The St. Louis School of Milan started in 1996 with only eight students and has quickly grown into a large community. Today, the Milanese capital hosts three of its locations (Caviglia, Archinto and Colonna) that welcome more than 1700 students of over 50 different nationalities every day.
The Ministry of Education grants its students a certificate of primary education and allows them to take the Italian 9 Years exam after Middle School. It is a great opportunity, allowing students to grow up stimulated from the very beginning to speak two languages simultaneously. Bilingualism, in fact, is a natural process that begins at an early age. The children will be immersed in an educational context where English is the language of choice for communication, to be consolidated through other co-curricular activities. Music, sport, theatre, and play itself are extraordinary learning vehicles. The international dimension, however, does not exclude the local element, which always remains an important point of reference for the students: Italian language and culture, for example, are part of the programme along with numerous educational initiatives realised in collaboration with the city. Students who are not interested in the course dedicated to the Italian language, however, can choose other topics for further study.
Specifically, St. Louis School Caviglia offers a course of study based on the English National Curriculum and prepares children up to the age of 14 following the Early Years, Primary School and Middle School programmes. The structure is that of a real campus, where, in a serene and welcoming environment, the needs of all three age groups are respected. The spaces house a 100-seat theatre, a library, computer classrooms equipped with the latest technological equipment, while for motor and recreational activities there is a roof top equipped, a gymnasium and an entire sports field. For children from 2 to 5 years old (Early Years), a large garden has been dedicated for outdoor educational activities, where play and learning become one. Take a tour of the Caviglia campus:
After graduating from eighth grade, the children can choose to continue their international studies at St. Louis School Archinto in via Olmetto, ranked by Spear’s Schools Index 2024 as one of the top 10 recommended schools in Europe. Here, having passed the two-year IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) and the subsequent two-year Diploma Programme, one can obtain the coveted International Baccalaureate Diploma. This award is of fundamental importance if you want to gain access to the best universities in the world.St. Louis of Palazzo Archinto can now boast one of the largest cohorts in Italy and for ten years it has been at the top of the rankings for the excellent results of its IB graduates: in these 10 years, its 717 IB graduates have obtained an excellent average of 37 points. This result testifies to the great commitment of the students and the exceptional support of the teaching staff.One of the distinctive features of the academic approach in St. Louis is the pre-university orientation: already from year 10, with the Careers Programme, the student is directed towards a personalised path that helps him/her find his/her own professional path. Currently a third of our graduates continue their studies at a prestigious university in the Russell Group or the Ivy League, while 90% are accepted at their first choice university, heading for prestigious universities such as Stanford, Cambridge, IE Madrid, ESCP, UCL, Bath and Warwick, not forgetting Bocconi or the main Italian polytechnics.
St. Louis School stands out for being a constantly evolving school, whose strong point, in addition to a constant updating of programmes and teaching methods, is the possibility of following the parical route in parallel with the Italian one. Having a dual educational opportunity also allows students to develop critical, ductile, and open-minded thinking. Being able to move with dexterity from one culture to another, being able to compare oneself with peers of many different nationalities and respect their values and culture, helps broaden one’s horizons, allowing children and young people to fully immerse themselves in an increasingly multi-ethnic global society.
Interested in joining the St. Louis community? Explore the campuses, meet the staff, and discover what makes this one of the most respected international schools in Italy.
To learn more or register for an Open Day, visit here.
Caviglia Campus (Early Years–Middle School)
Via Enrico Caviglia,- 20139 Milan
Tel: +39 02 5523 1235
Colonna Campus (Early Years–Middle School)
Via Marco Antonio Colonna, 24 – 20149 Milan
Tel: +39 02 3300 7523
Archinto Campus (High School & IB Diploma)
Via Olmetto, 6 – 20123 Milan
Tel: +39 02 3672 3970
