Both government and private primary and secondary education is offered by a variety of schools. Private day care and preschool is available. The government operates primary schools, high schools, a community college, a law school, and a four- year college, and free and compulsory education is provided for all Caymanian children through age 16. Expatriate children can attend but on a space-available basis and space is usually quite limited. Private schools are regulated and inspected by the non-profit Inspectorate International College of the Cayman Islands. ICCI is affiliated with several universities in the USA. It offers graduate and post-graduate degree programs and courses in accounting, banking, business administration, secretarial skills and other subjects.

The government also provides facilities for special education, training for the disabled and a school for juvenile offenders. Secondary education in government schools uses the British examination system and private schools generally use either the British or USA system. Health care is provided free of charge to all school children. The adult literacy rate in the Cayman Islands is about 98%.