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Schools - Version 20 vs Version 21
Jun 22, 2026, 08:07 AM
Added active high school gameplay from v0.9.0: classes, Thursday tests, grades, lockers, cafeteria, clubs, prom, and graduation across Dowon, Bliss Bay, and Cahaya
Jun 22, 2026, 08:39 AM
Removed duplicate in-body wikilinks
11Overview22Education in inZOI is automatic for children and optional for young adults. Children are enrolled in school as soon as they age into the appropriate life stage and attend classes on weekdays. University is an elective path for Young Adults that provides career advantages. Schools function as rabbit hole locations, meaning students disappear into the building during school hours and return home when the day ends. There is no interactive classroom gameplay.44While at school, students build child-specific skills, complete homework assignments, and encounter random events that shape their social development and academic standing. The education system connects directly to the skill system through the aptitude mechanic, which translates childhood progress into adult skill bonuses.66Academic performance is tracked through a numeric Academic Level metric rather than a traditional GPA or letter grade system. This metric can be monitored through the School tab on the smartphone, which also displays attendance records, absence count, and schedule information. Completing homework on time and attending school regularly increase the Academic Level, while missing deadlines or skipping classes cause it to decline.88Enrollment and the School App1010School enrollment for children is fully automatic. When a Zoi ages into the Child life stage, they are immediately enrolled in the elementary school serving their home city. No player action is required. The Zoi will begin attending school on the next weekday after aging up.1212University enrollment is handled differently. Young Adults must manually apply through the School app on the smartphone (press P to open the phone, then select the School tab). From the University section, the player selects one of the three available majors and clicks Apply. Enrollment is instantaneous with no admission requirements, entrance exams, or tuition fees. The Zoi begins attending university on the next scheduled class day.1414The School app also is the primary interface for monitoring all education-related information. It displays the current Academic Level, attendance record, number of absences, class schedule, and the Zoi's assigned school or university. For university students, the Career app's My Information section also shows the university name, schedule, academic level, and attendance at a glance.1616Education Levels1818inZOI has four levels of education, each tied to a specific life stage. Children are automatically enrolled and attend school on weekdays. University is optional for Young Adults.2020LevelLife StageScheduleNotesElementary SchoolChildren9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Mon-FriThe shortest school day. Children build foundational skills.Middle SchoolAdolescents9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Mon-FriLonger hours. Homework becomes more demanding.High SchoolTeenagers9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Mon-FriThe longest pre-university schedule. Aptitude scores finalize at Level 5.UniversityYoung Adults10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 3 days/weekOptional enrollment. Three majors available. Graduation in 8-10 in-game days.2323Life Stage Durations2424The length of each life stage determines how long a Zoi spends in each school level. These durations can be adjusted through city settings.2626Life StageDefault DurationSchool LevelBaby1 dayNoneToddler4 daysNoneChild7 daysElementary SchoolAdolescent7 daysMiddle SchoolTeenager14 daysHigh SchoolYoung Adult21 daysUniversity (optional)Adult56 daysNoneSenior28 daysNone2828How School Works2929All schools in inZOI are rabbit holes. Students disappear into the school building when the day starts and come home when hours end. There is no interactive classroom gameplay; you cannot follow your Zoi inside the school or control what happens in class directly.3131While a Zoi is at school, a portrait button appears next to their character icon in the bottom-left UI panel. Clicking this button lets you choose specific actions for the student to focus on during the school day. These focus choices boost certain child-specific skills and influence academic performance. Picking the right focus area for your Zoi's career goals or desired life path can accelerate their development significantly. For example, selecting a physical focus during school hours builds Motor Development, while choosing an academic focus builds Responsibility.3333Attendance and Daily Schedule3535Students leave for school automatically at the start of the school day. The Zoi will change into their current outfit and walk out the front door toward the school. If the Zoi's needs are critically low (for example, they are asleep, starving, or in a broken emotional state), they may fail to leave on time, which counts as an absence. Making sure your student's needs are green before the school day starts is essential for maintaining a clean attendance record.3737Child-Specific Skills3939Children (from the Child life stage through Teenager) develop four unique skills that exist only during childhood. These skills cannot be trained directly by adults. They are built through school focus choices, homework