Carlucci American International School of Lisbon vs TASIS Portugal

	C Carlucci American International School of Lisbon Lisbon, Portugal	T TASIS Portugal Lisbon, Portugal
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €12,128 - 23,532	Fees / year €13,007 - 24,308
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 17 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Singapore Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 739	Pupils 950
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 22
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1956	Opened 2020
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Rua António dos Reis 95, Linhó, Sintra 2710-301, Portugal. Linhó is in the Sintra municipality near Lisbon. CAISL operates an extensive bus service serving Cascais and Lisbon, with routes designed around major metro and train corridors; the fleet includes large 50-seat buses and smaller vans, and bus service carries an additional fee.	Location Located in Linhó, Sintra, Portugal. The campus is at Alameda do Linhó, 2, 4, 6 e 8, Penaferrim, 2710-697 Sintra, Portugal.
Stages	Stages EC3 through High School	Stages Serving students from pre-kindergarten through high school.
School type	School type Non-profit, non-denominational, college-preparatory day school offering an American program (EC3–12) and the IB Diploma.	School type American international school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix Nationalities represented: 65. Top five represented nations: United States, Portugal, United Kingdom, Brazil, Ukraine.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Learning Support; English as an Additional Language (EAL); Foundations of English Language (FoE); Counseling; Enrichment/Extension programs; Educational/Health Plans as needed.	Additional learning support Learning Support: TASIS Portugal supports and recognizes the strengths and differences in each learner. There is a learning support program designed for students with mild to moderate learning disabilities. In the Early Learning Center and Elementary School, the learning support teacher often acts as a third co-teacher in the room. Middle school and high school students may have learning support during the foreign language elective block. If more support is required, families must engage outside specialists; TASIS Portugal does not offer intensive student support services.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation United States (CAISL is supported by the U.S. Office of Overseas Schools and offers an American curriculum).	Country affiliation The school has an American international affiliation.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Non-denominational	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure A typical school day starts at 8:20 and finishes at 3:45.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details CAISL offers an extensive bus service serving Cascais and Lisbon, with routes designed around major metro and train corridors. The fleet includes large 50-seat buses and smaller vans; buses pick up students at home when possible. The service carries an additional fee.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details One‑time fees (charged on application/enrolment) - Application fee: EUR 100. - Registration fee (one‑time, mandatory, non‑refundable): EUR 600 per child. - Building fee (mandatory, non‑refundable while payable): EUR 1,953 per year; payable annually for the first five years a student attends (begins in Grade 1 unless payment is requested earlier in writing). Once payment begins the amount is fixed for the five years it is due. Tuition fees (Quarterly or Annual options) - Early Childhood (EC3 & EC4) and Kindergarten: Quarterly EUR 3,032; Annual EUR 12,128. (These Early Childhood / Kindergarten figures include lunch.) - Grades 1–2: Quarterly EUR 3,515; Annual EUR 14,060. - Grades 3–5: Quarterly EUR 3,908; Annual EUR 15,632. - Grades 6–8: Quarterly EUR 4,439; Annual EUR 17,756. - Grades 9–12: Quarterly EUR 5,883; Annual EUR 23,532. Optional and ancillary fees (Quarterly or Annual options where shown) - Lunch (Grades 1–12): Quarterly EUR 303; Annual EUR 1,212. Lunch for Early Childhood and Kindergarten is included in tuition. Lunch fees, if purchased, are billed with tuition invoices and cancellations must be made in writing and become effective the following quarter. - Transportation (per route): One‑way Quarterly EUR 454; One‑way Annual EUR 1,816. Round trip Quarterly EUR 908; Round trip Annual EUR 3,632. Occasional ridership charged at EUR 17 one