Wizarding Schools

Wizarding schools are educational institutions designed to train young witches and wizards in the use of magic. Scattered across the globe, these schools are typically concealed from Muggles through powerful enchantments and Muggle-Repelling Charms to uphold the International Statute of Secrecy. While attending a formal school is the most common form of magical education, it is not compulsory; some families, like the Gaunt family, may opt for homeschooling or have no formal training at all. The curriculum at these institutions generally covers core magical disciplines such as Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, and Defence Against the Dark Arts.

The three largest and most prestigious wizarding schools in Europe were introduced during the revival of the Triwizard Tournament. Representatives from each school gathered at Hogwarts to compete, providing insight into their distinct cultures and educational philosophies.

• Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
  • Location: Scottish Highlands, Great Britain
  • Description: A vast, ancient castle founded over a thousand years ago by Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Students from the United Kingdom and Ireland are sorted into one of four Houses, each named after a founder. During the 1990s, it was widely considered to be the safest place in the wizarding world under the headmastership of Albus Dumbledore. To Muggles, the school appears to be a crumbling ruin with signs warning of danger.
• Beauxbatons Academy of Magic (L'académie de magie de Beauxbâtons)
  • Location: Pyrenees mountains, France
  • Description: A beautiful chateau described as a palace, surrounded by formal gardens and fountains created through magic. The school is led by Headmistress Olympe Maxime. Students of Beauxbatons wear fine, pale blue silk robes. The school's coat of arms consists of two crossed, golden wands, each emitting three stars. Notable students include Fleur Delacour.
• Durmstrang Institute (Дурмстранг)
  • Location: Northern Europe (exact location is a closely guarded secret)
  • Description: Durmstrang has the darkest reputation of the three major European schools, as it is known for teaching the Dark Arts as part of its curriculum. The school does not admit Muggle-born students. Its grounds are smaller than Hogwarts, consisting of a castle of only four floors. The former Death Eater Igor Karkaroff served as its Headmaster during the Triwizard Tournament. Notable students include the famous Seeker Viktor Krum and the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.

While only the three European schools are mentioned in the original novels, further information has been revealed about other major institutions around the world. All information in this section is sourced from the Pottermore/Wizarding World website.

• Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
  • Location: Mount Greylock, Massachusetts, United States
  • Description: The premier wizarding school for North America. Like Hogwarts, it features four houses: Horned Serpent, Wampus, Thunderbird, and Pukwudgie. (Pottermore)
• Castelobruxo
  • Location: Brazilian rainforest
  • Description: A golden temple-like edifice that appears as ruins to Muggles. It is protected by small, furry spirit-beings called Caipora. The school has a renowned exchange program and offers specialties in Herbology and Magizoology. (Pottermore)
• Mahoutokoro
  • Location: The volcanic island of Minami Iwo Jima, Japan
  • Description: An ornate palace made of mutton-fat jade. Students are given enchanted robes that grow with them and change color to reflect their level of learning, turning white if they betray the Japanese wizarding code or practice the Dark Arts. (Pottermore)
• Uagadou
  • Location: Mountains of the Moon, Uganda
  • Description: The largest of all wizarding schools, carved out of the mountainside. Students at Uagadou are particularly skilled in wandless magic, receiving notice of their acceptance via Dream Messengers. (Pottermore)

• Admissions: Magical children are typically identified at birth and automatically registered for their regional school. Hogwarts, for example, uses a magical Quill of Acceptance and a Book of Admittance to record the name of every magical child born in Britain and Ireland. Formal acceptance letters are sent by owl post around the child's eleventh birthday.
• Curriculum: Core subjects are mandatory for the first few years, after which students may choose electives. Subjects include Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, History of Magic, Astronomy, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Muggle Studies, and Study of Ancient Runes.
• Transportation: Schools often have a dedicated method of transport. The most famous is the Hogwarts Express, a steam train that departs from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at King's Cross Station. The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrived at Hogwarts via a giant, flying carriage pulled by Abraxans and a magical ship, respectively.