The freedom to take responsibility for your path...
The freedom to take responsibility for your path...
ENROLLMENT
2026/2027
ABOUT SCHOOL
Private Hight School "Democratic Education Varna" is a Ministry of Education licensed school with over 80 students, from preparatory group to 12th grade, and a team of nearly 30 teachers.
For 8 years, we have been creating an educational environment where children learn through choice, hands-on practice, and personal motivation.
Imagine a school where children do not just study, but explore the world and discover their own potential, guided by genuine curiosity.
In our school, they can experiment, create projects inspired by their own ideas, and actively participate in the decisions that affect them – including shaping and changing the school rules.
Here, there are no bells and no traditional homework. There is time for deep learning, for play, for movement, for creativity, and for meaningful social interaction.
We believe that learning cannot happen out of obligation. It is a natural process that unfolds when a child has freedom, purpose, support, and real responsibility for their choices. Learning is an experience that happens in many different ways at every moment of the school day. Children do not just learn about life – they live it.
Our community grows and evolves, united by a desire for more meaningful and human-centered education. We build on over 100 years of democratic education practice, inspired by Alexander Neill and the initiatives of Yaacov Hecht in developing free school communities around the world.
Not every school teaches children to simply follow instructions – some support them in taking responsibility for their own path.
As the co-founders of the school and parents ourselves, we chose to create a different kind of school for our children and for all those who seek an education that respects personal choice.
What do you choose for your child?
Discover Varna Democratic Education Private School! The first licensed school in Bulgaria to implement a democratic education model, and a proud member of the European Democratic Education Community.
GALLERY
CHILDREN TESTIMONIALS
Laura
9 years
I chose to study Polish because I want to understand people when I’m visiting my aunt in Poland.
Manol
11 years
I constantly need to be busy. I try different new things until I discover the one that I will truly enjoy and will want to do every day.
Boyan
10 years
I like that I can communicate freely with the teachers. The adults at school are always responsive.
Darko
16 years
My favorite thing about this school is the freedom and comfort it gives the children. And I really like that I feel at home here.
PARENT TESTIMONIALS
Galya - Michaela's mom
“Our journey at this school has not always been free of fears, doubts, and questions. There have also been many voices from the outside — ideas and concepts about how children “should” be prepared for the future. Over time, however, I began to notice something far more important to me. I see my child developing emotional intelligence, remarkable adaptability, self-reflection, and the ability to express herself freely and to listen to herself — without fear. She communicates naturally with people of all ages, sets goals for herself, and regulates herself throughout the process of achieving them. Here, she is not simply learning academic material; she is growing as a human being. And perhaps the most valuable thing for me is this: in a world where we are constantly preparing children for a future that never arrives quite the way we imagine it, here they are learning simply to be — to meet and work with the present moment.”
05.05.206
Darya - Sonya's & Poli's mom
“When you have highly sensitive and emotionally vulnerable children, you begin to notice that many schools present students’ emotional comfort as one of their advantages. But usually these are just words that mean nothing in practice. The first pleasant surprise for me and my children was that everyone here genuinely strives to create emotional comfort. This is very difficult work, because we are all human and we all have different needs and expectations when it comes to feeling safe and comfortable. It is much easier to leave it as empty words and do nothing. The second thing I would highlight is that children have a voice here — they are able to make decisions and deal with the consequences of those decisions. Every parent knows how difficult this can be, but developing this habit is incredibly important in life. Third: the opportunity to give feedback about many different things, and the ability to work together to find the best solution for everyone involved. There is support and direct communication in a wide variety of situations. I do not know of any other schools that are so attentive to children and their needs. The respectful attitude, the deep care, the patience, and the love for the children make this place truly unique.”
20.04.26
Olga - Marina's mom
You have created the best school. My child shares that, unlike the old school, here adults and children are not indifferent; they care about how I feel. The children here seem healthier and less anxious. Here, children think faster and solve math problems very quickly. The academic level here is higher. In the old school, Marina hadn’t learned anything. The discipline in this school is much better. The teachers are very kind.
30.09.2024
Yana - Nikola's mom
"Yesterday Nikola jumped into the car after school with a wide smile and said: “Biology is incredibly, incredibly interesting!” And we’ve already made the school newspaper—it’s there, it really exists! (After two years of unsuccessful attempts and his insistence in the old school.) I ask him: what’s the difference, why is biology interesting now and it wasn’t before. He says: I don’t know, they’re supposedly teaching the same material. Maybe because I like the teacher, and I can ask as many questions as I want—can you imagine! I can ask questions and no one gets angry at me! On his birthday, the neighbors asked him how he imagines the next year and what he wants to do in it. He answered that he wants to learn English perfectly, that the teacher said she would help him, and he turned to me to tell me that he was going to order some new textbook. In addition, no one punished him or kicked him out of class when he showed how he can speak English with a Russian accent. On the contrary—everyone had fun, and the teacher told him he was really very good. Nikola has only been in the new school for a few days; I still don’t even dare to fully rejoice, but the change in him is enormous, even in this short period. I think those few weeks when we were traveling and he wasn’t in school also did him good, like a buffer between the two worlds, like taking a breath and making space to accept the new. At the beginning he suffered a lot for his friends from the old class, he even cried quite a bit in the first days, but now he is very happy that he no longer has to go to the old school. Until now, every summer I have one sunny, joyful child, and during the entire school year I have another child—nervous and sad. This also affects me and my work. And now he wakes up smiling again, excited. Thank you! I had never seen such calm, reasonable children who know how to communicate with each other in one place. You gathered them like this and helped them stay like that."
14.11.22
Tanya - Teo's mom
"I’m very happy that I had the chance to get to know so many interesting children and parents! You are all wonderful! It feels as if a diversity of brilliant people—young and old—have gathered in one place, all so kind and so fascinating! For me, it is priceless that my child has the opportunity to be part of this. That he meets teachers who truly care and give their best to include him in this completely new environment for him. That he meets new friends and understanding. Everything! I am sure that with your help, he is seeing the best of Bulgaria and of the people who live here from different parts of the world. Despite the difficulties of age and the language barrier, Theo is happy. Thank you to everyone for the genuinely human, humane, and normal attitude, for the care, and for everything you are teaching him! I truly believe with all my heart that with your help he will manage and will want us to stay here forever. Yesterday, for the first time, Theo began to sound out handwritten Bulgarian words and did well. From never even wanting to hear me speak Bulgarian to him, to starting to read… and all of this in just two months… For me, everything you are doing is of enormous importance, and it will be truly interesting later on, when he is no longer shy to speak. You are magical! Thank you also for this wonderful day!"
11.12.22
CONTACT
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT US
VERONIKA FOURNADJIEVA, co-manager
tel.: +359 896 639 533
democratichno@gmail.com
115а Yanko Slavchev Str.
Alen Mak Est., Varna
on the fiels of VFU "Chernorizets Hrabar"