Comparing 4 schools side by side in USD.
The school is located at Rua Guerra Junqueiro, 162, 4150-386 Porto, Portugal. It sits between Rua do Campo Alegre and Avenida da Boavista in the western part of the city centre, not far from Rotunda da Boavista.
Kindergarten; Grundschule (primary); Gymnasium (secondary).
Private German school.
Approximately 93% of students have Portuguese as their mother tongue.
Inklusionskonzept: Inclusive education with equal value for all students and staff. German is the primary language of instruction, and language learning is integrated. A multiprofessional team from primary didactics, special education, and psychology supports students and fosters inclusion.
Germany; teachers are sent by the Federal Republic of Germany.
School day runs from 08:15 to 17:50, with ten periods. Timings: 1) 08:15–09:00; 2) 09:05–09:50; 3) 10:05–10:50; 4) 10:55–11:40; 5) 11:55–12:40; 6) 12:45–13:30 (60-minute break); 7) 14:30–15:15; 8) 15:20–16:05; 9) 16:15–17:00; 10) 17:05–17:50.
Bus service is available: take bus line 204 toward Foz (Casa da Música stop) at Rotunda da Boavista/Praça Albuquerque and alight after four stops at Planetário.
Uniform is mandatory in the kindergarten. In primary school, students wear sports pants and a school T-shirt for physical education. There is no uniform in the Gymnasium.
The Schulkantine offers daily freshly and on-site prepared, balanced meals with a vegetarian option; participation is voluntary. The school works with the catering company Gertal S.A. to provide meals, and brought meals can be heated in the microwaves provided.
The Deutsche Schule Porto is an accredited German Auslandsschule (German overseas school). It is governed by the DSP School Association (Schulverein DSP) and is part of the network of German overseas schools, with ties to the Verband der Deutschen Schulen Iberien.
The Deutsche Schule Porto offers bilingual education from Kindergarten through the International Abitur. The school operates with three levels: Kindergarten, Grundschule (primary), and Gymnasium (secondary). Instruction is conducted in German and Portuguese, and students develop language proficiency in German, Portuguese, English, and French. The Abitur is internationally recognized, and Portuguese universities recognize the Abitur as a university entrance qualification. Graduates study at universities worldwide.
Average class size is 21 students per class, with a maximum of 24 students per class.
Graduates study at universities worldwide. The Abitur prepares students for national and international universities. The school provides Berufs- und Studienberatung (career and study guidance) and hosts academic exchanges, such as a seminar with FLUP (Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto).
AGs and the after-school program include Talente entdecken with clubs such as music, theater, science clubs, robotics, sports, cooking, dance, debate club, and yoga. The after-school program is pedagogically designed, bilingual, and includes homework time, learning support, creative free time, and physical activity. In Grundschule, children experience a broad range of creative and athletic impulses; in the secondary grades, students deepen their talents or try new ones, often over several years.
Social learning is a key element of the Grundschule's pedagogical concept. All participants in the educational process contribute to students' emotional stability, support their autonomy, and encourage individuality and responsibility. The Klassenleitungsstunde in early grades provides time to address organizational and social tasks, and the Ethik subject invites reflection on identity and relationships while exploring norms and cultures. Students can access Kindersprechstunde for confidential, solution‑oriented support when they are angry, sad, or dealing with conflicts. The school uses a No‑Blame approach to bullying and offers mediation and social projects to strengthen community, respect, and belonging.
The school operates an inclusive system with a multiprofessional team drawn from primary education, special education, and psychology. All students and staff are valued equally and have access to the school's culture and community. German and Portuguese cultures are represented together in teaching, and language learning is universal, with German as the primary instructional language. The approach recognizes heterogeneity as an opportunity and connects internal collaboration with external partnerships when needed.
Language learning is embedded throughout the school, with German as the primary language of instruction. The school has bilingual education from kindergarten through the International Abitur, preparing students to engage with the world.
