Under Education Law 198/2023: age 5 compulsory since 2020, age 4 since 2023-2024, and age 3 will become compulsory from 2030.
A child who turns 6 by 31 August must be enrolled in the preparatory class. A child born between September and December can be, subject to a developmental assessment.
State kindergarten and school in the locality, in Romanian; bilingual private kindergartens; and international schools in the Pipera area.
From Balotești, without traffic: about 15 minutes to AISB and Pipera, and about 6 minutes to the site of the planned Mark Twain campus.
According to the business press, Mark Twain International School is building a campus in Balotești for about 1,500 pupils, opening by autumn 2028.
Kindergartens and schools in north Bucharest: the short answer
North Bucharest offers three layers of options: state kindergartens and schools in the localities themselves, such as Balotești and Otopeni, which teach in Romanian; private kindergartens, some of them bilingual; and international schools in the Pipera area. Under Romanian education law, kindergarten is compulsory from age 4, and from 2030 from age 3, and the preparatory class from age 6. An Israeli family chooses mainly by language, budget and travel distance, and in a suburb distance matters no less than the other two.
When Israeli families tell me about their move, the kindergarten or school question almost always comes up before the home question. And rightly so, because in a suburb the school decision shapes not only the children's morning but your whole daily routine.
How Romania's education system is structured, by age
Under Pre-university Education Law 198/2023, early education starts from three months of age and is divided into two stages: nursery (creșă) up to age 3, and kindergarten (grădiniță) from age 3 to 6.
| Age | Stage | Compulsory? |
|---|---|---|
| 0-3 | Nursery (creșă) | No |
| 3 | Kindergarten, small group (grupa mică) | Will become compulsory from 2030 |
| 4 | Kindergarten, middle group (grupa mijlocie) | Compulsory since the 2023-2024 school year |
| 5 | Kindergarten, large group (grupa mare) | Compulsory since 2020 |
| 6 | Preparatory class (clasa pregătitoare) | Compulsory for children who turn 6 by 31 August |
The kindergarten data is based on the law as summarised by Jurnalul. Note the preparatory class: according to Edupedu, a child who turns 6 by 31 August must be enrolled, and a child born between September and December can be enrolled if their developmental assessment is suitable.
Unlike in Israel, in Romania kindergarten is part of compulsory education from age 4, not just one year before school.
The state option: the local school
Every locality in north Ilfov runs state kindergartens and schools, and state education involves no tuition fees. Some examples:
- Balotești: Middle School No. 1 (Școala Gimnazială nr. 1 Balotești), on Șoseaua Unirii, and a state kindergarten in the village of Săftica within the commune.
- Otopeni: Ioan Petruș Theoretical High School, which teaches from the preparatory class to grade 12 in two buildings, and a list of kindergartens on the town hall website.
The advantage: close to home, no tuition fees, and children who integrate into local society. The disadvantage: lessons are in Romanian. For a 4-year-old this is usually not a problem, young children learn a language quickly. For an 11-year-old who arrives without a word of Romanian, it is a real challenge that needs support.
The private option: bilingual kindergartens
Between the state kindergarten and the international school there is a middle layer: private kindergartens, some of which combine English with the Romanian curriculum. Several operate in the Otopeni and Balotești area, for example Kids Club kindergarten in Balotești, which runs a regular programme and an extended programme.
What to check in a private kindergarten:
- Authorisation and accreditation. Is the kindergarten accredited by the Ministry of Education? This matters especially in the compulsory years, from age 4.
- Language. How much of the day is in English, and how much in Romanian?
- Hours. "Program normal" is mornings only. "Program prelungit" is a long day, with meals and rest.
- Transport. In a suburb, this is not a minor detail.
The international option: Pipera, and later Balotești too
The large international schools, such as the American International School of Bucharest and the British School of Bucharest, are in the Pipera and Voluntari area, and also have kindergarten levels. They teach in English, suit families who may move again, and are expensive: as we detailed in the schools guide, according to the AISB fee schedule annual kindergarten tuition is €24,850. The full details, including the Jewish school Lauder-Reut, are in our guide to international schools, and we wrote about the Jewish community in a separate article.
And in Balotești itself, according to reports in the business press, the Mark Twain International School network is building a campus for about 1,500 pupils, with opening planned no later than autumn 2028. It is an announced project, not an existing one, and it is worth checking its status before relying on it. Details in our guide to Balotești.