way. Transport is charged per route and cancellations or route changes require advance notice; cancellations become effective the following quarter. - After‑Hours Care / After‑School Childcare (Grades EC3/4–5) — Quarterly / Annual options: - 1 day/week: Quarterly EUR 85; Annual EUR 340. - 2 days/week: Quarterly EUR 156; Annual EUR 624. - 3 days/week: Quarterly EUR 217; Annual EUR 868. - 4 days/week: Quarterly EUR 264; Annual EUR 1,056. - 5 days/week: Quarterly EUR 300; Annual EUR 1,200. Occasional use (drop‑in) = EUR 30 per day. Cancellations must be made in writing and take effect the following quarter. - Required instructional books and sports uniforms for team sports are included in tuition; some optional school store purchases, specific musical instruments beyond those provided, and optional extracurricular activity fees may incur additional charges billed separately. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition may be paid quarterly or annually. Tuition is invoiced as follows: - For new students: the 1st quarter (or the quarter in which the student enters) is invoiced at the time of initial registration; subsequent quarters are invoiced approximately one month before the due date. - For returning students: re‑registration and initial payment deadlines are set in the re‑registration schedule (example dates in the schedule show re‑registration forms and a June payment deadline for the 1st quarter/annual option). Subsequent quarter due dates are published on the annual schedule. - Specific quarter due dates shown in the published schedule include (examples for the year shown): 2nd Quarter due November 6; 3rd Quarter due January 29; 4th Quarter due April 23. Failure to pay the 1st quarter by the deadline cancels the reserved place and invoiced amounts remain due. Individual payment plans may be arranged with the Accounts Manager. - Discounts: 3% reduction on tuition paid in full by the published early‑payment deadline (example: on or before June 15 in the schedule) and 3% reduction on the building fee if paid with the annual tuition by that date. Sibling discounts apply: 15% reduction on Tuition & Building Fee for a third concurrently enrolled child, and 25% reduction for a fourth and subsequent concurrently enrolled child (applied to the youngest children). Early payment discounts are not refundable. Refunds, cancellations, early withdrawal and related policies - The First Quarter fees (Tuition and Building Fee, if applicable) of attendance are owed as a condition of registering or re‑registering and are not refundable under any circumstances. Failure to pay the 1st quarter by the due date results in loss of the child's place while the invoiced amounts remain due. - Late admission (entry during a quarter): the fee to reserve the place is the full quarter's tuition plus the Registration Fee and the full year's Building Fee if applicable. - Early withdrawal: written notification of intent to withdraw must be given by the published deadlines approximately one month before the next quarter's payment date; failure to provide required written notice results in the full next quarter's fees being due. Any attendance during a quarter results in that full quarter's fees being due. Example deadlines from the schedule are Oct 2 (for 2nd quarter), Dec 18 (for 3rd quarter), and Mar 25 (for 4th quarter). - Refunds for early payments (including discounted annual payments) are not provided; early‑payment discounts will not be refunded under any circumstances. Payment method and billing contact information - Payments are requested in Euros by bank transfer to the school's bank. Bank details published for payments include: Bank: Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD); IBAN: PT50 0035 0786 0006 6142 5304 8; NIB: 0035 0786 0006 6142 5304 8; SWIFT CODE: CGDIPTPL. - Individual payment plans and questions about invoicing, late payment, or discounts are handled by the Accounts/Business Office; account contact details are provided with the fee schedule and billing information. Boarding - Boarding is not applicable; no boarding fees are listed. Notes on inclusions and obligations - The published tuition amounts indicate items included in tuition such as technology and online learning resources, Portuguese and English language support, a personal laptop beginning in Grade 1, many extracurricular activities, required instructional books and sports uniforms for team sports, art supplies and most musical instruments. Additional optional items and services are billed separately per the schedule.	