The 2025/2026 school year in Wrocław has just begun, bringing almost 96,000 students and preschoolers, along with more than 12,500 teachers, back to classrooms. With 3 billion PLN invested in education, 150 institutions renovated over the summer, and new safety measures introduced, the city shows it is serious about creating the best conditions for learning. For expat families, this guide offers a clear picture of what to expect this academic year.

Education as a Priority

On 1 September, the 2025/2026 school year in Wrocław officially started. Nearly 95,700 children returned to schools and preschools across the city, welcomed by more than 12,500 educators. Education remains one of the city’s top priorities: more than 30% of Wrocław’s total budget—around 3 billion PLN—has been directed to schools this year.

Vice President of Wrocław Renata Granowska summed it up: 

Education is one of the most important investments a city can make. In Wrocław, we are developing a modern, accessible, and child-friendly school system that supports pupils, parents, and teachers alike.

Summer Renovations and Ongoing Projects

While children were on holiday, work crews were busy preparing for the 2025/2026 school year in Wrocław. Over 42 million PLN was spent on upgrades in 150 schools, preschools, and nurseries. Classrooms, gyms, and corridors were repainted, sanitary facilities modernised, and sports fields refreshed. Schools also received new lighting, water dispensers, and accessibility features like elevators, along with improved fire-safety systems. Since 2019, the city has financed over 450 million PLN in summer school improvements.

To give parents a sense of scale, here are the most important investments:

• 42 million PLN for summer renovations in 2025
• 150 facilities improved in just two months
• 3 major projects still underway: a preschool on Rogowska Street, the expansion of Primary School No. 6, and a new school–preschool complex on Zwycięska Street
• 452 million PLN invested in renovations since 2019

Together, these works are reshaping Wrocław’s educational infrastructure and ensuring that facilities keep pace with the needs of a growing city.

A New Preschool in the City Centre

For the 2025/2026 school year in Wrocław, parents living downtown welcomed the opening of Tilia, a new public preschool at Piłsudskiego Square. Located in a renovated heritage building, the facility has modern classrooms, specialist rooms for psychologists and speech therapists, and a colourful playground with green space. Though operated by a private investor, Tilia runs under the same rules as municipal preschools, ensuring accessibility for families.

Teachers: Shortages and Support

Despite progress in facilities, the 2025/2026 school year in Wrocław began with staffing challenges. About 1,000 teaching posts remain vacant, particularly in early education, mathematics, languages, and special needs. Many retired teachers returned to work, and younger graduates stepped in. Others took on extra hours across more than one school to ensure all classes opened on time.

To retain staff, salaries were raised nationwide by 30–33% in 2024 and another 5% in 2025, backdated to January. Wrocław also boosted local allowances: homeroom bonuses increased to 500 PLN, while directors’ functional bonuses rose by 1,000 PLN. Today, the average monthly teacher salary in Wrocław is around 9,600 PLN gross, with beginners earning about 7,200 PLN and experienced staff over 11,000 PLN.

Safer Routes for Pupils

For the 2025/2026 school year in Wrocław, the city also renewed its focus on safety. As part of the annual “Safe Path to School” campaign, 569 pedestrian crossings near 123 schools were repainted and enhanced with reflective beads for night visibility. Additional safety features such as blocking posts and pedestrian islands were added, at a cost of about 300,000 PLN.

Municipal guards are present at nine schools, with their support expanding to 16 more in the coming weeks. At the same time, the “School Street” project, which bans car traffic in front of schools before classes, continues at three locations. Families who want to see it introduced at their child’s school can apply to the Department of Urban Mobility.

The 2025/2026 School Calendar

For families new to the Polish system, it helps to know the rhythm of the 2025/2026 school year in Wrocław. The first term runs until Christmas, with a winter break beginning just before the holidays. In Lower Silesia, winter holidays fall between 16 and 29 February 2026. After Easter in early April, lessons continue until 26 June, when the long summer holiday begins.

Hands-On Tips for Expat Parents

For expats, adapting to local schools is easier with a few strategies. Approach school administrators early—they are used to working with international families and can help with paperwork and language support. Join local parent groups or neighbourhood associations to stay updated on after-school care, trips, and activities. Encourage children to take part in sports or cultural clubs, which not only build friendships but also speed up language learning. Finally, get familiar with electronic registers and apps, since most schools rely on them for homework, announcements, and grades.

Key tips at a glance:

• Talk directly to administrators—they can guide you through paperwork and systems
• Connect with other parents online and offline to exchange practical advice
• Enrol children in sports or cultural clubs for faster integration
• Learn how to use electronic school registers and apps—they’re essential

Looking Ahead

The 2025/2026 school year in Wrocław has begun with optimism. Almost 100,000 children returned to schools that are cleaner, brighter, and safer thanks to record investments. The shortage of teachers remains a challenge, but the city’s support for educators and continuous upgrades show that Wrocław is committed to creating an education system where children—and their families—can thrive.