CAISL Pre-K and Kindergarten is where the longest established American school in the region begins, and a natural first option to weigh against the early years settings on our Lisbon city hub. It takes children in pre kindergarten and kindergarten on the Carlucci campus at Linho, between Sintra and Cascais, the same site that runs all the way to grade 12. For families moving with very young children, the draw is the long runway: a child who starts here can keep the same school, the same campus and the same community through to a senior American or IB pathway.
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At a glance
Curriculum and academics
The early years follow an American style programme delivered in English, built around play, language and the social foundations that prepare a child for structured learning in the elementary grades. Because pre kindergarten and kindergarten sit inside an authorised IB World School, the youngest children learn within an institution shaped by the same standards that carry through to the senior IB Diploma, even though the formal Diploma is many years away.
What sets the early years apart at a school like this is continuity. A child who enters in pre kindergarten progresses through elementary, middle and high school on one campus toward the American High School Diploma, Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma, without the disruption of changing schools as they grow. Families thinking ahead to where the early years eventually lead can read our IB curriculum guide to understand the senior Diploma at the far end of the pathway their child would be joining.
Planning early years costs in Lisbon?
Model tuition, registration fees and the extras of an early years place with our free fee calculator.
CAISL Pre-K and Kindergarten fees
The early years carry the lowest tuition in the school, as they do at most through schools, though as part of an upper tier international school they still sit toward the higher end of the Lisbon market for the age group. The school publishes a current fee schedule by grade, so treat any figure as one that changes each academic year and confirm the latest pre kindergarten and kindergarten rates directly, then compare them with the bands in our Lisbon international school fees guide to see where the early years fall against the rest of the city.
Budget beyond tuition. Expect a registration or application fee and a deposit to secure a place, and factor in the school bus network across Cascais, Estoril, Lisbon and the surrounding areas, which matters even for the youngest children given the Linho location. Lunch and activities add to the annual bill. Ask how fees are staged across the year, whether early years hours are full or part day, and use our fee tools to model the full cost before you commit.
Admissions
The early years admit for an August or September start and review applications throughout the year subject to space, which suits families who arrive in Lisbon at any point. Entry for the youngest children rests on age and readiness rather than a formal assessment, with a meeting or visit so the school and the family can judge whether the setting suits the child.
Pre kindergarten and kindergarten are a popular entry point because they are the natural way into a school that is hard to join higher up, so waiting lists can form. Families planning a move should apply early, ask directly about availability in the early years, and confirm the cut off dates the school uses to decide which grade a young child enters.
Location and who goes there
The early years share the Carlucci campus at Linho, between Sintra and Cascais, to the west of central Lisbon. The bus network across Cascais, Estoril, Lisbon and the surrounding areas brings the youngest children in from across the coastal belt and the city, so the pre kindergarten and kindergarten community is drawn from a wide area rather than only the villages near the campus.
The intake is broadly international from the start, reflecting the school's history as the State Department sponsored institution, with American, Portuguese, Brazilian, Chinese and many other families among the youngest grades. For the wider picture of who settles where across the region and which neighbourhoods feed the school, see the Lisbon city hub.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are CAISL Pre-K and Kindergarten fees?
The early years carry the lowest tuition in the school, though as part of an upper tier international school they still sit toward the higher end of the Lisbon market. The school publishes a current fee schedule by grade, so confirm the latest pre kindergarten and kindergarten figures and budget for a registration fee, deposit and the bus network on top of tuition.
What ages does CAISL Pre-K and Kindergarten take?
Pre kindergarten and kindergarten are the youngest grades in a school that runs to grade 12, taking children in the early years before they move up into the elementary grades on the same Linho campus.
Is CAISL Pre-K and Kindergarten a good school?
The early years belong to Carlucci American International School of Lisbon, the oldest American school in the Iberian Peninsula and an authorised IB World School, so children join at the start of a continuous pathway that runs to an American Diploma and the IB Diploma. Whether it fits depends on your child and your destination. We do not publish a rating without verified reviews.
Where is CAISL Pre-K and Kindergarten located?
It is on the Carlucci campus at Linho, between Sintra and Cascais, to the west of central Lisbon, served by the school bus network covering Cascais, Estoril, Lisbon and the surrounding areas.
When do CAISL Pre-K and Kindergarten applications open?
The early years admit for an August or September start and review applications year round subject to space. The youngest grades are a popular entry point, so families planning a move should apply early and ask about availability and waiting lists.