Fee details Fees published for the 2026–2027 academic year (school's published schedule). Application fees - Early Learning Center (Pre‑K) applicants: EUR 150; nonrefundable. - Grade 1–11 applicants: EUR 100; nonrefundable. Tuition fees (per trimester and annual) — by year group - Pre‑kindergarten: EUR 4,337 per trimester; annual tuition EUR 13,007; application fee EUR 150. - Kindergarten – Grade 2: EUR 5,763 per trimester; annual tuition EUR 17,290; application fee EUR 100. - Grade 3 – Grade 5: EUR 6,415 per trimester; annual tuition EUR 19,246; application fee EUR 100. - Grade 6 – Grade 8: EUR 6,676 per trimester; annual tuition EUR 20,028; application fee EUR 100. - Grade 9 & Grade 10: EUR 7,698 per trimester; annual tuition EUR 23,093; application fee EUR 100. - Grade 11 & Grade 12: EUR 8,103 per trimester; annual tuition EUR 24,308; application fee EUR 100. Required one‑time and recurring fees - Annual re‑enrollment fee (all students): EUR 750; nonrefundable and secures a place for the upcoming academic year. - Pre‑K1 and Pre‑K2: nonrefundable enrollment deposit EUR 3,000; deposit is applied toward tuition (required to secure an admitted spot). - Kindergarten and higher: nonrefundable, one‑time Campus Enhancement Fee EUR 5,000 payable upon acceptance to secure the offered place. - External examination fees (IGCSE, IB DP) are not included in tuition and are billed separately. Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard tuition billing follows a trimester schedule with due dates: 1st payment July 1; 2nd payment December 1; 3rd payment March 1. - Application fees are nonrefundable and paid at application time; the school issues receipts for application payments (no invoice issued for application fees). - Enrollment deposit and Campus Enhancement Fee are nonrefundable and required to hold an offered place; the Pre‑K deposit is applied to tuition. Boarding fees - Boarding is not listed as part of the school's program fees; no boarding fees are published. (All published tuition and required fees are for day enrolment.) Other costs and fees - Uniforms and school shop items are available through the school shop; sample prices (school shop list): fleece zip jacket EUR 26; puffer jacket EUR 42.80; tracksuit jacket EUR 29; crew‑neck sweat EUR 27; polo shirts EUR ~EUR 22; PE shorts EUR 13. Payment is made on collection at the School Shop. - After‑School Activities (paid clubs/academies) are charged separately; paid activities are nonrefundable for the term once committed. - Transportation (bus) is not included in tuition; bus service is arranged separately and fees for transportation are additional. - School field trips, examination entry fees, and some optional services may be charged separately from tuition. Tuition explicitly includes books, instructional materials, daily lunch and two snacks, after‑school clubs & sports (as noted in the tuition inclusions), certain instrument provision (violins when required), and school field trips; external exam fees are excluded. Refund information - Application fees (ELC and Grades 1–11) are nonrefundable. Annual re‑enrollment fee, Campus Enhancement Fee, and Pre‑K enrollment deposit are nonrefundable. Paid after‑school activities are nonrefundable for the term once a student is enrolled. - The school's published pages list those nonrefundable fees but do not publish a detailed public schedule of tuition refunds for full or partial withdrawals (no publicly posted pro‑rata/withdrawal refund table was found on the published fee pages). Fee payment options - The school accepts bank transfer payments to a published IBAN and SWIFT account for activity and school payments, and uses Flywire for online international payments. Credit card payments can be made at the School Shop for shop and activity charges. The school's accounts contact is accounts@tasisportugal.org for billing questions. (Payment methods for specific invoices include bank transfer, Flywire, and in‑person card payments as shown in school payment instructions for activities and shop purchases.) Notes on routine charges and exclusions - Fees for external examinations (IGCSE, IB DP) are additional and billed separately. After‑school vendor‑run activities may be billed directly by external providers. Bus/transportation and certain optional activities are additional to published tuition. If you need exact numeric line items copied into your database fields, use the numerical values above (trimester and annual tuition figures, application fees, re‑enrollment and one‑time campus/enrollment fees, and sample uniform prices).
