The 2026/27 school year begins this Monday for 512,000 students across Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland. Among them, 42,000 elementary students are starting for the first time. The remaining 663,000 students in other states will start on September 14.
Statistik Austria estimates 95,000 first-grade students will begin nationwide this September, a 1.1 percent decrease from last year. Total enrollment is expected to reach 1.175 million, with 223,000 in middle schools and 220,000 in academic secondary schools.
While first-grade numbers are down slightly from the 2024/25 peak of 98,000, they remain above 2022/23 levels. Vocational school enrollment is projected to rise by 1.1 percent to 114,000, while special school attendance will see a slight 0.2 percent increase.