There are 68 Government primary schools, 4 special schools, 12 nursery schools and 21 secondary schools. Nursery schools admit students from 3 1/2 years. Most government primary schools are co-educational.

Primary education begins at age 4 and continues until age 11, when students sit the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination (BSSEE) and transition to secondary school. There are no school fees at public primary schools.

Secondary education is provided for children ages 11 to 18 years. At age 16, students write the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations for the Caribbean Secondary Entrance Certificate (CSEC) – the equivalent of GCE O-Levels. At about age 18, those students who continue at school can sit the CXC – Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Certificate (CAPE) (the equivalent of A-Levels). Most Government secondary schools are co-educational. There is a small book fee at all secondary schools since textbooks are subsidized.

There are also several private schools. 16 at the nursery level, 27 primary, 10 secondary, and 5 special schools. School fees are required at the private schools.