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details CAISL teaches an American curricular program from EC3 through High School under a permanent license from the Portuguese Ministry of Education, including permission to award the American High School Diploma and the International Baccalaureate Diploma, both recognized worldwide. The program follows U.S. standards: English Language Arts and Math align with the Common Core, Science with the Next Generation Science Standards, and Social Studies with the C3 Framework. Portuguese is taught to all students from Grade 1 through Grade 9, with a Native/Fluent Speakers track aligned to the Ministry curriculum and Portuguese as a Foreign Language designed for non-Portuguese speakers. CAISL follows American Education Reaches Out (AERO) resources to support curriculum development and uses frameworks across K–12 for English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Information Technology, and Portuguese. Curriculum is organized by level: Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, and High School.	Curriculum details TASIS Portugal is an IB World School offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for high school and Cambridge IGCSE in Grades 9–10. The IBDP comprises six subject groups and a core including Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay (EE). Assessments include external examinations and internal assessments moderated by the IB, with the Diploma score calculated from the six subjects and the DP core, up to 45 points. The Cambridge IGCSE is taught in Grades 9–10 with core subjects such as English Language/Literature, Mathematics, Science, and History, and a range of language and elective options; progression to the IBDP requires passing at least six IGCSE subjects with a grade C or better. IGCSE results for 2024–2025 show 94% A–C, 54% A–A, 94% of candidates with six or more A–C, and 1 in 6 students earning straight A and A across all subjects.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio High School class sizes are small, with no more than 20 students per class. The High School includes Grades 9-12 with a maximum of 60 students per grade.	Student teacher ratio Student-Teacher Ratio: ELC 7.1:1; Elementary School 9.0:1; Upper School 8.8:1. Average Class Size: ELC 17.7; Elementary 23; Middle School 19.9; High School 13.8.
Exam results	Exam results CAISL has been an IB World School since 2002. In 2025, IB results show an average DP score of 34.3 with a 98% pass rate, and 26 bilingual diplomas awarded from 58 candidates (57 awarded the IB Diploma). SAT results for 2025 show an average composite of 1267 from 58 test-takers (Reading & Writing 640; Math 627). MAP results indicate CAISL averages above U.S. and international comparison groups in Reading and Math.	Exam results IGCSE results for 2024–2025 are strong: 94% A* to C, 54% A* to A, 94% of candidates with six or more A* to C, and 80% A* to B; about one in six students earned straight A* and A across all IGCSE subjects.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression College destinations for CAISL graduates include USA: Boston College, Georgetown University, Northeastern University, SUNY Binghamton University, Texas Christian University, and the United States Military Academy; UK: Goldsmiths, King's College London, Lancaster, Loughborough, University of Birmingham, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, University of the Arts London, University of Warwick; Portugal: ISCTE, Univ. Católica, Univ. Lisboa, Univ. Nova de Lisboa; Netherlands: Amsterdam University College, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Leiden University College, Utrecht University, University of Amsterdam; Other: IE University (Spain), McGill University (Canada), RWTH Aachen University (Germany), Aarhus University (Denmark), Malmö University (Sweden).	Higher education progression University destinations include Lynn University, University of San Diego, Wake Forest University, Kings College, University of Exeter, IE University, Esade Barcelona, and Bocconi University. TASIS Portugal's first graduating class will be in the spring of 2026.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented Academic enrichment classes and a wide range of elective options continue through the IGCSE years and into the DP to support advanced learners.
