Healthcare & Family

Enrolling in school, free, compulsory, and starts at six

Updated July 2026Reviewed July 2026
The one-line versionThe folkeskole is free public schooling, compulsory for 10 years from the year your child turns 6. It starts with grade 0. Lessons finish early, so working parents also need after-school care (SFO).

The folkeskole in brief

The folkeskole is Denmark’s free public school – a single comprehensive institution covering primary and lower-secondary education. Schooling (or equivalent) is compulsory for 10 years, from the year the child turns 6. It begins with grade 0 (boernehaveklasse, a reception year), then grades 1-9.

How to enrol

  • You need your child’s CPR and your registered address.
  • Enrol through your municipality – usually online via borger.dk, or the local school/municipal office.
  • Children are generally assigned to the local district school (distriktsskole); you can request others subject to space.

The school day is short

Lessons typically end between roughly noon and 14:30 depending on age – much earlier than a working day. This is by design: children then move to after-school care (SFO) for a fee. Factor SFO into both your schedule and budget if you work.

Options beyond the folkeskole

  • Friskole / privatskole – private and independent schools, state-subsidised, with modest fees.
  • International schools – English-medium, useful for shorter stays; places are limited, so enquire early.
  • Efterskole – a distinctive Danish boarding option for grades 8-10, later on.
Free, but early planning paysThe folkeskole is free, and even private/international schools are partly state-subsidised so fees are modest by international standards. International-school places are scarce, though – if you want one, contact schools as soon as you know you are coming.
Local school first, then decideMost internationals settle well into the local folkeskole, which immerses children in Danish quickly. If language is a worry for an older child or a short stay, look at international schools early – but the default local route works for most families.

Common questions

When does school start?
Compulsory education runs 10 years from the year the child turns 6, beginning with grade 0. The school year starts in August.
Is school free?
Yes – the folkeskole is free. Private and international schools charge modest fees, partly offset by state subsidy.
Why do I still need after-school care?
Lessons end early (around noon to 14:30). Working parents enrol younger children in SFO for the afternoon, for a fee.

Verified July 2026 against official sources: lifeindenmark.borger.dk, sundhed.dk, the Danish Medicines Agency and municipal childcare/school pages (Copenhagen, Aarhus). Figures are 2026 levels and reset each January – always check your municipality and region. General information, not medical advice.

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