Bilingual school
A bilingual school in central Riga — in Latvian and English
Acton Academy Riga is a private, learner-driven primary school (grades 1–6) at Kronvalda bulvāris 1, where children work in both languages — and can start knowing only one of them. We are part of the Acton Academy network of 300+ schools in 26 countries. Tuition is 650 EUR a month.
How bilingual learning works day to day
We are not an English school with Latvian lessons, and we are not a Latvian school with English lessons. Both languages are present all day, and the child chooses which language to work in for each task.
- The child chooses the language — for each task separately. There is no fixed split by day or subject. The choice happens at task level and shifts with what the child is currently good at and wants to strengthen.
- Learning platforms and apps are in English. The tools children use independently day to day are in English — so English is not a separate subject but the environment in which the work happens.
- Quest materials and Socratic discussions — in both languages. Project materials and discussion prompts come from the Acton Academy network and are available in English and Latvian; the discussion itself can go either way.
- Guides speak both languages fluently. A child gets a question, explanation or conversation in whichever language they need at that moment — without breaking their work.
- Children present their work in either language. Written work, presentations and public exhibitions — in Latvian or English, as the child chooses.
In practice this means language stops being a subject and becomes a tool. A child who arrives without English starts working in Latvian and gradually takes on English materials; a child who arrives without Latvian starts in English and picks up Latvian from everyday conversation with peers, not from a textbook.
Who this school suits
Families relocating to Riga
A child can start without a word of Latvian, and work on real tasks from day one instead of waiting until the language "is enough". If a family moves on again after a year or three, the Acton Academy network of 300+ schools in 26 countries means a child can continue the same learning model in another country.
Mixed-language families
If two languages are spoken at home, the school does not force a child to choose which one is "the real one". Both are working languages, and the child switches between them the same way they do at home.
Latvian families who want real English ability
English is not taught as a subject here — children work in it. A child reads materials, works through tasks on the platforms and takes part in discussions in English, so the language is reinforced through use, not exercises. Latvian remains a full working language, not a secondary one.
Bilingual school, international school, or state school with English?
Parents looking for an English-language education in Riga usually choose between three options. They solve different problems and cost very different amounts.
| Criterion | International schools | State school (public) with English classes | Acton Academy Riga |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language of instruction | English; Latvian as a separate subject | Latvian; English as a subject on the timetable | Latvian and English in parallel; choice for each task |
| Price | ~9,900–22,400 EUR a year, depending on school and grade | No tuition fee | 650 EUR a month |
| Curriculum | IB or Cambridge international curriculum | Latvian state curriculum | Latvian curriculum + Acton Academy's learner-driven model (quests, Socratic discussions, exhibitions) |
| Connection to Latvia | Weak — the child grows up in an international rather than local environment | Strong | A Latvian school with Latvian peers and international content |
| Best suited to | Families who are in Latvia temporarily and plan an IB path | Families for whom English as a subject is enough | Families who live in Latvia and want both languages as working languages |
International schools' prices are given per year, as published by the schools themselves (Exupery International School ~12,800–22,400 EUR/yr for 2026/27; International School of Riga 10,800–19,400 EUR/yr + enrolment fees for 2026/27; International Montessori School of Latvia ~9,900–11,100 EUR/yr for 2025/26). Acton Academy Riga's fee is given per month. Always check current prices with the school before deciding.
Full guide to alternative schools in Riga and the surrounding area →
What families moving to Riga want to know
Acton Academy Riga is a private, learner-driven primary school (grades 1–6) in central Riga, at Kronvalda bulvāris 1. Children work in both Latvian and English, and a child can join without either language. Tuition is 650 EUR per month.
Can my child join without speaking Latvian?
Yes. A child can start without a word of Latvian and pick it up from everyday life in the studio rather than from a textbook.
Is this an international school?
No. Acton Academy Riga is a Latvian school with bilingual learning and a global network behind it — see the comparison above for how we differ from international and state schools on cost and curriculum.
What does the school day look like?
Mixed-age studios, long uninterrupted work blocks, no grades and no homework in the traditional sense. Children set their own goals, work through multi-week collaborative quests, and present their work to a real audience at public exhibitions at the end of each cycle.
What if we relocate again?
The same learning model continues wherever the family goes next, within the wider Acton Academy network.
You are welcome to write to us in English at any time — enrolment, studio visits and all correspondence work equally well in English.
International network, local school
Acton Academy is a network of more than 300 schools in 26 countries. All of them follow the same learning design, so a child moving from Riga to Austin, Lisbon or Dubai does not start from zero — the city changes, not the learning model.
We are a Latvian school where Latvian is a full working language, but the learning content and experience come from an international network.
Frequently asked questions about languages
Can a child start without knowing Latvian?
Yes. English is a full working language — the learning platforms, quest materials and discussion prompts are in English, and guides are fluent in both languages. The child picks up Latvian from everyday life in the studio.
Can a child start without knowing English?
Yes. The child starts working in Latvian and moves on to English materials at their own pace. English comes from use, not from separate lessons.
Is Acton Academy Riga an international school?
No. We are a Latvian private school with bilingual learning and an international network behind us. International schools in Riga run an IB or Cambridge programme in English and cost roughly 10,000–22,000 EUR a year; we work within the Latvian context, with Latvian as a full working language, for 650 EUR a month.
Is the national curriculum taught in Latvian?
Yes. The content and assessments of the Latvian state curriculum are in Latvian; the bilingual environment adds to this, it does not replace it.
What does tuition cost, and what is included?
650 EUR a month. This includes learning materials, a computer at school, extracurricular materials and board games. There are discounts for families with several children, scholarships are available, and there is one free place.
Is the school accredited?
The school is internationally accredited by IALDS and delivers a licensed programme in Latvia. State accreditation is scheduled for the 2026/2027 school year, since schools in Latvia go through accreditation in their first years of operation.
What language will admissions be conducted in?
Whichever language suits the family — Latvian or English. The introductory call, studio visit and all correspondence can take place in English.
Next step
The simplest way to find out whether a bilingual, learner-driven school suits your child is to come and see what an ordinary working day looks like. Start with a 15-minute call in Latvian or English.
Our approach · One week at Acton Academy Riga · A parent's guide to choosing a school
Is Acton Academy Riga the right school for your family?
A 15-minute conversation — no obligation, just answers to your questions.
Is this the right school for your family?
Fifteen minutes, no commitment — you ask, we answer. In English, whenever it suits you.