The school psychology and counseling team provide listening, guidance and support for students across all developmental stages, through confidential individual talks, preventive programs and group formats. They assist with academic, social or emotional challenges such as exam anxiety, conflicts, concentration difficulties, self‑esteem issues or personal burdens. The team also advises parents and teachers to foster well‑being and early identification of difficulties, and acts preventively with workshops and projects on mental health, media literacy, violence prevention and social group work. The aim is to promote well‑being within a connected system that supports cognitive, emotional and psychosocial development.
Safeguarding and child protection are integral to the school, with the school psychology team collaborating with teachers and families on safeguarding and crisis situations. The No‑Blame approach to bullying involves students as ‘experts for help' and mediation to resolve conflicts without punishment, supported by a mediation program and dedicated spaces for dialogue. The school emphasizes a safe environment built on trust, clarity and relationships.
1. Pre-enrollment: For the 2026/2027 school year, pre-enroll your child if they will have turned 3 by December 31, 2026. Enrollment for transfers from other educational institutions to Deutsche Schule Porto is generally possible. Admission depends on available places and a language and scholastic assessment. We admit children with German, Portuguese or other heritage languages; in Kindergarten no German knowledge is required.
2. Information meeting: After pre-enrollment, you and your child are invited to a personal information meeting. The meeting provides an opportunity to learn about the school, ask questions, and meet staff. It helps assess fit and clarify any questions about the admission process. The information session supports a smooth onboarding into the school.
3. Application submission: The pre-enrollment form can be completed online. Through our secretariat you receive all documents required for the registration. The 2026/2027 enrollment forms include new enrollments in our kindergarten as well as transfers from other educational institutions. The secretariat coordinates the provision and collection of these documents.
4. Place allocation: After completion of the process, you receive a written acceptance. This acceptance confirms admission and makes you part of our school community. Admission depends on available places and the student's German language level. If accepted, complete the enrollment and join Deutsche Schule Porto.
Sitio do Lobito, 8300-054 Silves, Algarve, Portugal
Primary school (Grades 1–4) and Secondary levels I & II (Grades 5–12, Abitur). German is the language of instruction; Portuguese is part of daily life from the start, with mother-tongue and foreign-language groupings from Grade 2 and English introduced from Grade 3. In Secondary levels I & II, German remains the instruction language, with English and Portuguese as mandatory foreign languages.
German international school
Individualized support in small groups
Germany; German international school following KMK guidelines
Lunch & catering: The Deutsche Schule Algarve offers all students the possibility of a warm lunch. Registration is straightforward directly in the school's cafeteria. Our midday meals focus on balanced and child-friendly dishes that provide a pleasant break in the school day.
The Deutsche Schule Algarve is a private school financed by parental contributions, subsidies and donations. It is a state-recognised German school in the heart of the Algarve, offering education from Grundschule to the Deutsche Internationale Abitur (DIA). Since 2025, the school has been family-owned and led by a German–Portuguese dual leadership team. The leadership team includes Desirée Dauber (Germany) and Maria A. Ferreira (Portugal). The school operates as a cooperating school with the Deutsche Schule Lissabon and is part of the worldwide network of German Auslandsschulen. Parent representation and the student council are active parts of school life.
German Auslandsschulen curricula form the basis for teaching. The Grundschule covers Grades 1–4 and builds the foundation for independent, motivated learning in an international context, with German and Portuguese as part of daily life. From Grade 2, German and Portuguese are taught in mother-tongue and foreign-language groups, and English is added from Grade 3. The timetable includes core subjects plus music, art, Sachunterricht, sport and swimming, with differentiated instruction and open-learning formats. In Sekundarstufen I & II (Grades 5–12), German remains the language of instruction; English and Portuguese are mandatory foreign languages, and the curriculum includes core subjects, electives and project work with emphasis on scientific work, presentation techniques and digital competencies. The curricula align with KMK guidelines for Deutsche Auslandsschulen and enable seamless transitions to schools in Germany and worldwide.
All year levels are single-track, and classes are small, with up to 20 students.