Unlike in Israel, in Romania kindergarten is part of compulsory education from age 4, not just one year before school.
The morning drive: the deciding factor
In the city, a distant school is another 20 minutes. In a suburb, it can be an hour a day, times two parents. So it is worth thinking about the route before choosing a school, not after.
For example, from Balotești, without traffic: about 15 minutes to AISB and Pipera, and about 6 minutes to the site of the planned Mark Twain campus. At peak hours on the DN1 these numbers grow, so drive the route once at the time you will actually travel.
| Option | Language | Cost | Typical distance from Balotești |
|---|---|---|---|
| State kindergarten or school in the locality | Romanian | No tuition fees | A few minutes |
| Bilingual private kindergarten | Romanian and English | Varies by kindergarten | In Otopeni and Balotești |
| International school | English | Tens of thousands of euros a year | Pipera area, about 15 minutes without traffic |
How to enrol when arriving from Israel
A child who studied abroad enrols in a Romanian state school as an "auditing pupil" (audient), until the county school inspectorate recognises their studies in Israel. According to HotNews, the process starts at the school itself, which prepares the file for the inspectorate. You can enrol at any point in the year. In Ilfov, the responsible body is the Ilfov County School Inspectorate (ISJ Ilfov).
What to prepare from Israel: certificates and documents showing which grades the child has completed, with a certified translation. And for the preparatory class, the enrolment window for 2026-2027 was between 31 March and 6 May 2026, so anyone planning a move for September needs to start in the spring. We wrote about the wider planning of the move in our guide to relocating to Romania.
Who each option suits
State suits: young children, families who intend to stay for years, and parents who want their children to integrate into local society.
Bilingual private suits: kindergarten age, families who still want a bridge to English, and parents who need a long day.
International suits: older children, families who may move again, and those whose budget allows it.
And what about us
I will mention this once: Compass on the Lake is in Balotești, and the travel times in this article are calculated from it. Anyone who comes for a visit is welcome to ask us about the nearby kindergartens and travel times. We are happy to share what we know, but the school decision should be made on your own visit to it.
Frequently asked questions
From what age is kindergarten compulsory in Romania?
Under Education Law 198/2023, the large kindergarten group (age 5) has been compulsory since 2020, the middle group (age 4) since the 2023-2024 school year, and the small group (age 3) will become compulsory from 2030.
At what age do children start school in Romania?
A child who turns 6 by 31 August must be enrolled in the preparatory class. A child who turns 6 between September and December can be enrolled if their developmental assessment is suitable.
Are there international schools near Balotești?
The large international schools are in the Pipera and Voluntari area, about 15 minutes' drive from Balotești without traffic. In Balotești itself a Mark Twain International School campus is planned, with opening planned by autumn 2028.
Can a child from Israel attend a state school in Romania?
Yes. They enrol as an auditing pupil until the county inspectorate recognises their studies abroad, and you can enrol at any point in the year. Lessons are in Romanian, so older children will need language support.
How much does kindergarten cost in north Bucharest?
A state kindergarten charges no tuition fees. In a private kindergarten the price varies a great deal by kindergarten and hours. At the international schools, for example AISB, annual kindergarten tuition is €24,850.
The bottom line
North Bucharest has an option for every family: a Romanian-language state kindergarten near home, a bilingual private kindergarten, or an international school in Pipera. The decision depends on the children's ages, your long-term plans and the budget. And in a suburb, the morning drive is part of the decision, not a detail you sort out later.
If you are planning a move with children and want to think together about the location relative to the school, book a 30-minute call with me. We will mark the options and travel times on the map, before you commit to a home.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: Pre-university Education Law 198/2023 · Jurnalul, compulsory kindergarten age (31.07.2026) · Edupedu, preparatory class enrolment rules 2026-2027 · Euronews România, preparatory class enrolment calendar · HotNews, recognition of studies abroad · Ilfov County School Inspectorate · Școala Gimnazială Balotești · Otopeni town hall, Ioan Petruș High School and kindergartens · Kids Club Balotești.
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Details of the Mark Twain International School campus are based on public reports. Enrolment rules, tuition fees and information about educational institutions change, and should be checked directly with the institution and the county inspectorate.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
