Compulsory schooling in Italy starts in the year during which the pupil has his or her 6th birthday, and continues to 16. Following recent legislation, however, it is now possible for children to start school earlier, at 5 1/2. There are five years of Primary School (Scuola Elementare), three years of Middle School (Scuola Media), and five years of Senior School (Scuola Superiore), of which three are compulsory.

Pupils take exams at the end of the third year of Scuola Media, and at the end of the fifth year of Scuola Superiore (the Maturità exam). Pupils who opt to leave school at 16 will only have a high school qualification if they have been attending one of the 'professional' high schools (such as 'hotel and catering', for example).