Schweizerschule Sao Paulo vs St. Francis College

	S Schweizerschule Sao Paulo Sao Paulo, Brazil	S St. Francis College Sao Paulo, Brazil
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year R$65,592 - 125,736	Fees / year R$115,200 - 144,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Swiss Curriculum, Brazilian Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils 760	Pupils 900
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language German, Portuguese	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2003
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Visconde de Porto Seguro, 391, Alto da Boa Vista, São Paulo/SP - Brazil - CEP: 04.642-000	Location Two campuses in Pinheiros, São Paulo, Brazil. R. Joaquim Antunes, 678 Pinheiros, São Paulo, SP 05415-001 (main gate). R. Cônego Eugênio Leite, 825 Pinheiros, São Paulo, SP 05414-012.
Stages	Stages Early Childhood Education to Secondary Education	Stages Early Years and Primary (IB Primary Years Programme); Secondary (IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme). Cambridge IGCSE is offered. The Primary and Secondary curricula are based on the British National Curriculum and MEC guidelines.
School type	School type Non-profit bilingual school	School type IB Continuum international school offering Brazilian and foreign pupils an IB education across PYP, MYP and DP; University offers across many countries.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Total students 760; 80% Brazilian; 20% international	Pupil nationality mix Over 898 students from more than 16 nationalities.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland (recognized and supported by the Swiss Government; Basel Canton; Department of Education for the State of São Paulo)	Country affiliation Brazil
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Half-day/full-day regime; Mon-Fri 7:30–16:00	School day structure A regular day begins at 7:45am for PYP 1–4 and at 8:00am for PYP 5–8. PYP 1–2 have a lunch break; PYP 2–8 have a catered lunch in the canteen. The school day ends between 2:45pm and 3:30pm depending on year level, with students collected by parents or an authorised driver/nanny/friend.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / registration fee - No separate annual registration (matrícula) fee is published for the Escola Suíço‑Brasileira de São Paulo; publicly compiled fee listings have reported no paid matriculation charge. Tuition fees by school level (monthly and annual figures) - Infantil 1 & 2 (Education Infantil): Monthly: BRL 5,466.00. Estimated annual cost (12 x monthly): BRL 65,592.00. - Fundamental I (1º cycle): Monthly: BRL 9,656.00. Estimated annual cost (12 x monthly): BRL 115,872.00. - Fundamental II (2º cycle): Monthly: BRL 9,656.00. Estimated annual cost (12 x monthly): BRL 115,872.00. - Ensino Médio (High School / IB): Monthly: BRL 10,478.00. Estimated annual cost (12 x monthly): BRL 125,736.00. Billing schedule and payment terms - Public fee listings present the amounts as monthly (mensalidade). No definitive public schedule (number of instalments per year, early‑payment discounts, or exact billing dates) for the school's tuition billing was located in the available published materials. Families should expect monthly billing practices consistent with Brazilian private‑school norms but confirm the exact instalment count and due dates directly with the school. Boarding / residence fees - The school operates as a day school (no boarding facilities). There are no boarding fees because boarding is not provided. Other costs and typical additional charges - Books and materials: A 2026 book list is published for the school; families should budget separately for required textbooks and materials listed by year/grade. - Uniforms: No published uniform price schedule was found; families should expect a uniform purchase cost but must obtain the current uniform list and prices from the school. - Extracurricular activities, school trips, language exam fees and optional services: not listed as fixed national fees — these are commonly charged in addition to tuition and vary by activity and year; specific program fees were not published in the publicly available documents reviewed. Refunds and