completion, random school events, and certain after-school activities at home.4141SkillWhat It MeasuresActivities That Build ItMotor DevelopmentPhysical coordination and athleticismFitness homework, physical school focus, playing outside, using playground equipment, exercising on a treadmill or yoga matCreativityArtistic and imaginative abilityArt-focused school activities, performance homework, drawing, using creative toys and instrumentsResponsibilityReliability and task completionCompleting homework on time, reading assignments, computer homework, choresSocialInterpersonal and communication abilityPositive school event choices, group activities, socializing with classmates4343Aptitude System4444When any child-specific skill reaches Level 5, it triggers the aptitude system. The game evaluates the child's progress and automatically sets corresponding adult skill levels when the Zoi ages into Young Adult. This is a one-time conversion that happens at the moment of aging up; it cannot be triggered again later.4646Child Skill at Level 5Adult Skill BonusMotor DevelopmentHead start in Fitness-related adult skillsCreativityBonus to Art skill and creative career readinessResponsibilityStarting advantages in career-related and Logic skillsSocialBoost to Charisma and social interaction skills4848The aptitude system rewards focused development during childhood. Players who consistently direct school focus and complete homework in specific areas will produce adults with meaningful skill advantages over Zois who spread their development evenly across all four child skills.4949Homework5151After school hours end, a task list appears on the left side of the screen. These tasks need to be completed before the deadline expires. Completed tasks get checked off the list. Failing to finish homework affects the student's academic standing and may trigger negative emotions.5353The homework deadline window is approximately 5 to 6 in-game hours after school lets out. For elementary school students who finish at 2:00 PM, this means homework should be done by around 7:00 to 8:00 PM. High school students finishing at 5:00 PM have until roughly 10:00 to 11:00 PM. University students face an even tighter window, sometimes as little as 1 to 2 hours after their 5:00 PM dismissal, because they receive their assignments later in the day.5555Homework comes in four forms:5757TypeHow to CompleteSkill BuiltReading assignmentsFind and read a specific book at the correct level (beginner, intermediate, or advanced). Some assignments require visiting the public library. Reading the wrong level does not count. The Zoi must complete the full reading progress circle for the task to register.ResponsibilityComputer-based workComplete research or coding tasks through the "Homework" tab on a computer. Must use the household's computer or a public library terminal.ResponsibilityFitness tasksPhysical exercises assigned as homework. The Zoi must use exercise equipment or perform specific physical activities at home or at a park.Motor DevelopmentPerformance tasksCreative presentations or artistic assignments. These may involve practicing an instrument, rehearsing, or completing art projects.Creativity5959A bookshelf and a computer at home are essential furniture items for completing most homework tasks. Without these, students must travel to the public library every day, eating into their limited homework window. Investing in home study equipment early saves significant time across the entire education arc.6060Random School Events6262While students are in school, random events pop up presenting scenarios with multiple choices. A student might face a conflict with a classmate, get invited to a study group, or have to decide whether to help someone. Your choice affects the Zoi's emotions, relationships with classmates, and skill progress. These events give you some influence over the school day even though you cannot enter the building.6464Event outcomes are often tied to the four child-specific skills. Choosing to help a classmate typically builds Social, while handling a conflict assertively may build Responsibility. Pay attention to which skill each choice reinforces if you are targeting a specific aptitude. Some events also award or remove small amounts of Meow (the in-game currency), so the financial impact is worth considering for households operating on a tight budget.6767Grades and Attendance6969Academic performance is tracked through the Academic Level metric visible in the School app. The Academic Level increases through consistent homework completion, positive school event choices, and appropriate focus selections during school hours. It decreases when homework is missed, school events go poorly, or the student is absent. There is no traditional letter grade or GPA system; the Academic Level is a single numeric score that reflects overall school performance.7171Attendance and Expulsion7373inZOI enforces a strict three-absence rule. If a student misses three or more school days without attending, they face expulsion from the school. Expelled students cannot re-enroll in the same school. This rule applies across all education levels, including university.7575Absences happen when a Zoi fails to leave for school on time. This can occur if the Zoi's needs are critically low (sleeping, starving, or in a broken emotional state), if they are stuck in pathfinding, or if the player manually prevents them from leaving. Using Psycat's Emergency Rescue to unstick a student counts