The Lisbon school context
Lisbon has been the fastest-changing international school city in Europe over the past 5 years. Capacity went from a quiet 8 schools serving traditional expats to 24+ schools serving a wave of US, UK and EU families drawn by the post-2020 lifestyle move and the (now-winding-down) NHR tax regime. Read our Lisbon school boom analysis for the structural picture before reading the rankings.
The 2026 top 10
St Julian's School
Lisbon's heritage British school (founded 1932). British curriculum core with IB Diploma at sixth form. Strong UK university destinations. Carcavelos location with beach access. The default Tier 1 choice.
Carlucci American International School of Lisbon (CAISL)
The strongest American-curriculum school in Portugal. AP and IB Diploma pathways. Strong US Ivy and top liberal-arts pipeline. Sintra location works well for families in Cascais corridor.
TASIS Portugal
Newer (2018) campus of the TASIS family. Strong faculty quality from the launch, modern facilities. AP and IB Diploma pathways. Day and limited boarding options. Premium positioning.
Oeiras International School
The strongest pure-IB school in greater Lisbon. PYP through DP. Strong faculty quality, balanced cohort. Oeiras location works as middle-ground between central Lisbon and Cascais.
Park International School
Established Cascais British school. A-Level and IB Diploma options. Strong primary years particularly. Smaller cohort than St Julian's but with consistent academic culture.
International Sharing School Madeira (Lisbon Campus)
Newer IB school with strong faculty quality. Good fit for families wanting smaller cohort with progressive pedagogy. Cascais corridor catchment.
Astoria International School
Newer central Lisbon IB school (2020). Strong faculty quality, modern campus. Particularly good for families committed to central Lisbon over Cascais corridor.
Lisboan International School
Newer central Lisbon school combining IB and British pathways. Strong primary years. Good fit for central-Lisbon families wanting alternatives to commuting to Cascais.
British School of Lisbon
Solid British curriculum with credible A-Level outcomes despite smaller cohort. Cascais location, family-friendly. Often the right value-tier choice for British-bound families.
Lycée Français Charles Lepierre
The Lycée Français of Lisbon. Pure French curriculum (Brevet, Baccalauréat). Materially lower fees than British or American competition. Strong for francophone families and those wanting bilingual French-Portuguese outcomes.
What didn't make the top 10
Greene's College Oxford Lisbon, St Dominic's International School, Sao Joao de Brito (Portuguese-American bilingual). Several newer schools opened post-2022 that warrant consideration once they have a 2 to 3 year track record.
Fees and 2026 to 2028 outlook
Lisbon fees are rising 11.8% in 2026, the second-fastest in our 50-city dataset. Tier 1 schools have 18-month waitlists for popular year groups. Two new schools opening in 2027 to 2028 will moderate the squeeze; until then expect tight admissions. See our 2026 fee report for the full city comparison.
Neighbourhoods
- Cascais and Estoril: St Julian's, Park, BSL, ISMA. Beach-adjacent, family-friendly, premium housing.
- Sintra (Linhó): CAISL, TASIS. Quieter, more space, school bus to Cascais families.
- Oeiras / Carcavelos: Oeiras International, St Julian's. Middle-ground, easier commute to Lisbon CBD.
- Restelo / Belém / central Lisbon: Astoria, Lisboan, Lycée Français. Urban, cultural, strong public transport.
Free download
Our Lisbon family handbook covers post-NHR planning, school comparisons, and neighbourhood logistics. Part of our city handbook collection.