cancellations - No publicly available, detailed refund or cancellation policy (for tuition, deposits or optional services) was found in the materials reviewed. Parents should note that private‑school refund policies vary (non‑refundable application fees, prorated refunds in some cases, or forfeiture of a deposit) and should confirm the school's current policy in writing at enrolment. Accepted payment methods and fee payment options - No definitive public list of accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, bank slip / boleto, credit card) was located in the documents reviewed. Confirm the school's accepted payment methods, billing platform and whether automatic instalment plans or online payment portals are available before finalising enrolment. Practical notes for parents (concise) - The monthly tuition amounts above are the published monthly figures reported in a recent public compilation of Brazil private‑school fees for the 2025/26 cycle; the school is a bilingual day school offering IB in the upper years. Parents should confirm instalment counts, exact billing dates, whether tuition is billed over 12 or 13 instalments, and any additional mandatory charges (materials, activity fees, insurance, etc.) directly with the school's administrative office. Brief summary of what was located and what was not published - Located: recent published monthly tuition figures by level (monthly amounts and the school's status as a day school). - Not published in publicly available materials reviewed: a current, line‑by‑line fee schedule that lists an application/registration fee for 2025/26 or 2026/27, the school's formal billing schedule (exact number of instalments or billing months), detailed uniform prices, a formal refund/cancellation policy, and the explicit list of accepted payment methods.	Fee details Application fees - Registration / application (matrícula) fee: R$ 700. Tuition fees by year group - Early Years (Infantil / Maternal): R$ 9,600 per month. - Upper Primary / Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary (Fundamental II and Ensino Médio): R$ 12,000 per month. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school publishes a formal Tuition & Fees document (Academic Year 2025/26) and a separate Application & Entrance Fees notice for 2026/27; detailed billing schedules and specific payment-term options (for example: annual vs. monthly invoicing, due dates, penalties for late payment) are set out in those official documents. Boarding fees (if applicable) - St. Francis College operates as a day school; no boarding fees apply. Other costs and fees - Uniform: A uniform list is provided for 2025/26; costs for required uniform items are set out on the school's uniform list. - Entrance assessments, external examination fees (IB/other exam registration) and extra-curricular activities may incur additional charges; where applicable these are normally listed separately in the school's tuition documents and fee schedules. Refund information - The school's family handbook and formal contractual documentation contain refund and cancellation terms (refundability of the registration fee, conditions for partial refunds of tuition, deadlines for withdrawal, and any administrative penalties). Those terms are set out in the school's official policies. Fee payment options - The school's tuition documentation indicates the available payment methods and terms; specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, boleto bancário, credit card, direct debit) and instalment arrangements are described in the official Tuition & Fees and Admissions materials. Brief note on sources and availability - The figures above (application fee and the reported monthly tuition amounts) come from recent published summaries and local press reporting. Official, detailed line‑by‑line fee schedules and the school's full billing/payment terms are published by the school in its Tuition & Fees and Admissions documents (Academic Year 2025/26 and Application & Entrance Fees 2026/27), which are referenced by the school's admissions portal; those official documents contain the complete breakdown by year group, term and payment options. The school is listed as a day school with no boarding.