as resolving the issue for the current day but does not retroactively fix missed days. The absence counter is visible in the School app, so players should check it regularly and plan ahead to avoid a third strike.7777Dropping Out7979Students can voluntarily leave school by pressing the Drop Out button in the School tab on the smartphone. A confirmation warning appears before the action is finalized, giving the player a chance to reconsider. Dropping out resets all academic progress entirely. If the student later re-enrolls (for university, via the School app), they start from scratch with no credit for previous work.8181Dropping out does not carry a direct penalty on emotions or relationships, but the Zoi loses all skill progress earned through school focus and homework for that enrollment period. Child-specific skill levels earned through after-school activities at home are not affected by dropping out.8383Career and Education Conflict8585University students cannot hold a full-time or part-time career while enrolled. If a player attempts to select a career for a Zoi who is currently attending university, the game will automatically drop the Zoi from their degree program, resetting all academic progress. This means players must choose between pursuing education and starting work during the Young Adult life stage.8787As of Early Access, no career paths in inZOI require a university degree. Degrees do not unlock specific jobs or serve as prerequisites for promotions. However, completing university provides a significant boost to the skills associated with the chosen major, which translates to faster advancement once the Zoi does enter the workforce. The practical benefit is a higher starting position and salary in careers that align with the graduated major.8989School Transportation9191Students travel to school using the same transportation options available to all Zois. The available methods depend on the household's resources:9393ModeDetailsWalkingFree, but slow. Students may arrive late if the school is far from home.TaxiCosts Meow per trip. The Zoi hails a taxi from the curb. Reliable but adds up over time.City busCosts a small fare. The Zoi walks to the nearest bus stop and rides to the school stop.Personal carIf the household owns a vehicle, the student can drive (Teenagers and older) or be driven by a parent.9595Transportation time is not deducted from school hours. The game pauses the student's schedule until they arrive at the school building. However, if travel takes too long and the Zoi is pulled away by low needs, the day may count as an absence. Households located far from the school should consider keeping a personal car or budgeting for daily taxi fares to avoid attendance problems.9696School Locations9898Each city has its own set of schools. Students attend whichever school is in their home city.100100CitySchool NameTypeLocationDowonYoungsung SchoolElementary, Middle, High School, and UniversityNortheast DowonBliss BayBliss Bay Public SchoolElementary, Middle, High SchoolNorthern Bliss BayBliss BayBliss Bay UniversityUniversity onlyBliss Bay campusCahayaCahaya Harmony SchoolSwimming Learning Center (Teens and older)Off-map rabbit hole (no visible lot)102102Youngsung School integrates both academics and personal development, overseeing schooling from elementary through university level. Its in-game description reads: "Students who dream of a future with Dowon City are always welcome." The school is a community lot visible on the Dowon map in the northeast section of the city.103103Bliss Bay Public School is a community lot in the northern part of Bliss Bay. It serves all pre-university education levels. University students in Bliss Bay attend the separate Bliss Bay University campus.105105Schools in Other Cities107107Cahaya Harmony School is not a traditional school. It functions as a Swimming Learning Center where Zois aged Teen and older can enroll to learn the Swimming skill. It does not offer degree programs and does not appear as a visible lot on the Cahaya map. Instead, it is classified as a hidden rabbit hole. Children living in Cahaya still attend school (the game routes them to the appropriate education rabbit hole), but the Cahaya school experience is more limited compared to Dowon and Bliss Bay.109109If a family moves between cities via the Move Cities feature (added December 2025), the children transfer to the new city's schools automatically. University students must re-enroll at the new city's university through the School app.111111University113113Young Adults can enroll at either Bliss Bay University or the University of Youngsung through the School app on the smartphone. Which university is available depends on the Zoi's home city. University is optional but provides meaningful career advantages upon graduation. Enrollment is instant with no admission requirements, entrance exams, or tuition fees.115115Majors117117MajorSkills BuiltCareer RelevanceBusiness AdministrationManagement, Finance, Critical ThinkingCareers in management, business ownership, and financial rolesComputer ScienceProgramming, Critical ThinkingTech careers, game development, and engineering rolesMultimedia ArtsArt, Media Production, Creative skillsCreative careers, content creation, and design roles119119University students attend three days a week from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM with the same homework expectations as younger students. The workload is adapted for the shorter weekly schedule, though the tighter