Public Education in Taiwan: How Elementary Schools Work

A Complete Guide to Public Primary School in Taiwan: From Enrollment to Daily Life as a Parent

This is a comprehensive guide to everything you’ll want to know before enrolling your child, and what might be helpful to keep in mind during your time as a parent or guardian in a Taiwanese public elementary school.

As parents, we’re incredibly grateful that both of our children have had the opportunity to attend public school here in Taiwan. Of course, no system is perfect, but we absolutely recommend considering this option, especially if your family values the following:

• Native-Level Mandarin Exposure

  One of the biggest advantages of public school in Taiwan is the opportunity for your child to learn Mandarin Chinese: to speak, read, and write, at or near native level.

  
  

• Strong Emphasis on Civic Education

  In addition to solid foundations in math, language, and science, Taiwan’s public schools place a strong emphasis on civic values and character development, a legacy of the Japanese education system.

  • Children learn everyday but essential concepts such as: Taking turns, lining up, respecting others.

  • Service and responsibility, for example, students help serve lunch at school

  • Environmental awareness, kids take part in classroom and campus cleaning routines from a young age

Some Drawbacks to Consider

While the experience can be incredibly enriching, there are a few things to be aware of:

• Academic pressure and homework volume can be high, especially compared to international, western school systems, this tends to ramp up from Grade 3 onward. And because of the competitiveness of living in highly dense cities such as Taipei, all parents try to be "ahead" of the game. When in pre-school they put kids in school readiness classes for Primary first. When in Grade 6, they put kids in cram schools to prepare them for Middle school. Unfortunately, even if your family chooses not to be a part this competitiveness, you will still feel the pressure.

• Although many schools now follow the government's "bilingual" model, the level of English taught is not enough to confidently transition into an English-speaking or fully bilingual school later on (if that's your family's plan for after Grade 6). Most families choose to supplement with after-school English classes or tutoring to bridge the gap. The problem with this, is that kids who already have a lot of academic pressure and homework from school, have to face the pressure of attending other classes, with extra homework and late pick-up hours.

Admission

How School Placement Works & Enrollment Timeline

In Taiwan, school placement is determined by school districts (zoning).

So, the first step is to find out which elementary school is closest to your registered address, that’s the address listed on your ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) or your Household Registration (戶籍, Hùjí).

When to Enroll

The school year in Taiwan starts in September, and the enrollment process begins around May of that same year. Our recommendation is to make a first visit to your local school with your ARC and ask about the application process in person.

You can check this official page for up-to-date dates and instructions: https://eschool.tp.edu.tw/new

Class Size & Assignment

Each class typically has 22 to 30 students and is assigned a homeroom teacher.

Class assignments are done by lottery, and both the teacher and classmates are reassigned every two years.

Additional Info for First Grade Applicants

• Children must be at least 6 years old by the first day of the school year in order to enter Grade 1. There are exceptions to starting earlier if the birthday is close to the start of school year, but you need to apply for this option.

• You’ll need to present a vaccination record in Mandarin Chinese at the beginning of the first semester. If your child has a vaccination booklet from another country, you can bring it to your local Health Department office, where they will issue a local version with the proper official stamps.

School Calendar and Schedule

School Year & Daily Schedule in Taiwanese Public Schools

The school year in Taiwan runs from September (or the last day of August) until late June.

Semester Breakdown

• First semester: September to January

• Followed by winter break and Lunar New Year celebrations

• Second semester: February to June

Daily Schedule

1. Half-day schedule (半天 Bàntiān) - Typically:

   7:50 AM – 12:00 PM

2. Full-day schedule (整天 Zhěng tiān) - Typically:

Morning session: 7:50 AM – 12:00 PM

Lunch & rest: 12:00 – 1:00 PM

Afternoon session: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

📆 Full-Day School Days by Grade Level

• Grades 1–2: Only Tuesdays

• Grades 3–4: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

• Grades 5–6: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Fees (1 - 6 Grade)

Public education in Taiwan is "free", but each semester includes some required fees, which vary depending on the grade level and any optional services you choose.

For example, in the second semester of this school year (February to June 2025), these were the fees for a Grade 5 student at a public elementary school in Taipei not enrolled in after-school programs:

Breakdown of Standard Semester Fees

1. Textbooks: 1,412 NTD(The school provides them on the first day; you simply pay the fee.)

2. Materials fee: 191 NTD

3. Notebooks: 35 NTD

4. Parent association fee: 320 NTD

5. Seasonal uniform: 1,500 NTD

   Total (excluding lunch): 3458 NTD (around 117 USD)

   
   

   Optional: School Lunch Fee 4810 NTD* per semester (Families can also choose to send lunch from home.)

   
   

   *Lunch fees vary by grade level, since students in lower grades have fewer "full-day school days" compared to upper grades.

   
   

   Payment System & Digital Receipts

   
   

   In an effort to reduce paper waste, the Taiwanese government now sends most school fee notices electronically.

   
   

   In Taipei, this is done through a mobile app called 酷課 (Cooc), which also provides grades, payment updates, and notifications — all in one place.

   
   

   The app is currently only available in Mandarin Chinese.

   If needed, you can request a paper version of the payment notice from the school.

