Åva Gymnasium, Täby, Stockholm

"Åva Gymnasium is a well-established public secondary school situated in Täby, a leafy residential suburb located to the north of Stockholm, Sweden's capital."

Combining the strengths of the Swedish national education system with an internationally recognized academic pathway, the school offers families — including those relocating from abroad — a compelling and accessible option for their children's secondary education. Founded in 1970, Åva Gymnasium has built more than five decades of educational experience, growing into a sizable and vibrant institution with a student population of around 1,300. The school delivers most of the Swedish national curriculum programmes alongside a dedicated International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, making it one of the relatively few state schools in Sweden to offer this globally respected qualification. For international families, this combination is particularly meaningful: students gain access to a rigorous, university-preparation curriculum recognized by institutions worldwide, without the fees typically associated with private IB schools. One distinctive feature of Åva's IB pathway is its structured approach to international integration. Recognizing the one-year gap between the Swedish system and schooling calendars in many other parts of the world, the school requires students to complete a mandatory pre-IB preparatory year at Åva before formally beginning the two-year Diploma Programme. While this means the full IB journey spans three years at the school, it ensures that students — whether arriving from Sweden or from abroad — are thoroughly prepared academically and socially before embarking on the demands of the Diploma Programme. This thoughtful transition support can be especially reassuring for expat families whose children may be adjusting to a new country and educational environment simultaneously. The language of instruction for the IB programme is English, which makes Åva Gymnasium genuinely accessible to international students and expatriate families who may not yet have full fluency in Swedish. This English-medium pathway allows students to pursue a world-class education while settling into life in the Stockholm region. Academically, Åva Gymnasium has developed a strong reputation in the sciences, with students regularly achieving recognition in national science competitions. This culture of academic excellence in STEM subjects makes the school an attractive choice for families who prioritize rigorous scientific education. Beyond the sciences, the school also stands out for its vocational restaurant programme, which has earned national awards and is operated in partnership with a nearby hotel — a distinctive real-world learning experience that speaks to the school's broader commitment to excellence across disciplines. The school's location in Täby places it within easy reach of central Stockholm while offering the quieter, more suburban setting that many relocating families find appealing. The area is well-served by public transport links into the capital, making the school practically convenient for families living across the northern Stockholm commuter belt. For expat families and relocating professionals seeking a state-funded school that offers both international credentials and a welcoming, English-language academic environment, Åva Gymnasium represents a genuinely distinctive and well-regarded choice in the greater Stockholm region.