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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—Catherine E. Beecher (1800–1878)
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