Grade 10 provides Abschluss & Übergang with dual function: Mittlerer Schulabschluss (MSA) for Realschule students and the introduction phase to upper secondary. Realschule students complete a German and Math/English exam plus an oral exam; Gymnasium students complete central written exams in German, Math and English, and the MSA is included in the Grade 11 promotion. Grades 11–12 form the Qualifikationsphase leading to Allgemeine Hochschulreife via Deutsche Internationale Abiturprüfung. The German International Abitur is worldwide recognized and opens doors to universities and labor markets in Germany and many other countries, with preparation emphasizing scientific work, self-organization, teamwork, project orientation, and presentation techniques.
The German International Abitur is worldwide recognized and opens doors to universities in Germany and many other countries.
The school pursues a holistic education concept. It emphasizes personal development, social competencies, and creative as well as athletic engagement. Small classes and a family-like atmosphere support learning with individualized attention. German is the language of instruction, Portuguese is used in daily life, and English and French are taught as subjects with intercultural projects such as Erasmus. This approach helps students grow into independent, reflective, and globally aware individuals.
The school provides individualized support to students. Small classes and close collaboration between teachers, learners, and parents enable targeted, personalized learning. Language support is offered as needed, especially for entry into Class 1 or for transfer students. The DSA welcomes pupils of all nationalities. The Infomappe describes an inclusive environment where all participants are valued and can learn.
English and French are taught as part of the curriculum. German is the language of instruction, and Portuguese is used in day-to-day life, complemented by English and French courses. Targeted language support is offered when needed, particularly for new entrants. Erasmus and other international projects foster multilingual growth and intercultural experience. The school operates in a multilingual environment that supports learners across languages.
The school fosters a peaceful, respectful atmosphere that underpins well-being. The values-based culture emphasizes respectful and considerate interactions, creating a safe and inclusive community. Multilingual classes and a cooperative school community support belonging and student well-being. Vertrauenslehrer (trusted teachers) provide accessible support and are points of contact for student concerns. Inclusion and well-being are integral to the school's approach.
Vertrauenslehrer (trusted teachers) are designated safeguarding contacts for students. Hausordnung (house rules) and Schulordnung (school regulations) are provided as key safeguarding and governance documents. Communication pathways and designated contacts (Ansprechpartner and Kommunikationswege) exist for reporting concerns. The Infomappe outlines inclusive values and clear responsibilities involving parents and students in safeguarding. The school's safeguarding framework is embedded in its documents and practices.
01 First contact & consultation: DSA is open to children of all nationalities. Willingness to follow instruction in German and Portuguese is required, and targeted language support is offered if needed, especially for entry to Grade 1 or for transfer students. We welcome early contact from interested families and provide insights into our school concept, helping you choose the appropriate grade level.
02 School tour & interview: After submitting the necessary documents (see checklist) and subject to appointment availability, you will be invited to an individual meeting with school leadership, digitally or on-site. The meeting provides an opportunity to ask questions about classroom life, assessment methods, and the overall learning approach. If desired, you can also arrange a tour of the school and meet with staff.
03 Educational admission interview: Before enrollment we conduct a short getting-to-know-your-child interview. An assessment of language abilities may also be conducted as needed. The interview helps determine appropriate support measures and next steps.
04 Enrollment: After a positive response, the enrollment documents are provided. Enrollment becomes binding only after signing the school contract. The contract secures the place and confirms the start arrangement for the upcoming term.
Lisbon campus: Largo Willy Brandt, 1600-891 Lisboa, Portugal; Estoril campus: Rua Dr. António Martins 26, 2765-194 Estoril, Portugal
Lisbon campus offers Kindergarten, Primary School (Grundschule) and Gymnasium (secondary); Estoril campus offers Kindergarten and Primary School
Private German international school
Inklusion (inclusive education) and Sozialpädagogik (social pedagogy) are provided to support students; Suchtprävention and Mobbing Intervention services are available
Germany
Gymnasium day: Monday to Friday, 08:00–15:55 with two 20-minute breaks; on Wednesdays there are after-school activities from 14:00–15:30 and 15:40–17:10; afternoon times vary by grade level (details in Jahresrundschreiben)
Schulbustransport is available with lines L1, L3a, L3b, L4 and L5. 2025/26 prices are listed per line; enrollment is via Phidias online process and covers the full school year; transport charges are added to tuition; single trips require written parental authorization for Kindergarten, Primary and Gymnasium
After-school care is provided through the Kinderwelt program, running from 3:50 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on school days; lunch is included as part of the day.
