Edited by Giulia Ceccon · Chief Marketing Officer
Lugano is home to 4 international schools, offering families a range of curricula and price points to choose from.
Compare 4 international schools in Lugano, Switzerland. Filter by curriculum, fees (average CHF 31,346), location, and more to find the right international school now.
The International School of Switzerland is a day school for students aged 6–18 that offers the IB Middle Years Programme, the IB Diploma Programme, and Cambridge A Levels. It operates as an IB World School guided by the K.I.N.D. framework—Kindness, Innovation, Navigation, and Discovery—to shape both academics and co‑curricular life. Instruction is in English, with Italian and German taught at varying levels and CEFR‑based placement. From Grade 10, students can pursue a dual pathway to Advanced Levels or the IB Diploma Programme; the IB Diploma Programme is currently a Candidate School, and the Bridge Program supports language fluency and transitions to IB, A‑Levels, or Liceo. Facilities include modern classrooms with interactive touchscreens and Microsoft tools, a STEAM Center with robotics labs and a makerspace, and Switzerland's first Microsoft Dream Space for AI, VR, and coding projects. Arts spaces include Visual Arts Studios, a professional Performing Arts Theater, and Music Rooms, with on‑campus sports facilities. Co‑curriculars feature the Discovery Program, Masterclasses, and the Immersion Program, which offer diverse activities, masterclasses, cultural excursions, and industry visits.
GIS Lugano is a bilingual international school in Lugano, Switzerland, offering a multilingual curriculum for ages 3 to 18. English and Italian are the primary languages of instruction, with intensive Italian for local culture and native-speaking teachers supporting linguistic diversity. The school follows the International Baccalaureate framework and is pursuing authorization for the IB Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme, while also delivering a bespoke curriculum that blends inquiry-based learning with a student-centered approach. The campus includes Early Years learning spaces such as Digital Atelier, Clay Atelier, Colour Atelier, The Piazza, Psychomotor Space, and Nature Corner, with a strong emphasis on safety and hands-on exploration. Technology is integrated across learning, including BYOD in upper years and access to interactive whiteboards and coding programs. GIS Lugano supports global perspectives through international exchanges with partner schools in Brazil and Italy, weekly electives, and a 100 Languages Philosophy that celebrates linguistic diversity.
TASIS The American School in Switzerland is a private, co-educational American international day and boarding school for ages 3–18, located on the Collina d'Oro in Montagnola above Lugano. The school offers the American Diploma, Advanced Placement, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, with English as the primary language of instruction and a comprehensive English as an Additional Language program. In Pre-K to Grade 8, students study in parallel English and Italian, and IB languages include English, Italian, German, and Russian, with support for other self-taught languages; bilingual instruction for Grades 1–9 aligns with Cantonal requirements. The campus blends 17th-century heritage with modern, eco-friendly buildings, including the Campo Science Center and multiple libraries; sustainability features include geothermal heating and hydroelectric power. Extracurriculars are extensive: Model UN, Robotics, Drama and Dance, along with Alpine trips and more than 20 sports. IB diploma candidates have posted 97%+ pass rates since 2016, about 50% earn bilingual diplomas, and TASIS supports service through the Opsahl Global Service Program.
International School of Ticino (IST) is a private international day school in Ticino, Switzerland, offering the IB continuum: PYP, MYP, DP, and the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP). The school serves ages 3 to 18. The language of instruction is English, with an Italian bilingual programme for Grades 2–10 to meet Ticino cantonal requirements. IST opened as a kindergarten in 2014 and expanded to serve international and local families; in 2017 it joined Inspired Education Group. Facilities include bright, well-resourced classrooms with up-to-date technology, an early years learning zone, a first-floor learning hub, a gymnasium for football, basketball, and volleyball, and expansive outdoor spaces for play. The curriculum follows IB standards with inquiry-based learning in the PYP and across eight subject areas in the MYP and DP, plus CP options with seven career-related pathways. IST is a signatory to the Global Schools Program and supports Sustainable Development Goals.
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