Belgium, Brussels
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
Application fees
- For children of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) sponsors (active-duty military and DoD civilian employees) there is no application or tuition charge to attend Brussels Elementary High School (formerly Brussels American School).
- Non-DoD applicants (civilians, local hires, third-country nationals, Department of State dependents where applicable) are required to pay tuition and any locally required association fees; local one-time application or association levies are charged in some DoDEA communities but are not charged for DoD-dependent enrollment.
Tuition fees by year group (policy and how rates are set for SY 2025/26)
- DoDEA operates two published tuition rate categories: Federally connected (applies to certain federal agency-sponsored students) and Non‑Federally connected. Brussels EHS follows the DoDEA overseas (OCONUS) tuition rate structure; specific annual tuition amounts are set centrally by DoDEA HQ and published in the OCONUS tuition-rate memorandum for each school year. For the 2025/26 school year DoDEA released OCONUS tuition-rate guidance that defines the applicable rates by grade band. Brussels EHS charges non-DoD students according to those DoDEA-published rates.
- DoDEA organizes tuition in grade bands (example grade bands used across DoDEA overseas schools): Pre-K / Full‑Day Kindergarten – Grade 6; Grades 7–8 (middle); Grades 9–12 (high school). The final published dollar amounts for each band are issued in the DoDEA OCONUS tuition-rate memorandum for the applicable school year; Brussels EHS applies the banded amounts to non-DoD students.
- Per-term detail: DoDEA tuition for overseas schools is invoiced in two billing packages per school year (see "Billing schedule" below); the tuition invoice shows the exact annual amount and the invoice-period portion due. Because DoDEA sets annual rates centrally, the school's invoice (from DoDEA/DoDDS Resource Management) shows the precise per-invoice amounts for each billing package rather than a fixed equal “per-term” public split.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition for DoDEA overseas schools is billed in two billing packages each school year: the first invoice covers the initial period (August through 30 September, which is funded from the prior U.S. fiscal year) and the second invoice covers 1 October through the end of the school year. Payment for each invoice is due within 30 days of the invoice date. Brussels EHS follows this DoDEA invoicing structure for tuition invoices.
- Failure to pay invoiced tuition on time constitutes a debt to the U.S. Government and may affect enrollment status until the debt is resolved under DoDEA billing policies.
Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Brussels Elementary High School is a DoDEA day school; it does not operate boarding/dormitory facilities and therefore does not charge boarding fees. Students attend as day students.
Other costs and fees (typical items at DoDEA overseas schools that parents should expect)
- School meals: meal program charges or paid cafeteria accounts may apply. Meal and school-supplies costs are charged separately from DoDEA tuition where applicable.
- Course- or program-specific fees: certain courses, extracurricular activities, extended‑day programs, field trips, competitive athletics travel, instrumental music or private lessons, or optional programs may carry separate fees.
- Examination fees: certain external exam fees (for example, AP or other external testing fees where applicable) may be billed in addition to tuition.
- Uniforms and school clothing: DoDEA schools typically do not require a uniform in the same way private international schools do; any school spirit wear or optional uniform items are parent‑purchased and are an additional cost if offered. Parents should budget separately for school clothing, supplies, and optional spirit items.
- Local association levies or building levies: some overseas DoDEA sites work with a local school association (association fees or building-levy charges) for non-DoD services or dormitory management in locations where such local arrangements exist; these local charges are distinct from DoDEA tuition and vary by community. Brussels does not operate a dormitory; any local association fees would be specific and announced locally if applicable.
Refund information
- DoDEA refund practice for tuition invoices follows quarter/grading‑period rules used across DoDEA overseas schools: refunds are adjudicated by the DoDDS Resource Management Office and, in many DoDEA overseas communities, no prorated refund is authorized for a grading period once a student has attended any portion of that grading period. Refunds and the process to request them are handled through DoDEA/DoDDS billing channels. Brussels EHS uses DoDEA refund procedures for tuition adjustments.
Fee payment options
- Accepted payment channels for DoDEA overseas tuition invoices include major credit cards via the Pay.gov portal (credit-card payment), electronic funds transfer (EFT), and U.S. dollar bank drafts; payment instructions and the exact payment portal are provided on the DoDEA/DoDDS tuition invoice. Brussels EHS follows the DoDEA invoicing/payment process and accepts the DoDEA payment channels listed on the invoice.
- The DoDEA policy states that Pay.gov issues the online receipt and banks issue EFT receipts; those receipts serve as proof of payment. The school does not re-issue Pay.gov/EFT receipts; parents must keep the issued Pay.gov/bank receipt.
Summary statements required for an external database (concise, factual)
- Tuition for children of U.S. military and DoD civilian sponsors is not charged at Brussels Elementary High School; eligible DoD-dependent students attend tuition free.
- Non-DoD students are charged tuition. DoDEA HQ sets annual OCONUS tuition rates by grade band and publishes a tuition-rate memorandum for each school year (the latest available published guidance covered the 2025/26 school year); Brussels applies those centrally published rates for any non‑DoD students. Brussels invoices follow DoDEA's two-billing‑package schedule; payment is due within 30 days of each invoice and accepted channels include Pay.gov (credit card), EFT, and bank draft. Refunds and other billing adjustments follow DoDEA/DoDDS Resource Management procedures.
From the details provided, the institution described is Brussels Unit School, a DoDEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) school in Brussels. It serves preschool through 12th grade with a combined elementary, middle, and high school population and is part of Brussels Community Schools in DoDEA Europe West District. The curriculum is stated as American Curriculum with Advanced Placement (AP). The school offers a PSCD program for students with disabilities and a general special education program for a diverse learner population. The age range is 4 to 18. This profile does not include information about Brussels American School. If you intended Brussels Unit School, I can format a full school_character entry. If you need Brussels American School specifically, please provide the correct details or confirm that BAS is the target, and I will adjust accordingly.