Lunch is provided as part of the school day, with a scheduled lunch period from 12:15 to 1:00 p.m.
The school is a private German-Portuguese encounter school, with the Schulverein (School Association) as the school sponsor. It receives extensive financial, building and personnel support from Germany, and is funded by parental school fees.
German-language curricula are used across Grundschule and Gymnasium. Grundschule Lissabon follows the Thüringen education plan, with Sprachkompetenzraster – Deutsch for Grades 1–4; Sachunterricht; Schulinternes Curriculum Mathematik Klasse 1–4; Portugiesisch als Muttersprache; Portugiesisch als Fremdsprache; Ethik; Religion; Sport; Musik; and Kunst. Englisch is taught from the early grades as part of the language program. Gymnasium follows German curricula for Sekundarstufe I (Grades 5–9) and Oberstufe (Grades 10–12) with subject curricula including Biologie, Chemie, Deutsch, Englisch, Erdkunde, Ethik/Philosophie, Französisch, Geschichte, Portugiesisch, Informatik, Mathematik, Musik, Kunst, Physik and more; Deutsch Schulcurriculum Kl. 11–12 is in use. The Deutsche Schule Lissabon is a Deutsche Auslandsschule and offers the Deutsche Internationale Abitur; Hauptschulabschluss and Realschulabschluss are also awarded, with the Abitur taken at the end of Class 12 and recognized for university admission in Portugal. The school serves about 1,060 students with around 145 teachers, giving a student–teacher ratio of roughly 7:1; Sekundarstufe I commonly runs 3–4 parallel classes and the Oberstufe typically 3 parallel classes.
About 1,060 students and 145 teachers, giving a student–teacher ratio of roughly 7:1; Sekundarstufe I is typically 3–4 parallel classes and Oberstufe about 3 parallel classes.
Abschlüsse include Hauptschulabschluss, Realschulabschluss, and Reifeprüfung (Abitur). The German Hochschul-Reifeprüfung is taken at the end of Class 12 and is recognized in Portugal for university admission.
Approximately 65 students graduate with the Abitur each year, with roughly half pursuing university studies in Germany. Studien- und Berufsberatung supports college and career planning, including annual study fairs with German and Portuguese higher education institutions and talks by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (ZAV) and other German universities.
Personal and social competencies are central to the school's psychosocial work under the Bessere Schule - Besseres Leben initiative. The program aims to develop self-esteem, self-confidence, emotion regulation (including handling stress, anger, and frustration), and a sense of responsibility. The school emphasizes social skills such as conflict resolution, communication, civic courage, engagement, appreciation of friendship, and integration. It seeks a climate of tolerance and mutual respect in which every student feels respected, integrated, understood, and safe.
The school recognises that students differ in development, learning, and behaviour and introduces appropriate measures to support pupils with special educational needs in their academic and social development. A psychosocial team includes a special education teacher (Sonderpädagoge) and an inclusion coordinator to provide counselling and guidance for inclusion and related projects.
The school operates a psychosocial team including school psychologists and social pedagogues to support student welfare and inclusion. The team includes the head of the psychosocial team and staff such as the school psychologist and the social pedagogue, with coordination for inclusion and systemic counseling. The program includes bullying intervention, substance-use prevention, and systemic counseling; students can access help from the school psychologist, the social pedagogue, the inclusion coordinator, the systemic family therapist, or Vertrauenslehrer when needed.
A safeguarding-oriented support system is in place, including a school psychologist, a social pedagogue, an inclusion coordinator, a systemic family therapist, and Vertrauenslehrer. The school provides bullying intervention and other psychosocial services to protect and support students.