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions CAISL accepts applications year-round with rolling admissions and welcomes new students at any point during the school year. Starting at the beginning of the school year is often ideal, but not essential. The three-step application process is: First Step—Submit Application: an online form, required documents (school records for the last three years, standardized testing results, and any additional reports), and an application fee of 100 Euros; applications are reviewed only when complete. Second Step—Application Review: decisions are made by a team that includes a member of the Admissions Team, the appropriate Principal (Elementary or Secondary), and the Director; space in the grade/program and the student's academic and behavioral records inform the decision; if a class is full, no new enrollments are accepted until a spot opens; the availability of specialized programs (Learning Support, English as an Additional Language, Nursing/Medical care, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program) also affects eligibility. Third Step—Enrollment: when a place becomes available, enrollment requires an Enrollment Contract, a Registration Agreement (updated annually in February), copies of valid identification for the student and the parents, billing information, and proof of payment of the required fees; three mandatory fees to secure a place are: a one-time Registration Fee of 600 Euros, a Building Fee of 1,953 Euros per year (payable for the first five years), and one quarter of the annual Tuition (amount varies by grade); details are in the Fee Schedule.	Admissions Applications are considered throughout the year, and families are invited to visit the campus. The online application is powered by OpenApply, and you create your account by filling out the TASIS Portugal inquiry form. Complete and submit the application for the appropriate grade level; Early Learning Center (Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten) ages 3 to 5, with PK1 needing to be 3 by September 1 and toilet trained, PK2 needing to be 4 by September 1, and Kindergarten needing to be 5 by September 1; Elementary is Grades 1–5, Middle School 6–8, and High School 9–12 (with limited entry to 10th grade if coming from an IGCSE program in alignment with the program). Transcripts from the previous year and current year records are requested starting from Grade 1; recommendations from educators are required; submit results of any standardized tests (e.g., MAP, ERB); English Language Development may be required and tested. Interviews or visits are scheduled by contacting Admissions; Early Learning Center candidates will have an assessment with ELC staff (virtual options available). Submit any educational testing or IEPs if applicable. The nonrefundable application fee is €100 (€150 for ELC applicants). Admission decisions for the 2026–2027 school year note that Grades 2–8 are currently full; availability for Grades 3–8 in 2026–2027 is determined after the re-enrollment process; admissions for Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 9 (IGCSE), and Grade 11 (IB Diploma Programme) operate on a rolling basis as spaces become available. The school maintains a Wait Pool for full classes; it is not ranked, and completed applications are required for Wait Pool consideration; space is opened as openings arise and requires balancing factors such as gender and language diversity, sibling enrollment, and academic readiness. A Note to Families: being in the Wait Pool should not discourage applications. Re-enrollment for the following year requires a non-refundable €750 Re-Enrollment Fee by February 15; payment of Campus Enhancement Fund (CEF) is required for Kindergarten and higher (CEF amount set annually) and is non-refundable; withdrawal and refund policies apply, and outstanding fees can affect re-enrollment. For questions, contact the Admissions Office.
Scholarships	Scholarships CAISL Scholarship is not available for new students at this moment. It is a merit-driven award that also considers financial need. Applications are accepted from students currently attending Grades 4 through 7 and entering Grade 5 through Grade 8. The Scholarship covers all required fees (tuition, building fee, registration fee, and transportation), but lunch is not included. The scholarship is awarded for one academic year with the expectation that recipients will continue to meet requirements for subsequent years through graduation from the High School in Grade 12. For information about all school fees, refer to the Fee Schedule. Questions can be directed to admissions@caislisbon.org or +351 219 239 800.	Scholarships University and scholarship applications are supported by TASIS Portugal through the University and Career Counseling program.
Waitlist	Waitlist WAIT POOL: If there is no space in the grade or program or the applicant is eligible but space is not available, the student may be placed in the Wait Pool for the school year; updates will be requested if the family remains interested; it is impossible to predict when space will become available; when space opens, all Wait Pool applicants are reconsidered and offers are made based on the submitted academic/behavioral records. PRIORITY LIST: 1) Current CAISL re-enrolling students; 2) Students whose parents are US Government employees; 3) Students from American or American International Schools; 4) Students from schools whose primary language of instruction is English; 5) Students from bilingual schools or linguistically unable to attend a school whose instruction is in Portuguese; 6) Students from schools whose instruction language is Portuguese.	Waitlist The Wait Pool is used when classes are full; applications are always welcome, and only completed applications are eligible for Wait Pool consideration. The Wait Pool is not ranked; the Admissions Committee reviews each applicant as openings arise, weighing factors such as gender and language diversity, sibling enrollment, and academic readiness. When space becomes available, a candidate from the Wait Pool may be offered a place, and families are encouraged to contact Admissions for more information or to schedule a campus tour.
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