Cantonal School Systems
While compulsory schooling in Switzerland is 9 years long, many of the specifics of the system vary by canton. In most cases, the primary level lasts 6 years, and the lower secondary level 3 years. In only a few cantons, the primary level lasts 4 or 5 years and entrance to the lower secondary level thus occurs either in school year 5 (duration: 5 years) or school year 6 (duration: 4 years). In more than half of the cantons, it is compulsory to attend pre-school. In almost all cantons, the municipalities are obliged to provide pre-school classes.
This table shows the school system for 2009/2010 and how the lower secondary schools are organized:
Canton | Years of Kindergarten |
Years of Kindergarten provided | Years of Kindergarten legally required | Length of Primary School | Length of mandatory Secondary School | Separate Secondary Schools? | Cooperative Secondary Schools? | Integrated Secondary Schools? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zurich | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | Yes | No | No |
Bern | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Lucerne | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Uri | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | No | No | Yes |
Schwyz | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | No | No | Yes |
Obwalden | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | No | No | Yes |
Nidwalden | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | No | No | Yes |
Glarus | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Zug | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | No | No | Yes |
Fribourg | 2 | 1 or 2 | 0 or 2 | 6 | 3 | Yes | No | Yes |
Solothurn | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Basel-Stadt | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | Yes | No | No |
Basel-Landschaft | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | Yes | No | No |
Schaffhausen | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | No | No | Yes |
Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Appenzell Innerrhoden | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
St. Gallen | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | No | No | Yes |
Graubünden | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | Yes | No | No |
Aargau | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | Yes | No | No |
Thurgau | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | Yes | No | No |
Ticino | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 4 | Yes | No | No |
Vaud | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | Yes | No | No |
Valais | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | Yes | No | No |
Neuchâtel | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | Yes | No | No |
Geneva | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | Yes | No | No |
Jura | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | Yes | No | No |
Read more about this topic: Education In Switzerland
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