Everything We Know About the 11 Wizarding Schools Around the World

We all know and love Hogwarts, and we have met Durmstrang Institute and the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but what do we know about the other eight Wizarding World schools in the Harry Potter universe? From Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in North America to Mahoutokoro School of Magic in Japan, here is everything we know about the 11 established wizarding schools registered with the International Confederation of Wizards.

1. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – the UK 

 
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is located in the Scottish Highlands and is the best-known school within the wizarding world. Students accepted come from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales and are sorted into one of four Houses – Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, or Slytherin. To the Muggle eye, Hogwarts looks like a ruin with signs that warn trespassers to keep out.

2. Beauxbatons Academy of Magic – France & Spain

 
The Beauxbatons (pronounced bo-batton) Academy of Magic has always had a good relationship with Hogwarts. Located in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, the school caters to French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Luxembourgian, and Belgian students. Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel helped fund Beauxbatons with alchemist gold. A fountain named after them in the school’s park is said to have healing and beautifying properties!

3. Durmstrang Institute – Northern Europe

 
Durmstrang (pronounced doorm-strang) once had the darkest reputation out of all wizarding schools. After two dark headmasters, one of them being ex-Death Eater Igor Karkarov, the school turned its reputation around and now excels at its endeavors – including Quidditch! The school is rumored to be in the far north of Europe, but its exact whereabouts are unknown. Visitors must comply with having their memories wiped to keep the location a secret.

4. Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – North America

 
J.K. Rowling confirmed the origins of this North American wizarding school in 2016. Isolt Sayre founded Ilvermorny in the 1600s in Massachusetts. The school is made up of four Houses: Thunderbird, Horned Serpent, Pukwudgie, and Wampus. Ilvermorny is briefly mentioned in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, when Tina and Queenie proudly reminisce about their time as students.

5. Castelobruxo – Brazil

 
Deep in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, Castelobruxo (pronounced cass-tell-o-broo-shoo) looks like a simple temple ruin to the Muggle eye. The grounds are protected by mischievous Caipora – small, furry spirit-beings who watch over the school at night. The students wear bright green robes and are known to be advanced in the studies of Herbology and Magizoology. Castelobruxo offers a popular exchange program for European wizarding students.

6. Mahoutokoro School of Magic – Japan

 
Mahoutokoro (pronounced mah-hoot-o-koh-ro) has the smallest student body of the 11 wizarding schools. Its jade palace sits on top of the volcanic island of Minami Iwo Jima, and its students are flown to and from their homes on giant storm petrels. The school robes grow in size and color, from faint pink to gold, as students progress in their academics. The robes also let others know if a student has betrayed the Japanese wizard’s code, been involved in illegal practices, or broken the International Statue of Secrecy by turning white. Legend has it that Hogwarts students taught Mahoutokoro students how to play Quidditch!

7. Koldovstoretz – Russia 

 
Koldovstoretz (pronounced kohl-dohv-stuh-retz) is a very secretive wizarding school with its official standing always in question. According to Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Koldovstoretz was one of the few schools invited to participate in the Wizarding School of Potions Championship. Students are known to be advanced in the studies of Potions and choose to use trees and roots to play Quidditch.

8. Uagadou School of Magic – Africa

 
Uagadou (pronounced wag-a-doo) is the largest of the 11 wizarding schools and welcomes students from all over the continent. Students find out about their acceptance by Dream Messengers in their sleep and are given an inscribed stone found in their hand upon waking. Students are known to be advanced in the studies of Astronomy, Alchemy, and Self-Transfiguration. Instead of using a wand, Uagadou students use finger and hand gestures to cast spells. Babajide Akingbade, who succeeded Albus Dumbledore as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, is a Uagadou alumnus.

Wizarding Schools Nine, Ten, and Eleven

 
J.K. Rowling told us that “there are eleven long-established and prestigious wizarding schools worldwide, all of which are registered with the International Confederation of Wizards,” but we only have information on eight of them. As for the last three, fans have speculated that they are located in Saudi Arabia, India, Australia, China, or Mexico.

Which wizarding school would you like to visit? Let us know!