The application process for admission to the Onassis Public Schools for the 2026-27 school year has begun

The Onassis Public Schools are an innovative network of public secondary schools with a strong social impact. They are existing public secondary schools that are being upgraded with funding from the Onassis Foundation and operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports.

The initiative aims to expand students’ access to modern, upgraded educational environments, particularly in areas facing significant social and economic challenges, thereby contributing to the development of a public school that responds to the needs of the future.

The Onassis Public Schools are existing school units that, upon joining the network, are upgraded and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, improved laboratories, and renovated buildings, creating a modern educational environment that enhances students’ experience and expands learning opportunities. Priority is given to the local community, as 40–60% of the student population comes from the municipal district or municipality where the school is located.

Through free attendance and participation in Groups and Clusters in fields such as science, the Greek language, digital technology, foreign languages, the arts, culture, and sports, the Onassis Public Schools open up new horizons for students, while the entrance examinations for the first grade of middle (Gymnasium) and general high school (Lyceum) focus primarily on the skills students have acquired during their schooling and do not evaluate only their knowledge.

At the same time, sixth-grade primary school students and third-grade middle school students have the opportunity to prepare free of charge and effectively for the entrance examinations through sample exam topics and video lessons available on the DEDIMOS [Onassis Public Schools Governing Committee] website and on the Digital Tutoring Platform of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports [both in Greek].

Similarly, provisions are in place to ensure that students already enrolled in these school units may remain until they graduate, as well as a provision for the exceptional admission of younger siblings during the first two years of a school’s operation as an Onassis Public School, regardless of their performance in the entrance examinations. Students already enrolled in these schools are given the opportunity to in Groups, Clusters, and remedial teaching participate free of charge. Free participation is also available to students from the surrounding area who do not attend the Onassis Public Schools.

The Onassis Public Schools operate with an inclusive approach, providing support to students with special educational needs through inclusion classes, while parallel support teachers are appointed under the same conditions that apply to all other schools. Guidance is provided by psychologists and social workers, and remedial teaching and additional support are offered both to prepare students for the national university entrance (Panhellenic) examinations and to improve learning outcomes across all grades.

The first twelve Onassis Public Schools—six middle schools (Gymnasiums) and six general high schools (Lyceums)—began operations in September 2025 in Acharnes (Menidi), Peristeri, and Kolonos in the Attica region, Xirokrini in Thessaloniki, Kozani, and Xanthi, already serving as dynamic hubs of knowledge, creativity, and outreach for their local communities.

Starting in September 2026, the network will expand to include eight new school units— four middle schools (Gymnasiums) and four general high schools (Lyceums)—in Aigaleo, Rhodes, Heraklion, and Pyrgos.

Together, the 20 schools in the Public Onassis Schools network will welcome the students selected through this year’s admission process, forming a new learning community with an eye toward the future.