School education in Armenia consists of three educational stages:

• Elementary school: Grades 1–4,
• Middle school: Grades 5–9,
• High school: Grades 10–12.

In Armenia, there are both public and private general education schools. There are also specialized schools focusing on arts, sports, and in-depth language instruction. Additionally, there are special schools for children with special educational needs, as well as inclusive education institutions.

When choosing a school, you may want to consider the following factors:

• Distance from your place of residence,
• The specifics of the academic programs,
• Qualifications of the teaching staff,
• Availability of learning materials and infrastructure.

In public schools, priority is given to children residing in the school’s designated area.

You can register your child for school if they have turned 6, or will turn 6, by December 31 of the given year. Admission of younger children to educational institutions is not allowed. It is also prohibited to assess the child’s knowledge during the admission process.

To register a child for school, the Public Services Numbers (PSNs) of both the parent and the child must be provided.

When organizing admissions, priority is given to:

• Children who have siblings already studying at the same school,
• Children from vulnerable families, children under guardianship, children with disabilities, or children of parents with disabilities, who live within walking distance from the school,
• Children of public sector employees who have been transferred to another settlement within the Republic of Armenia on an internal assignment for a period of at least 6 months,
• Children of the staff members of the given school.

Admissions are organized from June 1 to September 1 of the given year.

The following documents are required for school admission:

• The original and a copy of the child’s birth certificate,
• The parent’s passport,
• A certificate of registration address,
• The child’s medical record (Form 26),
• Two photos (3x4 cm).

In case of a transfer from another school, it is also necessary to submit the student's personal file and a transcript of grades.

An application for admission may be rejected, if:

• There are no available spots at the school,
• The submitted documents are incomplete or falsified,
• The child’s age does not meet the age requirements set for the corresponding grade.

A student may be dismissed from school in the following cases:

• Upon the parent's request, due to transferring to another school,
• Due to illness, based on a medical conclusion,
• When continuing education in another form (home schooling, distance learning).

One class period lasts 45 minutes. The number of weekly class periods varies by grade: in the first grade, it is 22-23 periods, while in the upper grades it reaches 34-36 periods.

In elementary school, children study the following main subjects:

• Armenian language,
• Mathematics,
• Me and the surrounding world,
• Art,
• Music,
• Physical education.

In middle school, new subjects are added:

• Foreign languages,
• Natural sciences,
• History of Armenia,
• Geography,
• Informatics.

In high school, education becomes specialized into streams:

• Humanities,
• Natural sciences,
• Or general streams.

A student is not promoted to the next grade if:

• They have received failing grades on exams,
• They have been absent from classes for more than 200 hours.

The following students are eligible to receive free textbooks:

• Students in the elementary level (grades 1-4),
• Students representing national minorities,
• Students who use Braille books (those with visual impairments).

Paid textbooks are received by students in grades 5 to 12 (middle and high school). Each year, the Ministry of Education and Science sets the corresponding rates for paid textbooks, which range from 120 to 610 AMD depending on the subject and grade.

Compensation for textbook fees can be received by children from socially vulnerable families and families receiving social assistance (benefits). To receive support, an application must be submitted to the school the child attends.

Textbooks are distributed at the beginning of the academic year, starting from September 1. Schools are obligated to ensure that all students receive their textbooks before classes begin.

The distribution of textbooks is carried out through the class teachers. For each grade, a delivery-acceptance act is prepared, indicating the titles and quantities of the provided textbooks.

No, the following are prohibited in textbooks:

• Making marks,
• Underlining the text,
• Writing comments.

All of these will be considered as damaging the textbook.

It is necessary to immediately inform the class teacher and report the defect. The school is obligated to replace the defective textbook.

The autumn break is usually given during the last week of October and lasts for one week.

The winter break starts in the last week of December and lasts for two weeks, covering the New Year and Christmas holidays. Elementary school students have an additional two weeks of vacation during the winter break.

The spring break is given in late March or early April and lasts for one week.

The school may make minor adjustments based on the calendar of the given year or weather conditions; however, the overall duration of the vacations must be maintained.

The exact vacation dates are announced:

• At the beginning of the academic year,
• On the school's official website,
• Through class teachers,
• In student diaries.

The vacation schedule for each academic year is approved by the Minister of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture.

A named scholarship is financial support provided by the state to students who have achieved success in Olympiads at general education schools.

Scholarships may be awarded to students who:

• Have won in the national stages of subject-based Olympiads for schoolchildren in the Republic of Armenia,
• Have participated in or won international Olympiads,
• Have won other international Olympiads in which at least 15 countries participated.

In the case of the Republican Olympiad:

• First place – 10,000 AMD
• Second place – 7,500 AMD
• Third place – 5,000 AMD

In the case of an international subject-based Olympiad:

• Gold medal – 25,000 AMD
• Silver medal – 20,000 AMD
• Bronze medal – 15,000 AMD
• Certificate of commendation – 12,000 AMD
• Participation – 10,000 AMD

In the case of other international Olympiads:

• Gold medal – 15,000 AMD
• Silver medal – 10,000 AMD
• Bronze medal – 7,500 AMD

The school submits an application to the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Armenia, providing the student’s information and the Olympiad results.

The scholarship is granted for a period of one year and is transferred in a non-cash manner. If the student changes schools, the remaining amount is provided as a one-time payment.

After-school groups are mainly attended by elementary school students (grades 1–4). In some schools, students from grades 5 and 6 may also be included.

In public schools, after-school groups are generally free of charge. However, a fee may be set for meals. In private schools, this service is paid.

