Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro vs Escola Suíço-Brasileira Rio de Janeiro
Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro and Escola Suíço-Brasileira Rio de Janeiro are both in Rio De Janeiro, about 11 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes, and Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro also offers American. Published annual fees are R$89,280 - 131,424 at Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro and R$72,386 - 118,337 at Escola Suíço-Brasileira Rio de Janeiro, which puts Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro roughly 16% higher. Both take pupils from 3 to 18.
EARJ operates two campuses in Rio de Janeiro: Barra Campus at Rua Colbert Coelho, 155, Barra da Tijuca (CEP 22793-313; phone (55) 21 3747 2000) and Gávea Campus at Estrada da Gávea, 132, Gávea (CEP 22451-263; phone (55) 21 2125 9000). The Gávea Campus sits at the edge of Tijuca National Forest with views of Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf and the Christ the Redeemer statue. The Barra Campus is located in the heart of the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood.
Location
R. Corrêa de Araújo, 81, Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, 22611-060, Brazil. ESB Rio de Janeiro is located in Barra da Tijuca, a district of Rio de Janeiro. The school is part of the SIS Swiss International School network and can be reached at +55 21 3389-2089 or info@sis-rio.com.br.
Stages
Stages
Preschool (Nursery - Pre-K); Lower School (Kinder - Grade 5); Middle School (Grade 6 - 8); High School (Grade 9 - 10); IB Diploma Programme (Grade 11 - 12).
Stages
Preschool, Primary School, Secondary School and College. Bilingual instruction is offered in German/Portuguese, French/Portuguese, and English/Portuguese, with the Primary Years Programme in Primary and the IB Middle Years Programme in Secondary; the College offers the IB Diploma along with the Brazilian degree and ENEM preparation.
School type
School type
Independent, non-profit, English-medium day school; IB World Continuum School; two campuses (Barra and Gávea).
School type
Private day school within the SIS Swiss International School network.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
32 nationalities represented.
Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Learning Support is available for students with diagnosed disabilities, with Early Intervention in Preschool/Kindergarten and services for Grades 1–12. English as Academic Language (EAL) supports students developing English proficiency. Counseling is provided, supported by an Educational Psychologist and Gifted Planning.
Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
United States (EARJ is recognized by the U.S. Department of State under the Assisted Schools program).
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
Transportation is optional; buses are provided by Santa Rosa Transportation for the Gávea Campus and by Psiu Transportes for the Barra Campus.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Fee schedule (academic year 2025 / 2025–2026 reporting)
Application / registration fees - No fixed, publicly published non‑refundable application or registration fee amount is listed for EARJ for the 2025 reporting year. For new-student admissions the school requires completion of the application process through its application platform.
Tuition — monthly fees by year group (amounts shown are monthly “mensalidade” figures reported for 2025) - Maternal (Nursery): BRL 7,440 per month. - Infantil 1–2 (Early Childhood): BRL 10,952 per month. - Fundamental 1 (Kinder – Grade 5): BRL 10,952 per month. - Fundamental 2 (Grades 6–9): BRL 10,952 per month. - Ensino Médio / High School (Grades 10–12 / Diploma years): BRL 10,952 per month.
Notes on tuition presentation and capital contribution - Tuition at EARJ is presented as a monthly fee (mensalidade) in reporting for 2025; the school also states that a Capital Fund contribution is required for all new students, without a fixed publicly published amount. This Capital Fund contribution supports campus facilities and capital projects and is required at enrollment.
Billing schedule and payment terms - The amounts reported above are described as monthly tuition (mensalidade). No detailed public schedule showing exact invoice dates, installment plans, annual vs. monthly billing cycles, late‑payment penalties, or reimbursement timelines is published in the school's public admissions material. Families should note that some ancillary services (for example, cafeteria) are billed monthly based on consumption.
Boarding / residential fees - No boarding or residential program applies at EARJ; the school operates as a day school with two campuses (Gávea and Barra). There are no boarding fees.
Other required or optional costs - Capital Fund contribution: required for all new students; amount not publicly listed. - Physical Education uniform: mandatory for Grades 6–12 (school‑branded PE attire). Families must purchase the required PE uniform. - EAL (English as an Academic Language) fees: applicable to selective students placed into EAL after the start of Grade 2 through Grade 12. Amounts are charged where placement is required. - Cafeteria / food service: optional; Sodexo provides food service and charges are billed monthly based on consumption. - Transportation / school bus: optional; bus services are provided by third‑party vendors and billed separately by those transport providers. Families arrange and pay transportation providers directly. - After‑school activities and vacation camp: optional and billed separately when used. - IB exam fees: the International Baccalaureate program incurs per‑subject exam and registration fees charged to families as applicable (IB fees). - School supplies / personal devices: core academic materials are included in tuition except that personal devices required for Grades 6–12 are not included and must be provided by families. Additional costs for electives, field trips, special programs or individual instrument/music tuition may apply.
