Tallinn parents have until 25 March to submit applications for assigning a municipal school to children starting first grade in the 2025/2026 academic year. Over 4,500 children will reach school age this year, and Tallinn Education Department is still awaiting applications or notices of opting out for more than 1,000 children.
Applications for assigning a school based on place of residence can be submitted by parents whose registered address in the population register is in Tallinn. Applications must be submitted via the eKool platform. These applications play an important role in school placement decisions, as they provide vital information about siblings already attending the school and the family’s school preferences.
Deputy Mayor Aleksei Jašin noted that although parents of first-grade children expressed some uncertainty last year regarding the transition to Estonian-language instruction, most concerns have now been resolved — children, teachers, and parents have adapted well to the new circumstances. “Thank you to all parents who have already submitted their applications. The upcoming academic year marks the second cohort starting first grade under the new Estonian-language instruction. Results from the first year show that the change has been both necessary and beneficial. Children, teachers, and families have adjusted and gained confidence, which we will continue to support through various measures,” said Jašin. “Starting from the next school year, the city aims to keep class sizes in first grade at no more than 24 students, to ensure a supportive and high-quality learning environment.”
In assigning schools, the city considers the provisions of the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act and the procedures applicable in Tallinn. Priority is given to the proximity of the child’s home to the school and whether siblings are already attending that school, and, where possible, also to parental preferences. If the number of applicants exceeds available spots at a school, placement is based on the time of registration in the population register. Parents whose children have already secured a place through citywide admission to another school do not need to submit a separate application.
If a child is a registered resident of Tallinn but will not be attending a municipal first-grade class (e.g., attending a private school, studying in another municipality or abroad, or has a deferred school start), parents must notify the Tallinn Education Department. The appropriate form is available on the city’s website. If neither an application nor a notice of opting out is submitted, the city will assign a school based on the child’s registered home address.
Parents who submitted an application will receive an email notification with the school placement by 20 May at the latest. By 10 June, they must inform the school whether the child will attend. Any unconfirmed places may be reassigned by the school from 11 June according to its own admission criteria.
As of September 2025, Tallinn’s education network will expand with two new basic schools: Tallinn Põhjatäht Basic School (Karjamaa 18) and Tallinn Open School (Auna 6). These schools will help alleviate the shortage of school places in rapidly growing Põhja-Tallinn and offer families modern and local learning opportunities. In the first year, Tallinn Põhjatäht Basic School will only admit first-grade students, with other grades added gradually over time.
Source: tallinn.ee