Vara coat of arms

Schools in Vara municipality

31 active school units in Vara, Västra Götalands län. Most common school forms: 12 compulsory school, 9 after-school care, 9 preschool (a school can have multiple forms).

Data updated: 12 March 2026. School data covers 2023/24; Kolada data may cover different periods.

Key metrics — Vara municipality

Overview of the municipality's education system.

31 Active schools 24 municipal, 7 independent
2,633 Total pupils 12 compulsory, 3 upper secondary
204.3 Avg merit value yr 9 Skolverket avg, 2 schools (national avg: 228.5)
60.9% Qualified teachers Skolverket avg, all school forms
146,378 SEK/yr Cost per pupil Compulsory school 2024 (national avg: 142,154.8 SEK)
11.5 Pupils per teacher Compulsory/upper secondary in municipality
1.4 Merit value per 1,000 SEK Cost-effectiveness (peer avg: 1.4)

Compulsory school

Results, teachers, costs and student health

Results and grades

Compulsory school results in Vara (2025).

Merit value year 9 (municipal avg, 16 subjects)
203.6 (national avg: 228.5) (county avg: 213.8)
meritRating9 B
Source
kolada
Period
2025
Quality
B: Direct from source
Passing all subjects year 9
65.2%
Passing mathematics
80.7%
Pupil satisfaction year 5
74.1%
Pupil satisfaction year 8
37.9%
Parents with post-secondary education
48.7%

Source: Kolada.

Teachers and personnel

Teacher density and qualification in compulsory schools (2024).

Qualified teachers (compulsory school)
73.2% (national avg: 72.6 %) (county avg: 71.6 %)
certifiedTeachersPercent B
Source
kolada
Period
2024
Quality
B: Direct from source
Qualification municipal / independent
73.7% / 67.2%
Pupils per teacher
11.8

Source: Kolada.

Staff stability

Teacher workforce stability in Vara, measured by the trend in qualified teacher share over time.

Qualified teachers (2024)
73.2% (national avg: 72.6%)
Stability indicator (2020–2024)
↓ Declining (-2.4 pp)
National trend (2020–2024)
↑ Improving (+1.5 pp)
Forecast 2026
≈ 73.2% (linear extrapolation, -0.2 pp/year)

Source: Kolada.

Pupils and providers

Pupil numbers and distribution between municipal and independent schools (2024).

Compulsory school pupils
1,680
Municipal / independent share
88.6% / 11.4%

Source: Kolada.

Costs — compulsory school

Cost per pupil in compulsory school (2024). Includes breakdown for municipal schools.

Cost per pupil (total)
146,378 SEK (national avg: 142,154.8 SEK) (county avg: 149,140.8 SEK)
Municipal school cost
142,642 SEK/pupil
Teaching
76,944 SEK/pupil
Premises
25,553 SEK/pupil
Student health
4,524 SEK/pupil
School meals
7,391 SEK/pupil
Learning tools
5,249 SEK/pupil

Source: Kolada (N15006, N15008–N15014).

Student health and support

Student health resources, accessibility and school safety in Vara.

Student health (compulsory)
4,524 SEK/pupil (national avg: 5,053.2 SEK)
Student health (upper secondary)
3,136 SEK/pupil (national avg: 3,981 SEK)
Easy to access help, year 5
65.9%
Easy to access help, year 8
53.8%
Safety at school
71%
Study environment (studiero)
26.9%

Source: Kolada, Skolinspektionen.

Mother tongue and multilingualism

Mother tongue instruction and multilingualism in Vara (2024).

Passed mother tongue, year 9
75%
Passed SvA, year 9
77.8%
Newly arrived (last 3 years)
3.2%

Source: Skolverket, Kolada.

SALSA — merit value vs prerequisites Model computedThis value is calculated using a statistical model.This affectsSALSA score (municipality)SALSA is model-based and does not explain the full variation in school outcomes.Read more →Read more about the method →

SALSA compares schools' actual results with model-calculated values based on pupil composition. A positive residual = better results than expected. School year 2024/25. SALSA measures relative performance — not absolute school quality. The model explains approx. 53% of variation.