deadline window (sometimes as little as 1 to 2 hours after class ends) can make university homework more stressful to manage than grade school assignments.121121Graduation takes approximately 8 to 10 in-game days, depending on which day of the week the Zoi enrolled. Completing university gives a boost to career starting positions and salary in fields related to the graduated major. While no career currently requires a degree, the skill acceleration and starting salary boost make university a strong investment for Zois pursuing competitive career tracks.123123Known Bugs125125Cahaya school bug (fixed v0.3.6): In earlier versions, students in the Cahaya neighborhood experienced issues where school attendance was not properly tracked. The student would leave for school but not register as attending, leading to undeserved absences. This was resolved in patch v0.3.6 (September 2025).127127Rabbit hole UI icon bug (fixed March 2026): Icons were not displayed correctly in the rabbit hole job and school UI panels. This visual issue was fixed in the anniversary update released on March 26, 2026.129129Known Limitations131131As of Early Access, the education system has several features that are not yet implemented:133133LimitationDetailsNo extracurricular activitiesThere are no clubs, sports teams, or after-school programs. Students go to school and come home.No school uniformsStudents wear their regular outfits to school. There is no uniform system or dress code mechanic.No seasonal breaksSchool runs year-round on weekdays. There are no summer breaks, winter holidays, or exam periods.No classroom gameplayAll schools are rabbit holes. You cannot enter the building or observe classes.No parent-teacher interactionsParents cannot visit the school, attend events, or communicate with teachers.No school busStudents must walk, take a taxi, ride the city bus, or drive themselves. A school bus system is planned for a future update.No degree requirements for careersUniversity degrees do not gate any career paths or unlock promotions. The benefit is limited to skill boosts and a higher starting salary.Cannot work during universityZois cannot hold any job while enrolled in university. Selecting a career automatically drops the student from their degree program.135135Patch History136136VersionDateChangesv0.3.6September 2025Fixed Cahaya neighborhood school attendance tracking bug.v0.5.0December 2025Added Move Cities feature. Children transfer to new city schools automatically when families relocate.v0.9.0March 26, 2026Fixed rabbit hole job and school UI icon display bug. Anniversary update.138138Future Education Plans139139The expanded school content previewed in Director Hyungjun "Kjun" Kim's April 12 forum post (full classrooms, gym, cafeteria, band room, art room, prom, non-height-changing high heels, additional Create-a-Zoi school assets) did not ship in v0.8.x. It is now the headline of the next major update: school gameplay receives its first showcase in June 2026, and Kjun has said improvements will continue after that introduction. PlayStation 5 foundational work, which earlier planning had placed in this window, moved out of the June update when the console release was rescheduled to the first half of 2027.141141Until the expanded build ships, the rabbit-hole schools described above are the current in-build implementation. School lots are not enterable in v0.8.x; students disappear at the doorstep and return at the end of the day, with attendance, homework, and academic level tracked through the School app on the smartphone.143143The 2026 development roadmap lists "Children / School / Education" as a focus category. The developers have stated their goal is to "create a real school, not a rabbit hole," signaling that significant changes to the education system are planned. Specific items mentioned in the official roadmap and developer communications include:145145FeatureDetailsHigh school properties (Q1 2026)Playable, explorable high school campus lots that replace the current rabbit hole system for teenagers. This would allow players to follow their Zoi inside the school building.School busA dedicated school bus transportation option for children's commutes. Availability may depend on the city.Backpack auto-equipStudents will automatically equip their backpack when leaving home during school commute time, adding a visual detail to the morning routine.School eventsEntrance ceremonies and graduation ceremonies that players can attend or witness.Part-time jobs for teenagersExpanding the career system to younger life stages, allowing teenagers to work part-time alongside their school schedule.147147The community has also requested classroom gameplay, teacher interactions, after-school clubs, sports teams, and more detailed academic progression. Whether these features make it into future updates depends on the development team's prioritization as Early Access continues through 2026.148148In the June 5, 2026 weekly reply, the developers confirmed a structural decision: middle school and high school are merged into a single stage. The team concluded that splitting them inside the current life cycle would shrink the school experience rather than deepen it, and it wants a school system that feels alive and interactive instead of functioning as a rabbit hole.150150The May 22 school gameplay video previewed the following content. None of it has shipped; it is preview material for the June update.152152Previewed FeatureDetailsClassesHomeroom plus subject