Yes, based on a written application from the parent, a child can leave the after-school group earlier; however, the group leader must be informed in advance.

There are three main types of assessment:

• Diagnostic assessment – examines the student’s prior knowledge in advance,
• Formative assessment – supports the student’s development during the learning process,
• Summative assessment – summarizes the learning outcomes (both quantitative and descriptive).

Diagnostic assessment is the initial stage of the educational process aimed at identifying the student’s prior knowledge, skills, and attitudes before starting a new topic or learning phase.

For example, at the beginning of a new academic year, the teacher may conduct a test to determine the students’ knowledge levels. This assessment helps the teacher plan the teaching process and choose the most effective methods.

Formative assessment is a continuous process carried out during instruction, with the main goal of supporting the student’s development. It includes constructive feedback, student self-assessment, and peer assessment.

For example, during a lesson, the teacher may ask ongoing questions, review students’ work, and assist them by identifying difficulties and supporting their progress. It is important to note that no grades or scores are given during this type of assessment.

Summative assessment is conducted at the end of a learning phase to evaluate the student's academic achievements. It comes in two types: numerical (for grades 5–12) and descriptive (for grades 1–4).

Numerical assessment uses a 10-point scale, where 10 represents the highest point. Descriptive assessment provides a comprehensive description of the student's learning progress without numerical scores.

For example, end-of-term or end-of-year assessments that show the student's level of knowledge and skills.

The combination of these three types of assessments creates a comprehensive and effective learning system. Diagnostic assessment helps prepare the teaching process, formative assessment supports the continuous development of the student, and summative assessment consolidates the achieved results. This approach allows the teacher to be more flexible, student-centered, and effective by taking into account the individual characteristics of each student.

Extracurricular education is a supplementary educational system that:

• Complements formal school education,
• Supports children's personal development,
• Helps uncover their interests and abilities,
• Takes place in extracurricular institutions, outside of school.

Extracurricular institutions include:

Cultural Institutions

• Children’s art schools
• Music schools
• Theater and film studios
• Dance schools

Sports Institutions

• Children’s sports schools
• Specialized sports schools
• Sports clubs and groups

Scientific and Educational Institutions

• Centers for technical creativity
• Robotics schools
• Programming schools
• Ecological and environmental centers
• Foreign language schools

The admission process usually includes:

• Free enrollment
• Initial assessment
• Consideration of the interests of the child and parents
• Age restrictions or group placement
• Submission of a medical certificate and identification documents

Extracurricular education is important for the following reasons:

• Supports the child’s overall developmen
• Helps discover their interests
• Develops social skills
• Promotes effective use of free time
• Helps prevent harmful habits

Examinations are usually held in May–June, at the end of the academic year.

Final examinations are conducted in:

• Grade 4 (primary school)
• Grade 9 (middle school)
• Grade 12 (high school)

In 4th grade, assessment tests are conducted in Mathematics (written test) and Armenian Language (written test). For classes taught in Russian, there is also an oral exam in Russian.
For students in national minority classes, oral exams in Native Language and Literature are also organized.

The exams last approximately 1–2 hours.

In 4th grade, these tests serve more as assessments rather than formal final exams.

9th Grade Examinations Include:

• Armenian Language (written test)
• Literature (oral)
• Armenian History (oral)
• Mathematics (written test)
• Natural Science (written test)
• Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Geography (student’s choice)
• Foreign Language
• Physical Education (passing standards/norms)

Students in Russian-language classes also take an oral exam in Russian Literature. 

Students in national minority classes take oral exams in their native language and literature. For students in national minority classes, an oral knowledge check in “Native Language and Literature” is also conducted during the exam period.

Children studying in specialized general education schools take the centralized Armenian Language exam at their own schools. Students in inclusive education settings who require special educational conditions may take exams at their institutions or centrally, according to the student’s choice.

Note that the list of exams for each academic year may be subject to change according to the orders of the Minister of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture.

12th Grade Examinations Include:

• Armenian Language and Armenian Literature (written test)
• Armenian History (written test)
• Mathematics (written test)
• Physical Education (passing standards/norms)
• Russian Literature (oral) — for students in Russian-language classes
• Native Language and Literature (oral) — for students in national minority classes

Note that the list of exams may change each academic year according to the orders of the Minister of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture.

Students who have completed the 9th grade of a general education school and have received a Certificate of Basic Education are eligible to apply to high school. The applicant must not be older than 18 years of age.

Application submission begins in early June, after the completion of middle school. Applications can be submitted to the admissions committee of the preferred high school, along with the required documents.

The following documents are required:

• Original Certificate of Basic Education
• Passport or birth certificate
• A 3x4 cm photo
• Application form filled out by a parent or legal representative
• Medical certificate

There are around 120 high schools operating in Armenia.
The list includes the addresses and contact information of high schools located in the regions and in Yerevan (the list is in Armenian, and you might need someone to help you understand it).

In high school, education becomes specialized by academic track:

• Humanities
• Natural Sciences
• or General Studies

The applicant may choose the Humanities, Natural Sciences, or General Studies track based on their interests and future career orientation. The selected track must be indicated in the application form.

Admissions are primarily based on the grades of the Certificate of Basic Education. However, some specialized high schools may conduct additional testing or interviews.

In competitive situations, priority is given to applicants with higher academic performance. Success in subject-specific olympiads is also taken into account.

Yes, it is possible to transfer to a different high school or change academic tracks by submitting an appropriate application along with the required documents. Changes are made subject to the availability of vacant places.