-9.0 Average residual (merit value) for 2 schools
School Actual Model Residual
Alléskolan 202 212 -9.0
Nästegårdsskolan åk7-åk9 207 215 -9.0

Top merit-value schools

Top 2 schools by year-9 merit value.

School Provider Merit value SALSA Qualified teachers Pupils
Nästegårdsskolan åk7-åk9 Vara kommun 206.5 -9.0 71.8% 180
Alléskolan Vara kommun 202.1 -9.0 63.5% 370

Adapted compulsory school

Key metrics for adapted compulsory school in Vara (2024).

Number of pupils
32
Share of compulsory school pupils
1.7%
Cost per pupil
574,290 SEK/year
Teachers per 100 pupils
4.5

Source: Kolada.

Trends — compulsory school

Development over time (2020–2025).

Merit value yr 9 ↓ -3.2%
2020: 210.3 p 2025: 203.6 p
Qualified teachers ↓ -3.2%
2020: 75.6 % 2024: 73.2 %
Cost per pupil ↑ +21.2%
2020: 120,726 SEK 2024: 146,378 SEK
Number of pupils ↑ +2.7%
2020: 1,636 2024: 1,680
Independent share ↑ +17.5%
2020: 9.7 % 2024: 11.4 %
Pupils per teacher ↑ +1.7%
2020: 11.6 2024: 11.8
Student health SEK/pupil ↓ -29.9%
2020: 6,449 SEK 2024: 4,524 SEK
Student health yr 5 ↑ +5.9%
2022: 62.2 % 2025: 65.9 %
Student health yr 8 ↓ -17.2%
2022: 65 % 2025: 53.8 %
Safety ↓ -10.5%
2022: 79.3 % 2025: 71 %

Upper secondary

Results, costs and staff in upper secondary schools

Upper-secondary statistics

Key metrics for upper-secondary schools in Vara (2024).

Upper-secondary pupils
531
Graduating within 3 years
61.9% (national avg: 71.3 %)
University eligibility (3 years)
40.2% (national avg: 57.5 %)
Qualified teachers (upper secondary)
81.8% (national avg: 85.3 %)
Cost per upper-secondary pupil
182,365 SEK (national avg: 144,058.4 SEK)
Grade points upper secondary (avg)
14.4 (national avg: 14.8)
Pupils per teacher (upper secondary)
9
Municipal upper-secondary cost
190,470 SEK/pupil
Withdrawn study support
6.2%
Foreign background (upper secondary)
13%
Diploma/certificate within 3 years
68.6%
Directly to university
12.8% (national avg: 16.7 %)

Source: Kolada.

Trends — upper secondary

Development over time (2020–2024).

Cost upper sec./pupil ↑ +9%
2020: 167,372 SEK 2024: 182,365 SEK
Graduating 3 yrs ↓ -4.5%
2020: 64.8 % 2025: 61.9 %
Qualified teachers US ↑ +4.7%
2020: 78.1 % 2024: 81.8 %
Student health US SEK/pupil ↓ -28.2%
2020: 4,367 SEK 2024: 3,136 SEK
Univ. eligibility 3 yrs ↓ -11.6%
2020: 45.5 % 2025: 40.2 %
Directly to university ↓ -33.3%
2020: 19.2 % 2022: 12.8 %

University connection

Share of upper-secondary students in Vara going on to higher education (2022).

Directly to university
12.8% (national avg: 16.7 %)
University eligibility (all)
40.2% (national avg: 57.5 %)
Eligibility — academic programmes
70.4% (national avg: 82.4 %)
Eligibility — vocational programmes
26.9% (national avg: 27.4 %)
Graduating within 3 years
61.9% (national avg: 71.3 %)

Source: Kolada. Directly to university = share starting university the same year as graduation.

Pupil forecast

Population forecast for school-age children in Vara (SCB).

