a general explainer, not legal or tax advice.