10 First Graders Per Spot in Downtown Tallinn
As parents register some 3,800 new first graders for Tallinn schools between April 1 and 7, they might be surprised to know that there are 10 children for every available spot in downtown schools.
On the fourth day of registration, 2,350 applications had been sent to Tallinn schools, according to the city's press service.
Every mandatory school age child, whose residential address is in Tallinn according to the population registry, is guaranteed enrollment in a district school, which is assigned taking under consideration the student's home address and the schools that siblings are attending. Parents have the option to choose a different school, but their child may not get in.
Schools that have more applicants than available slots will test future students; final results must be revealed by April 25.
The application process has otherwise gone smoothly, said Andres Pajula, head of Tallinn City Education Department. The only problem has been with parents whose official residence was not in Tallinn before March 25, meaning that they cannot submit their applications through the internet.
Ingrid Teesalu