Ages 16–18 (2025)
566
Ages 16–18 (2030)
586 (+3.5%)
Ages 6–15 (2025)
1,867
Ages 6–15 (2030)
1,756 (-5.9%)
Ages 1–5 (2025)
776
Total school age (2035)
2,900

Source: SCB population forecast. The forecast indicates future demand pressure.

Adult education

Komvux and SFI (Swedish for immigrants)

Komvux (adult education)

Key metrics for municipal adult education in Vara (2024).

Number of komvux pupils
101
Cost per FTE student
54,427 SEK/year
Net cost basic adult edu.
27 SEK/capita/year
Net cost upper-sec. adult edu.
293 SEK/capita/year

Source: Kolada.

Preschool and childcare

Preschool, after-school care and pedagogical care

Preschool in Vara

Municipal preschool data. Source: Skolverket's statistics database.

Enrolled children
643
Preschool units
10 (7 municipal, 3 independent)
Share of 1–5 year-olds in preschool
82% (national avg: 86.8%)
Children per group
16.1 (national avg: 15)
Children per group (1–3 years)
12.8 (national avg: 12.1)
Children per FTE
5.3 (national avg: 5)
Preschool teacher licence
43% (national avg: 46.5%)
Pedagogical higher education
39% (national avg: 45.9%)

After-school care (fritidshem)

Key metrics for after-school care in Vara (2024).

Cost per child
49,111 SEK/year (national avg: 46,711.8 SEK)
Children in after-school care
722
Children per FTE
20.5 (national avg: 21.6)
Share of 6–12 year-olds enrolled
57% (national avg: 57.6 %)

Source: Kolada.

Pedagogical care

Key metrics for pedagogical care (family daycare etc.) in Vara (2024).

Children in pedagogical care
0

Source: Kolada.

Open preschool and family daycare

Open preschool and family daycare in Vara (2024).

Open preschool units
1
Open preschool FTEs
0

Source: Kolada.

Trends — preschool and childcare

Development over time (2020–2024).

After-school SEK/child ↑ +2%
2020: 48,163 SEK 2024: 49,111 SEK
Enrolled after-school ↑ +0.5%
2020: 56.7 % 2024: 57 %

Children and youth

Health, economy and support

Children's and youth's health

Health indicators for children and young people in Vara (2024).

Mental health issues, children/youth
12.1%

Source: Kolada (N33820).

Child and youth welfare

Key metrics for child and youth welfare in Vara (2024).

Initiated child investigations
34.6 per 1,000 pop. 0–20
Children placed in care
12.7 per 1,000 pop. 0–20
Net cost child/youth welfare
3,216 SEK/pop. 0–20/year

Source: Kolada (N31801, N31810, N31819).

Children's economic conditions

Child poverty and economic standard in Vara (2024).

Children in economic hardship
20.5%

Source: SCB — EU poverty threshold (60% of median) and weighted DeSO medians.

Demographics and population

Population, households and migration patterns

Demographics

Population data for Vara (2025).

Total population
16,011
Population change
-0.5%
Ages 1–5 (preschool age)
757
Ages 6–15 (compulsory school age)
1,680
Ages 16–18 (upper-secondary age)
558
Higher education 25–64
15.7%
Foreign-born 20–64
16.6%
16–24 not in work/education
6.7%

Source: Kolada.

Household types

Distribution of household types in Vara (2024).

Single without children
39.5%
Single with children
4.8%
Couple without children
28.1%
Couple with children
19.9%
Other households
7.7%
Total number of households
7,510

Source: SCB.

Migration patterns

In- and out-migration in Vara (2024).

In-migration
810
Out-migration
751
Net migration
+59

Source: SCB.

Neighboring municipalities

Comparison with the 6 nearest municipalities by geographic distance.

