Basic education comprises two compulsory stages: basic education first stage from form I to form IV and basic education second stage from form V to form VII. Upper secondary education is also compulsory and lasts for four or five years after completion of the basic education course and is provided in three types of schools: comprehensive (general secondary) schools, profile-oriented schools, vocational (technical and vocational-technical) schools.

Public schools in Bulgaria offer instruction in the Bulgarian language, while specialised language high schools offer extensive instruction in a foreign language. There are English, German, Spanish, Italian and other specialised language high schools in Sofia and in other major towns and cities.