Refund and withdrawal information - There is no detailed, publicly posted refund policy or a published schedule of refunds for withdrawal/early termination in the school's public admissions or FAQ pages. The school's admissions material directs families to the Admissions team for up‑to‑date tuition and fees details; explicit refund rules (timing, prorating, or non‑refundability of registration, capital contribution, or tuition installments) are not publicly listed.
Fee payment options - The school uses an online application platform (OpenApply) for applications; the public admissions pages do not list a comprehensive set of accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, boleto, credit card) for tuition, capital contributions, or other fees. No public statement listing accepted payment channels or merchant terms is available in the school's admissions pages.
Summary of actionable points for parents (factual) - The monthly tuition amounts reported for 2025 are: Maternal BRL 7,440; Infantil through High School BRL 10,952 per month. - A Capital Fund contribution is required for new students; the amount is not published. - Mandatory items (PE uniform for Grades 6–12) and variable optional charges (cafeteria, transportation, IB exam fees, after‑school activities) apply in addition to tuition.
What I checked and where detail was not publicly available - Tuition figures by year group (monthly) for 2025 are reported in published school‑fee listings used in media rankings and in the 2025 reporting of school fees. Exact published registration/matriculation amounts, the specific Capital Fund amount, an itemized public fee schedule with invoice dates, detailed payment methods, and a formal public refund policy were not available in the school's public admissions pages and FAQs. For those specific items no public numeric detail was listed.
Fee details
Application / reservation fee - A reservation payment equal to one thirteenth (1/13) of the annual tuition for the selected year group is required to reserve a place; the school issues a boleto (Brazilian bank slip) for this amount. This reservation payment is treated as credit and is offset against the annual tuition or the first instalment when enrolment is finalised.
Tuition fees by year group (amounts shown as BRL [Brazilian real]) - Preschool - Annual fee (2026): BRL 72,385.86. - Option to pay in 13 instalments: BRL 5,568.14 per instalment.
- Primary School — Year 1 (all tracks unless specified) - Annual fee (2026): BRL 94,100.16. - 13 instalments: BRL 7,238.47 per instalment.
- Primary School — German Track (Year 1) - Annual fee (2026): BRL 94,100.16. - 13 instalments: BRL 7,238.47 per instalment.
- Primary School — English Track (Year 2) - Annual fee (2026): BRL 92,171.50. - 13 instalments: BRL 7,090.12 per instalment.
- Primary School — Years 3 to 5 (all tracks) - Annual fee (2026): BRL 92,171.50. - 13 instalments: BRL 7,090.12 per instalment.
- Secondary School - Annual fee (2026): BRL 110,366.11. - 13 instalments: BRL 8,489.70 per instalment.
- College (upper secondary / pre-university) - Annual fee (2026): BRL 118,336.73. - 13 instalments: BRL 9,102.83 per instalment.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Families may pay the tuition annually in full or split the annual tuition into 13 monthly instalments. For students who enter after the beginning of the school year, the annual tuition is calculated pro rata based on the number of remaining school days; instalments for mid‑year entrants are calculated by the number of subsequent months until the end of the school year. Adjustments for discounts on the annual fee are applied either to the annual invoice or to the January instalment for families paying by instalments.
Boarding fees - The school operates as a day school; boarding services are not applicable.
Other costs and fees - Sibling discount: families receive a reduction in the annual fee for additional enrolled children — 5% for the second child, 10% for the third child and 15% for the fourth child. - School uniform: uniform items are handled through authorised uniform partners serving ESB Rio de Janeiro; families purchase uniforms from those providers. - Catering and school meals: food service is provided through an external catering partner; meal plans or on‑site catering are additional services managed by that provider. - School transport: transport services are provided by an external transport partner and are offered as an additional, separately charged service.
Refunds and reservation cancellation - The reservation payment (1/13 of the annual tuition) is treated as credit towards the annual fee or the first instalment at enrolment. Non‑payment of the reservation fee is considered a withdrawal and the reservation is cancelled. The admission documentation specifies that the reservation payment will be compensated against the tuition at the time of enrolment or in the January instalment for those who pay by instalments.
Fee payment options - The school issues a boleto for the reservation payment; the admission process specifically references generation of a boleto for the reservation instalment. Additional billing for tuition is handled according to the school's invoicing (annual or 13‑instalment) process. Specific alternative payment channels (credit card, PIX, bank transfer, direct debit) are not detailed on the tuition and admission pages; the reservation is issued as a boleto.
