How does the school year work in Bali?

International schools in Bali mostly follow the same rhythm you'd find in Europe or North America: the year opens in August and runs through June, split into two or three terms. Expect a short break in October, two to three weeks off in December for the winter holidays, another short break around March or April, and then a long summer holiday from June into August. Because so many expat families arrive and leave mid year for visa or job reasons, most schools are used to enrolling new students outside the normal August start, though spots fill up fastest right before the year begins.

Indonesian national and public schools work on the government's own calendar, which starts around mid July and ends in June, divided into two semesters. The first semester runs from July to December, with a short break around the New Year, and the second runs from January to June, ending with a longer break before the next year starts. If you're weighing a national school for your child, ask for that year's official calendar early: the government adjusts exact dates annually, and school reports and enrollment paperwork are tied to those semester breaks.

Bali adds its own closures on top of both calendars. Nyepi, the island wide Day of Silence, shuts down every school (along with the airport and most services) for a full day each spring, and some schools take an extra day or two around it. Galungan and Kuningan, the twin Hindu holidays that come around roughly every six months on the Balinese calendar, also bring school closures, especially at schools with a large Balinese staff or student population. Term dates shift a little every year, so once you've picked a school, get their actual printed calendar rather than assuming it matches what you're used to at home.