On this page
Enrolling to local school
Every child in Helsinki has an automatic school place in a comprehensive school in their own residential area. This is called the child’s 'local school'. If you accept the place in local school offered to your child, enrol the child in school during the application period, either online or by visiting the school.
Enrol your child in a local school in Grades 1 and 7:
For pupils moving to Helsinki or inside Helsinki:
If you wish to enrol your child in a local school to grades 2–9, or to grades 1–9 in the middle of the school year, find your own local school on the Service Map and contact the principal of the school. For more information, see the links below.
If you have moved or are moving to Helsinki from abroad, see also the page Starting basic education in Helsinki.
Read more about local schools and admissions:
Applying for weighted-curriculum education
You can also apply for a place in weighted-curriculum education for your child. Some of our schools offer weighted-curriculum education from grade 1, 3 or 7 onwards. An applicant to weighted-curriculum education must take an aptitude test.
Basic education in different languages
Information for pupils starting Grade 1 or moving onto Grade 3 or 7
Preparatory education
If the child's language skills are not yet adequate to start basic education in Finnish or Swedish, you can enrol the child in preparatory education.
Starting school a year later or a year earlier
A guardian may apply for their child to start school either later or earlier well in advance before the child is supposed to start school.
Extended compulsory education
A child is entitled to extended compulsory education if they will not be able to achieve the prescribed goals of education in nine years because of a severe disability or illness.
Enrolment in home schooling
In home schooling, the guardian assumes the overall responsibility for the performance of their child’s compulsory education.
Finnish-language primary school admission areas, grades 1–6
The numbers represent the number of schools in the area shown on the map. Click on a number to find out the exact location and name of the school. The same school can appear twice on the map, as we show the information for the current school year and the next school year.
Swedish-language primary school admission areas, grades 1–6
The numbers represent the number of schools in the area shown on the map. Click on a number to find out the exact location and name of the school. The same school can appear twice on the map, as we show the information for the current school year and the next school year.
Finnish-language lower secondary school admission areas, grades 7–9
The numbers represent the number of schools in the area shown on the map. Click on a number to find out the exact location and name of the school. The same school can appear twice on the map, as we show the information for the current school year and the next school year.
Swedish-language lower secondary school admission areas, grades 7–9
The numbers represent the number of schools in the area shown on the map. Click on a number to find out the exact location and name of the school. The same school can appear twice on the map, as we show the information for the current school year and the next school year.