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 Education levels include Early Childhood Education (Education Infantil), where the emphasis is on learning through play-based activities; instruction is in Portuguese and German. Primary Education I develops fundamental literacy and numeracy (reading, writing, and arithmetic). Primary Education II emphasizes mastery of curricular content while developing study procedures, attitudes of respect and solidarity, and learning to live socially. High School + IB spans four years with national and international focus, preparing for universities in Brazil and abroad. IB Program: In our school, all high school students complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP), whose diploma is recognized by major universities in Brazil and abroad. Language Diploma: To maintain international standards and ensure quality through external assessments, the school offers various language diplomas and certificates.	Curriculum details The school offers the IB Continuum Programme with the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). The IB Continuum Programme is applied school-wide, supporting multilingualism, curriculum alignment and smooth transitions between programmes. The formal curriculum is guided by the Brazilian and British National Curricula and meets MEC requirements for students aged 3 to 19. Portuguese language subjects include Brazilian literature, Portuguese language, and the history and geography of Brazil. Pupils graduate with a Brazilian studies diploma alongside the IB Diploma.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Today there are over 898 students and more than 100 full-time teachers, yielding an approximate student–teacher ratio of about 9:1.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Prepares for universities in Brazil and abroad.	Higher education progression Offers in 19 countries and from over 270 universities worldwide. A Careers Department provides guidance on future education, college majors, applications, scholarships and financial aid, and supports activities such as Careers Day, work shadowing and university fairs. University fairs and visits are held on campus to connect students with higher education opportunities and to showcase where past students have attended university.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
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 Step 1. Register interest. The office hours are 7:30 to 16:30. The school will respond and arrange a visit. Step 2. Educação Infantil admissions. Enrollment is conducted in order of application with priority for siblings, based on age bands and vacancy availability. The minimum ages are Jardim I four years old completed by March 31 of the school year and Jardim II five years old completed by March 31. Step 3. Ensino Fundamental 1 (1st–3rd grades). From 1st to 3rd grade, enrollment is by order of application with priority for siblings, based on age and vacancy. The minimum age for admission to 1st grade is 6 years completed by March 31. Beginning in 4th grade, admission is defined by individual interviews with the Coordination, a pedagogical assessment, and classroom visits. If needed, students without fluency in Portuguese or German receive a special adaptation program. Step 4. Ensino Fundamental 2 (4th–9th grades). Admission is defined by interviews with the Coordination, visits to classes, and a pedagogical assessment in Portuguese and Mathematics. Depending on the grade, assessments in English and French are also required. A German assessment is conducted for applicants who have German language fluency. If admitted, the school offers a special adaptation program in German or Portuguese as needed. Step 5. Ensino Médio (high school). To be admitted, all candidates must undergo interviews with the Coordination, visits to classes, and pedagogical assessments in Mathematics, Portuguese, English, German, and other subjects at the school's discretion. Step 6. Documents required for enrollment. Educação Infantil requires: copies of the student's birth certificate; copy of the student's RG or RNE; copy of RG or RNE and CPF of the financial guardian; and an updated vaccination card. Ensino Fundamental and Ensino Médio require: copies of the birth certificate; copy of RG or RNE of the student; copy of RG or RNE and CPF of the financial guardian; a Transfer Certificate from the previous school; the student's Transcript; a Declaration of Financial Clearance from the previous school; and the updated vaccination declaration (DVA). Step 7. Application form. The application form (Ficha de Inscrição) notes that submission does not guarantee a vacancy. The form collects information such as the intended grade, year of entry, student details, parental contacts, and language information, among other fields, to support the admissions review.	Admissions 1. Admission overview. St. Francis College is an IB Continuum school serving Brazilian and international pupils, and admission is determined after evaluations and interviews. DP1 eligibility requires completion of the IGCSE programme or MYP eAssessments. Applicants from abroad may be accepted at different times during the year, contingent on vacancy. 2. Second semester 2026 deadlines. Applications for the second semester (January 2026) must be completed by Monday, November 3rd, 2025 for PYP 2 - MYP 5. Openings for international applicants are handled on vacancy basis; evaluations and interviews are conducted before acceptance. 3. Next academic year deadlines. Applications for the next academic year (August 2026) must be completed by Friday, February 13th, 2026 for PYP1 (26/27) and by Friday, May 11th, 2026 for PYP 2 - DP 1 (26/27). Open Days for PYP1 occur in October and March, and entrance assessments for EYP & Secondary take place in May and November. 4. DP1 eligibility and year-abroad policy. Applicants for DP1 must have completed the IGCSE or MYP eAssessments to be eligible. Evaluations and interviews are conducted prior to acceptance. Students wishing to study abroad for a year are not eligible to do so in MYP 5, DP 1, or DP 2.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist The admissions process is conducted in order of application with priority for siblings and vacancy availability. A place is not guaranteed by submitting an application, and enrollments occur as vacancies arise.	Waitlist —
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