Practical notes for parents - The annual figures above are published for 2026 and may be billed either as a single annual charge or split into 13 instalments as shown. The reservation payment is one thirteenth of the annual tuition for the chosen year group and is credited to the family account when enrolment is finalised. External providers supply uniform, catering and transport; those services are charged separately by the respective providers.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
EARJ is an IB World Continuum School serving Preschool through Grade 12. EARJ offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), and IB Diploma Programme (DP). Graduates earn the American High School Diploma and the Brazilian Ensino Médio Diploma in addition to the IB Diploma when completing the full DP. The Diploma Programme features Groups 1–6 courses, with English and Portuguese in Group 1 and French and Spanish in Group 2, and core components Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). EARJ also provides a Brazilian Accredited Program and University Counseling as part of its academics.
Curriculum details
ESB Rio de Janeiro by SIS Swiss International School offers bilingual education with instruction in English, German or French alongside Portuguese. Instruction is organized in three language pairings: German/Portuguese, French/Portuguese and English/Portuguese. Preschool is bilingual and emphasizes learning through play and discovery. Primary School combines the Brazilian curriculum with the IB Primary Years Programme. Secondary School follows the Brazilian curriculum and is driven by the IB Middle Years Programme, promoting interdisciplinary learning. The College track includes the IB Diploma and the Brazilian college degree, plus ENEM preparation, enabling students to pursue university studies in Brazil or abroad.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
7.37
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
IB Diploma Programme results for Class of 2024 include 40 Diplomas awarded and an 88% diplomas pass rate. The class earned 35 bilingual Diplomas and achieved a range of college placements at universities in the United States and around the world.
Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
EARJ Class of 2024 earned acceptances to numerous universities in the United States and worldwide, including University of Chicago, Northwestern University, New York University (NYU), Purdue University, Tulane University, and multiple UC campuses, as well as institutions in Australia, Canada, Europe, and Brazil.
Higher education progression
Progression to higher education is supported through the IB Diploma or the Brazilian college degree, with ENEM preparation offered, allowing access to universities in Brazil and abroad.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
EARJ identifies and supports high achieving students through a roadmap and programs as part of the school's strategic plan to support strengths-based development.
Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Submit Your Application. The EARJ online application is submitted through OpenApply. Digital copies of required documents include the child's birth certificate, a JPEG headshot photo, and the vaccination record (including the cover page). After submission, the Admissions Office provides the next steps and required academic information. Proceed to Step 2. 2. Upload Academic Documents & Information. Upload the last 3 end-of-year report cards (if applicable) and provide contact information (email) for your child's current teacher, coordinator, or school principal depending on the grade level. Our team will guide you, and an email will be sent to the contact person to complete the EARJ Online Confidential Recommendation Form. 3. Scheduling Your Meeting. Once all documents are received, the Admissions Office will reach out to book a meeting (online or on campus). During this meeting, any necessary assessments and a campus tour will be planned for you and your child. Assessments typically include MAP for mathematics and reading and WIDA for English language proficiency; Preschool applicants may also have an observation to support placement. The meeting is an opportunity to discuss your child's goals and ask questions. 4. Admissions Committee Review. After the documents and assessments are complete, the applicant's file is reviewed by the EARJ Admissions Committee. A final decision is communicated and next steps provided. Only full applications will be considered by the Admissions Committee.
Admissions
1. Info Session: Attend an info session to learn how the educational concept is applied and to tour the campus. The info sessions are held virtually, and a visit to the campus can be scheduled. This step provides an overview of the bilingual program and campus life. 2. Admission Form: To proceed with the admission process, please submit the admission form. The form will be sent to you by the school via email at the end of the info session or you can download it below. Submitting the admission form is a mandatory step. 3. Experience Day or Assessment: After the admission form is submitted, please schedule a date for our experience day or assessment. The experience day is for students from kindergarten to Year 1, a morning dedicated to activities proposed by the school's educational staff. The assessment test is for students applying for any Year between Year 2 and Year 9, and we provide feedback to all families about the experience day and assessment by email and we are also available for individual interviews. Due to the current situation, in the ESB Rio de Janeiro admission process for 2022, the experience day was replaced by an online meeting with the families. 4. Invitation for Enrolment: After completing the admission process you will receive the invitation for enrolment via email. The invitation will be made according to the number of vacancies, priorities and criteria published in the admission policy.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
Waiting Pool: An applicant who has been accepted for admission can be placed in the waiting pool if no seat is currently available due to high demand. If a seat becomes available, the applicant will be notified promptly. The student remains in the waiting pool until a seat becomes available or the family requests removal. The waiting pool is maintained for the current school year (July to June) only. Applicants interested in enrollment for the following school year must update documentation and reapply.