Municipality Distance Merit value Qualified teachers Pupils/teacher Schools
Vara 204.3 60.9% 11.5 31
Essunga 16.5 km 177.6 58.3% 11.8 17
Grästorp 18.3 km 218.3 58.4% 12.4 5
Lidköping 25.8 km 222.1 64.7% 11.2 65
Herrljunga 26.8 km 211.1 56.2% 10.3 23
Vårgårda 30.8 km 202.2 56.1% 12.7 21
Skara 31.7 km 216.7 62.5% 9.9 34

Refugee reception

Refugee reception in Vara (2025).

Newly arrived received
0.7 per 1,000 pop.
Newly arrived children 0–17
10 per 1,000 pop.
Establishment rate after 2 years
70%

Source: Kolada.

Trends — demographics

Demographic development (2020–2025).

Pop. change ↓ -225%
2020: 0.4 % 2025: -0.5 %
Youth not in work/edu. ↓ -23%
2020: 8.7 % 2023: 6.7 %
Newly arrived ↓ -22.2%
2020: 0.9 2025: 0.7

Economy and housing

Municipal economy, housing and infrastructure

Municipal economy

Economic key metrics for Vara (2025).

Municipal tax rate
21.8%
Total tax rate (municipality+region)
33.3%
Tax base
243,098 SEK/capita
Annual result
155 SEK/capita
Result, share of tax+grants
0.2%
Solidity
40.3%

Source: Kolada.

Economic assistance

Economic assistance (social benefits) in Vara (2024).

Assistance households
2.6 per 1,000 pop.
Young adults 18–24 with assistance
5.9%
Assistance months (avg)
37.9
Net cost economic assistance
1,267 SEK/capita

Source: Kolada.

Learning tools and digitalisation

Cost of learning tools in Vara. Includes textbooks, computers, software, internet access and other teaching equipment.

Learning tools, compulsory school
5,249 SEK/pupil

Source: Kolada (N15012, N17011). Learning tools incl. IT: computers, software, books, AV equipment etc.

Housing and infrastructure

Housing and infrastructure indicators for Vara.

Overcrowded households (Kolada)
13.5%
Completed dwellings
0.6 per 1,000 pop.
Good public transport
97.9%
Broadband ≥100 Mbit/s
95.2%
Rental
17.8%
Cooperative
2.5%
Owner-occupied
76.7%
Overcrowded (SCB, norm 2)
13.4%
Cars in traffic
9,306

Source: Kolada, SCB.

Trends — economy and housing

Economic development (2020–2025).

Municipal tax rate → unchanged
2020: 21.8 % 2025: 21.8 %
Economic assistance ↓ -27.8%
2020: 3.6 2024: 2.6
Overcrowding ↓ -17.2%
2020: 16.3 % 2024: 13.5 %

Society, culture and environment

Safety, culture and sustainability

Crime and safety

Reported crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in Vara (2024).

Reported crimes (total)
11,232 per 100,000 pop.
Violent crimes
939 per 100,000 pop.
Burglaries
193 per 100,000 pop.
Drug crimes
839 per 100,000 pop.

Source: Kolada. Data from BRA.

LSS and disability services

LSS services in Vara (2024).

LSS cost per capita 0–64
7,761 SEK/year
LSS decisions per 1,000 pop. 0–64
1.3

Source: Kolada.

Culture school

Key metrics for the music and culture school in Vara (2024).

Share of pupils 6–19
8.9%
Number of pupils
230
Average pupil fee
1,791 SEK/pupil
Cost per capita
260 SEK/capita

Source: Kolada.

Public library

Key metrics for public libraries in Vara (2024).

Loans per capita
5.5 per capita
Children's book loans (0–17)
5.4 per capita
Active borrowers
75.5%
Media allocation
735 SEK/capita

Source: Kolada.

Environment

Environmental indicators for Vara (2023).

CO₂ emissions per capita
7.3 tonnes
Organic food (municipal kitchens)
22.6%

Source: Kolada.

Trends — society and culture

Development in society and culture (2020–2024).