Admission information for the Deutsche Schule Lissabon covers both German-speaking and non-German-speaking tracks across Kindergarten, Grundschule (primary), Gymnasium (secondary), and the Vorkurs (pre-course) for non-German speakers. Kindergarten (German-speaking): The pre-registrations for the 2026/27 school year are now open. About 50 kindergarten places are allocated each September in Lisbon. A child must be three years old by September 30 of the intake year and is expected to be diaper-free at entry. To register, complete the online Phidias admission form for the September intake. Pre-registrations received between November and January are reviewed, and an admission interview with the kindergarten management typically takes place during this period. A place is usually offered in February. Placement is not determined by the order of pre-registrations; criteria include German language skills, siblings at the school, citizenship of a German-speaking country, prior attendance at a German-language institution or another German international school, and whether the child is a son or daughter of a former DSL student. For questions contact the Admissions Officer Monday to Friday at +351 217 510 260 or [email protected] Out-of-year place requests should also be directed to the Admissions Officer. To learn more about the Kindergarten, click here. Voranmeldung via Phidias is described on the pre-registration page, and Kennenlernbesuch arrangements are available. Franciane Allnoch and Mona Nakhjiri (Kindergartenleitung) provide contact details for the Kindergarten and the Lisbon and Estoril campuses. .
Stipendien: The school offers two scholarships. Details are provided via links to the following PDFs: the Stipendium des Schulvereins der DSL and the Dr. Brüggemann-Stipendium. .
The school is located in Sintra, in the Lisbon region of Portugal. The campus is in a spacious modern building. It is conveniently located 12 minutes from Sintra, 12 minutes from Cascais, 15 minutes from Estoril, and 30 minutes from Lisbon, making it accessible for families in the region.
Nursery (4 months to 2 years); Pre-School (3 to 5 years); Primary (6 to 10 years)
Day school; bilingual education in Portuguese and English; follows the Portuguese National Curriculum
Portugal
Butterflies Empowering Education owns and operates Butterflies School. It was created with the approval of Social Security and the Ministry of Education.
Butterflies follows the Portuguese National Curriculum with English treated as an equal language, enriched by project labs and the Aloha Maths program. The school uses bilingual immersion with English- and Portuguese-speaking teachers in all classes to support bilingual fluency. The curriculum is delivered from Nursery through Primary and includes the Labs program, the Inventors Club, and extensive outdoor learning. Nursery focuses on sensory, motor, cognitive, and social development through play-based activities, with exposure to English and Portuguese and weekly Outdoor Discoveries. Preschool emphasizes language, literacy, numeracy, and social skills in both languages, with Early Phonics, the Labs program, Aloha Maths, and the Inventors Club. Primary develops fluency in reading and writing in both languages, with Labs, Aloha Maths, and outdoor scientific investigations.
The Inventors Club (5 years) guides children through creative tech challenges.
Unique Pedagogy emphasizes curiosity, autonomy, resilience, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, self-awareness, and leadership. The approach aims to create a bilingual educational environment that promotes the integral development of the child, stimulating the skills of each child while respecting well-being, individuality, and pace of development. Learning is supported through outdoor and indoor experiences that foster social interaction, creativity, and engagement.
English and Portuguese are taught through a bilingual immersion approach. English- and Portuguese-speaking teachers work in all classes in co-teaching duos, providing personalised attention and a supportive learning environment. Reading and writing skills are taught in both languages from early years, with exposure to English and Portuguese through songs, stories, and games; an Early Phonics Program begins at age five.
Well-being is respected as part of the child's development and integral to the school's approach.
1. Complete the enrolment form on the Butterflies site, or email, or call +351 937 656 633. 2. Attend a school visit that lasts about an hour, during which you will be shown the school and meet the team. 3. Review the Butterflies Rules & Regulations. 4. Pay the Registration Fee. 5. You may visit the school with your children. 6. If offered a place, complete the full Enrolment Form, provide the required documentation, and pay the enrolment fee. 7. Experience a class day at the school. 8. After the enrolment period deadline, admissions operate on a rolling basis; if space is available, the child is integrated immediately; if the program is full, a wait list is maintained.
After the enrolment period deadline, admissions operate on a rolling basis; if space is available, the child is integrated immediately; if full, a wait list is maintained.
