Primary and Secondary Schools in Portugal

Schooling in Portugal is organised by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation and is provided by state schools, private schools and cooperative schools. Compulsory education lasts 12 years, from age six to 18 or until the end of upper secondary school, and attendance at public schools is free of charge.

Portuguese schools are increasingly international. According to Eurydice, the number of foreign pupils in public education rose from 55,390 in 2018-2019 to 142,741 in 2023-2024, or 16.4% of all pupils. Families who move to Portugal therefore choose between a Portuguese school, where children who do not yet speak Portuguese well can take Portuguese as a Non-Native Language (PLNM), and a private international school teaching in English.

How the school system works

• Pre-school education (educação pré-escolar): optional, from age 3 to 6
• Basic education (ensino básico): nine years in three cycles; the 1st cycle lasts four years (ages 6 to 9), the 2nd cycle two years (ages 10 to 11) and the 3rd cycle three years (ages 12 to 14)
• Upper secondary education (ensino secundário): three years, grades 10 to 12 (ages 15 to 18), with science-humanities, vocational, specialised artistic and own-curriculum courses

International schools in Portugal

International schools are private schools that teach a foreign or international curriculum, mainly in English, and usually take pupils from age 3 to 18. The three schools in our directory are on the Lisbon coast, between Lisbon, Cascais and Sintra:

• St. Julian's School in Carcavelos, a British international school founded in 1932. Pupils follow the National Curriculum for England up to GCSE in Year 11 and then choose the IB Diploma or the IB Career-related Programme. A bilingual section teaches the Portuguese national curriculum in English and Portuguese from age 6 to 15. The school has pupils of more than 60 nationalities, just over half of them Portuguese, and is a day school only.
• Carlucci American International School of Lisbon (CAISL) in Linhó, Sintra, an American school founded in 1956 with nine pupils and now attended by more than 700. Its programme was officially recognised by the Portuguese Ministry of Education in 1984, and it is governed by the not-for-profit Fundação Escola Americana de Lisboa.
• St. Dominic's International School in São Domingos de Rana, an IB World School for ages 3 to 18 that has offered the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes since 1997. It holds licence No. 2178 of 10/09/1975 from the Portuguese Ministry of Education.

Admission and recognition

International schools admit pupils mainly by age: at St. Julian's, the year of birth decides the year group. Most schools offer language support; CAISL, for example, includes Portuguese and English support in its tuition. For older pupils, the main question is what comes next. An IB Diploma or another foreign secondary qualification gives access to Portuguese higher education through the special competition for international students, which accepts any qualification that gives access to higher education in the country where it was awarded. Pupils with a student residence permit who attend secondary school in Portugal can apply to the national access competition on the same terms as Portuguese students.

Costs

Public schools are free. International schools charge fees that rise with the pupil's age. At CAISL, annual tuition for 2026-2027 ranges from €12,128 for early childhood and kindergarten to €23,532 for grades 9 to 12, plus a registration fee of €600. At St. Dominic's, tuition includes school materials, field trips and accident insurance, but not IB examination fees. Lunch, transport and exams are often extra, so compare the full cost.

How to choose a school in Portugal

• Curriculum: Portuguese, British (GCSE and IB), American or the IB continuum, depending on where your child may continue studying
• Language: English only, bilingual, or a Portuguese school with PLNM support
• Location and transport: most international schools are on the Lisbon coast; check bus services and journey times
• Total cost: tuition plus registration, building, lunch, transport and exam fees
• Class size: at St. Julian's, classes stay at or below 22 pupils

Frequently asked questions

Are schools in Portugal free?

Public pre-school, primary and secondary schools are free of charge. Private and international schools charge fees; at CAISL, annual tuition for 2026-2027 ranges from €12,128 to €23,532.

From what age is school compulsory in Portugal?

From age six. Compulsory education lasts 12 years, until 18 or the end of upper secondary school.

Can my child go to a Portuguese university with an IB Diploma?

Yes. Foreign secondary qualifications that give access to higher education in their country are accepted in the special competition for international students, and each university sets its own requirements.