Culture school share ↑ +100%
2020: 0 % 2024: 8.9 %
Reported crimes ↓ -7.9%
2020: 12,189.4 2024: 11,232
Mental health issues (youth) ↑ +34.4%
2020: 9 % 2024: 12.1 %
CO₂/capita ↓ -6.4%
2020: 7.8 t 2023: 7.3 t
Broadband 100+ ↑ +12.1%
2020: 84.9 % 2024: 95.2 %

Trends — adult education

Development in komvux and SFI (2022–2024).

Adult edu. pupils ↑ +31.2%
2022: 77 2024: 101
Cost adult edu./pupil ↑ +8.7%
2020: 50,048 SEK 2024: 54,427 SEK
SFI course D pass rate → unchanged
2022: 100 % 2024: 100 %

Teacher certification: trend and forecast

Historical trend for the share of qualified teachers in Vara with a forecast based on linear extrapolation.

2020 75.6%
2024 (latest) 73.2%
Forecast 2026 73.2% (linear extrapolation)
County avg 71.6%
National avg 72.6%

Source: Kolada. The forecast is indicative and based on linear regression.

Cost-effectiveness

Comparison between cost per pupil and achieved school results (merit value year 9) in Vara.

Cost per pupil
146,378 SEK · national avg 142,155 SEK
Merit value year 9
203.6 · national avg 228.5
Merit points per 10,000 SEK
1.4 (national avg: 1.6)

Vara achieves fewer merit points per invested krona than the national average.

Source: Kolada. Merit value per cost unit is a simplified measure and should be interpreted considering the municipality's socioeconomic conditions.

Peer municipalities

Compare Vara with statistically similar municipalities

Comparison with peer municipalities

Vara compared with 7 statistically similar municipalities. Colour coding: better / average / worse than peer average (±3%).

Municipality Merit value Qual. teachers Cost/pupil Graduating 3 yrs SALSA score
Vara you 203.6 73.2% 146,378 SEK 61.9% -9.0
Skara 206.1 71.6% 140,076 SEK 60.6% -6.0
Mark 207 69.3% 147,096 SEK 71.6% -16.5
Mariestad 204.4 68.9% 143,176 SEK 73.2% -18.0
Götene 202.3 68.8% 149,475 SEK 67.2% -13.0
Vänersborg 211.5 70.3% 149,227 SEK 67.1% -10.0
Bollebygd 212.8 76% 148,871 SEK 82.3% -20.0
Ulricehamn 211.2 69% 145,339 SEK 61% -9.0
Peer average 207.9 70.6% 146,180 SEK 69% -13.2

Trends compared with peer municipalities

Merit value yr 9 2020–2025
SkaraMarkMariestadGöteneVänersborg
Qualified teachers 2020–2024
SkaraMarkMariestadGöteneVänersborg
Cost/pupil 2020–2024
SkaraMarkMariestadGöteneVänersborg
Graduating 3 yrs 2020–2025
SkaraMarkMariestadGöteneVänersborg

Source: Kolada. Municipalities selected based on similar education key metrics within Västra Götalands län.

Similar municipalities (SCB group)

Municipalities in the same SCB classification group: Pendlingskommun nära mindre stad/tätort

Municipalities in the same SCB group

Vara belongs to SCB municipality group C7 — Pendlingskommun nära mindre stad/tätort: kommun där minst 40% av nattbefolkningen pendlar till en mindre stad/tätort. 52 municipalities in total. Showing 8 below.

Municipality Merit value Qualified teachers Cost/pupil Graduating 3 yrs
Vara 203.6 73.2% 146,378 SEK 61.9%
Arboga 226.7 70.6% 138,550 SEK 58.2%
Boxholm 224.5 78.9% 164,524 SEK 67.9%
Bromölla 203 74.6% 145,712 SEK 67.9%
Degerfors 209.1 72.2% 139,707 SEK 49.5%
Eksjö 217.9 64.6% 151,682 SEK 71.1%
Emmaboda 216.4 74.9% 181,122 SEK 64.3%
Essunga 177.6 71.5% 162,716 SEK 81.3%
Fagersta 206.3 58.8% 146,282 SEK 54.1%

Source: SCB municipality classification (2017) and Kolada. Compare with more municipalities using the Benchmark tool →