classes, including an art class and a science labPresentation skillStudents develop a presentation skill through class activitiesCheerleadingCheerleading squad with its own skill progressionAmerican footballSchool sports gameplay shown on the fieldCafeteriaShared meals during the school dayAuditoriumHosts sports events, prom, and graduationGraduation ceremonyStage walk, diploma, and a speechOutfitsSchool, sports, and graduation outfits154154With the upcoming school update the team is also experimenting with more trait-driven behaviors and reactions, so different Zois experience school life differently. The stated design goal is for school experiences to influence later life; the developers give the example of strong high school grades helping a character perform better in future job interviews. Alongside the school work, new child traits, inheritance systems, acquired traits, and additional personality traits are in preparation. On June 12, 2026 the team announced that the school update is scheduled for June 18, 2026, while cautioning that the date could still slip as they prioritize deepening core systems.155155Tips157157TipDetailsFocus on one or two child skills per childrather than spreading evenly. Hitting Level 5 in a skill triggers the aptitude system and gives a permanent adult skill bonus.Complete homework every day.Missed homework directly impacts the Academic Level. Set homework as a priority in the Zoi's task queue so it does not get pushed aside by autonomy actions.Keep an eye on the absence counter.Three missed days means expulsion. Make sure students' needs are met before school starts so they leave on time. Check the School app if you are unsure how many absences have accumulated.For reading homework, check the required book level carefully.Reading a beginner book when an intermediate one is assigned does not count toward completion. The Zoi must finish the entire reading progress circle.University is worth the time investment.The career starting position and salary boost from graduation save time in the long run, especially for competitive careers. Plan for the 8 to 10 day commitment.If money is tight, use the public library.Students can complete reading and computer homework at the library instead of buying books and computers for the household. The trade-off is travel time, which can be tight with the homework deadline window.School event choices matter for aptitude.Read each option carefully and pick the one that builds the skill you are targeting. Consistently choosing the same skill category across events stacks meaningfully over the course of a school career.Buy a bookshelf and computer early.These two pieces of furniture cover the majority of homework types. Having them at home eliminates the need for library trips and gives students more time to complete assignments before the deadline.Do not start a career while enrolled in university.Accepting any job will automatically drop the Zoi from their degree program and reset all academic progress. Finish the degree first, then enter the workforce.Position your home near a school if possible.Shorter commute times reduce the risk of absences caused by low needs pulling the Zoi away mid-transit. This is especially important for elementary school children who cannot drive themselves.159159Active High School (v0.9.0)160160The June 19, 2026 v0.9.0 update added active high school gameplay, replacing the previous rabbit-hole schooling for teenagers. School properties were added for three cities: Dowon, Bliss Bay, and Cahaya. A teenager Zoi enrolls as a student and attends the same school until graduating as a Young Adult. School activities are managed through a dedicated phone app.162162Each active high school has a limited student capacity. When a school is full, some Zois attend a rabbit hole school instead. You can request a transfer to a specific active school through the school app, choosing which school to transfer to, and previously earned grades carry over. Because the school property changed in this update, Canvas creations built on the older school property may not be compatible with the new one.164164Classes, Tests, and Grades166166Students follow a set timetable across five class types. Tests run every Thursday, and overall grades are evaluated from test scores plus general classroom behavior. Students with poor grades can receive warnings and even be expelled.168168ClassFocusScienceLab and academic courseworkArtCreative and studio courseworkSkillPractical skill-building courseworkPhysical EducationAthletic and fitness courseworkGeneralBroad general-studies coursework170170On entering the school each student is assigned a locker, and lunch is available at the cafeteria either from an employee or by gathering it directly. Students can interact with other students and teachers throughout the day.171171Clubs173173Students can join school clubs for extracurricular activities, each with its own skill requirement to join: cooking, fitness, cheerleading, and programming.175175Prom and Graduation177177Students take part in the prom party by asking another Zoi to be prom partners or by leaving a prom partner request note in their locker. Prom King and Prom Queen are chosen by voting, and after prom, students may be invited to after-parties depending on their relationships. Completing the full school curriculum leads to the graduation ceremony, after which the teenager becomes a Young Adult. The Homework and School Life page covers the day-to-day school routine in more detail.