   
   

After-School Program

After-School Programs (課後班 Kè hòu bān / 課補班 Kè bǔ bān)

The after-school program is available to all elementary school students and takes place on the school campus.

During this program, students typically complete their homework, and may also engage in reading, games, or other activities, depending on the teacher in charge.

This program exists to support families where both parents work past pickup time.

Costs (Program until 4:00 PM)

Optional lunch: approx. 5,000–6,500 NTD per semester

Grade 1–2: approx. 9,200 NTD per semester

Grade 3–4: approx. 4,800 NTD per semester

Grade 5–6: approx. 2,500 NTD per semester

Extended After-School Care Options

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Grades 1–6: approx. 7,500 NTD extra per semester

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Grades 1–6: approx. **7,000–15,500 NTD extra per semester

Note: Fees may vary depending on the school, schedule, grade level, and yearly adjustments.

For example, if both parents of a 1st–2nd grade student work until 5:00 PM and no one is available to pick up the child earlier, they would need to pay the following additional fees:

9,286 + 7,500 + 5,000 = approx. 21,786 NTD per semester (around 730 USD)

While this extra cost might seem high, it is still lower than what you’d typically pay for a private after-school center like a 補習班 (Bǔxí bān) or 安親班 (Ānqīn bān).

If you're interested in those alternatives (cram schools), which often include English classes, you can check out the ones near your local school. Some popular chains with multiple locations around Taipei include:

• Joy English 佳音

• HESS 何嘉仁

• Eagle 弋果

• Giraffe 長頸鹿, and others.

Extracurriculars

Each school offers different extracurricular activities after classes. These are known as 社團 (shè tuán) and it's not the same as 課後班 （ke hou ban) the after-class we mentioned before which is focused on doing the homework and basically child-care for after school. "She tuen 社團" are sport /art / interest classes at school. You need to register your child during the registration period set by each school, which is usually about three months before the start of the next semester. In our experience, extracurricular activities are very popular, so sometimes it's difficult to get a spot, so make sure to be ready to apply on the set dates to avoid disappointment. Costs vary, anything from 1800-5000NT per semester, this is to cover the teacher's pay and materials. Options may include basketball, soccer, badminton, table tennis, arts and crafts classes, dance, musical instruments, and more.

School Uniforms

School Uniforms in Taiwan’s Public Elementary Schools

Public elementary school uniforms in Taiwan are usually sports-style uniforms. Each school sets its own rules about when students must wear them. For example, students may be required to wear the uniform on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, while on other days they can wear casual clothing.

It’s also common for uniforms to be required during special school events, such as:

• Sports Day (體表會 Tǐ biǎo huì)

• School Anniversary Carnival (園遊會 Yuán yóu huì)

• Field Trips / Outdoor Learning Days (校外教學 Xiàowài jiàoxué)

Uniform costs typically range from 1800 to 3000 NTD per year, which usually includes two summer sets and two winter sets. The school will inform parents where and when to purchase the uniforms.

Number tag: 3rd Grade, Class 4, Student Number 13

At the beginning of the school year, each student receives several fabric tags with their student number, which must be sewn onto the top right corner of their sports uniform shirt.

What do kids take to school?

All primary students in Taiwan take to school:

🎒 Backpack (ideally, an ergonomic one)

💧 Water Bottle

👝Pencil case with all needed stationery, with sticker name tags.

Note: Schools usually provide these sticker name tags the first day of class.

☂️ Rain gear

🪪 Student Card (EasyCard) to use at the School Library

🔔 Safety alarm that hangs on the backpack. Each semester, the school checks to make sure it’s in good condition.

🛍️ Lunch bag or lunchbox: Includes a fork / chopsticks and spoon, plus two bowls – one larger for the main meal and one smaller for soup.

📴Note: Smartphone use is not allowed during school hours in elementary schools, but many children use smartwatches to stay in touch with their parents. These devices often include GPS tracking features as well.

Parent Responsibilities

• Sign the communication notebook daily and check homework.

• Also sign pages in books/tests when indicated by the teacher. Look for the abbreviation 訂簽 (Dìngqiān), which means “correct and sign.” If answers are circled in red, your child must correct them (e.g., rewrite twice), and parent signs next to the grade.

• School Day (學校日 Xuéxiào rì): Attend the parent-teacher meeting once per semester, usually in late September and late February. It often includes a general school assembly followed by a classroom meeting with the homeroom teacher. Volunteer opportunities are often discussed during this time.

• Volunteer opportunities include helping in the library, traffic safety during drop-off/pick-up, or joining school outings and events.

Parent-Teacher Communication

During parent meetings, it's common for one parent to take the initiative to create a LINE chat group. In this group, parents share information, help each other when needed, and sometimes post photos or videos of class activities.

The homeroom teacher will also let you know their main communication method, usually a LINE group or their personal LINE account for more specific or private matters.

They will also confirm if this is the channel to report absences (請假 Qǐngjià).

Fun Fact

Since public schools in Taiwan are considered community spaces, their sports fields and tracks are open to the public for exercise outside of school hours. For example:

Weekdays (Monday to Friday):

• Morning: 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.

• Evening: 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Saturdays:

• 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.

• 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Sundays & Public Holidays:

• 5:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

School Breaks (summer/winter):

• Hours generally follow the Saturday/Sunday schedule.

We hope this guide is helpful for you and your family!

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