All 31 schools in Vara

School School forms Provider Pupils Merit value Qualified teachers
Academy X Music and Business Vara Upper secondary school Academy X Music and Business Vara AB 110 74.9%
Alléskolan Compulsory school Vara kommun 370 202.1 63.5%
Anpassad grundskola Adapted compulsory school Vara kommun
ARENTORPS FÖRSKOLA Preschool Vara kommun 69 56.9%
Arentorps skola After-school care, Compulsory school, Preschool class Vara kommun 110 86%
AU Utbildning AB Adult education Vara kommun
Broholmskolan Jung After-school care, Compulsory school, Preschool class Broholm Education AB 50 74.1%
Broholmskolan Vara Compulsory school Broholmskolans ekonomiska förening
Campus Lidköping, Yrkesutbildning Vara Adult education Lidköpings kommun
Campus Västra Skaraborg Vara Adult education Lidköpings kommun
Campus Västra Skaraborg, Vara Anpassad utbildning Adult education Lidköpings kommun
Elevhälsan Vara kommun
FÖRSKOLAN ARKEN I LARV Preschool Varabygdens Församling 29 36%
FÖRSKOLAN KVÄNUM Preschool Vara kommun 94 35.3%
FÖRSKOLAN TRÅVAD Preschool Vara kommun 37 19.2%
Lagmansgymnasiet1 Upper secondary school Vara kommun 260 87.4%
Lagmansgymnasiet2 Upper secondary school Vara kommun 82.2%
Larv Tråvad skola After-school care, Compulsory school, Preschool class Vara kommun 100 82.7%
Levene skola After-school care, Compulsory school, Preschool class Vara kommun 90 80.6%
LEVENES FÖRSKOLA Preschool Vara kommun 63 50.8%
Nästegårdsskolan åk7-åk9 Compulsory school Vara kommun 180 206.5 71.8%
Nästegårdsskolan fsk-åk6 After-school care, Compulsory school, Preschool class Vara kommun 210 89.5%
ÖNUMS FRISKOLA Preschool Önums Friskola 56 31.7%
ÖSTRA FÖRSKOLAN Preschool Vara kommun 90 40.1%
Parkskolan Compulsory school Vara kommun 170 84.2%
Solgårdens fritidshem After-school care Solgårdens Förskola och Fritidshem i Edsvära Ek. för.
Stiftelsen Önums friskola After-school care, Compulsory school, Preschool class Önums Friskola 90 62.8%
Torsgårdsskolan After-school care, Compulsory school, Preschool class Vara kommun 160 51.4%
VÄSTRA FÖRSKOLAN Preschool Vara kommun 111 31.3%
VEDUMS FÖRSKOLA Preschool Vara kommun 64 41.7%
Vedums skola After-school care, Compulsory school, Preschool class Vara kommun 120 66.1%

Common questions about schools in Vara

How many schools are there in Vara?
Vara municipality has 31 active school units: 12 compulsory schools and 3 upper-secondary schools. Of these, 24 are municipal and 7 are independent. A total of 2,633 pupils attend schools in Vara.
What are the merit values in Vara?
The average year-9 merit value in Vara is 204.3 points (based on 2 schools). The highest merit value belongs to Nästegårdsskolan åk7-åk9 with 206.5 points.
Which school in Vara has the highest teacher qualification rate?
Nästegårdsskolan fsk-åk6 has the highest share of qualified teachers in Vara at 89.5%. The municipal average is 60.9%.
How much does a school place cost in Vara?
The cost per pupil in compulsory school in Vara is 146,378 SEK per year (2024). In municipal schools the cost is 142,642 SEK per pupil.
How do student health services work in Vara?
Student health services in Vara cost 4,524 SEK per pupil (2024). 65.9% of year 5 pupils find it easy to access student health services. The figure for year 8 is 53.8%.

Statistics: school year 2023/24. Source: Skolverket, SCB, Kolada. Glossary · About the data.
— = data not available from source.