Carlucci American International School of Lisbon is the senior name in American education in Portugal and one of the anchor schools on our Lisbon city hub. Founded in 1956, it is the oldest American school in the Iberian Peninsula and the only United States State Department sponsored school in the country, which gives it a deep institutional history that the newer arrivals on the Cascais coast cannot match. It runs from pre kindergarten to grade 12 on a purpose built campus at Linho, between Sintra and Cascais, and offers a dual route at the top: the American High School Diploma alongside the IB Diploma and Advanced Placement.
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At a glance
Curriculum and academics
The spine of the school is an American curriculum that runs from the early years to a US style High School Diploma, distinguished by a strong Advanced Placement programme that lets able students take college level courses before they leave. Layered on top is the IB Diploma, which CAISL is authorised to deliver as an IB World School, so students in the final two years can graduate with the American Diploma, the IB Diploma, or a combination of the two. That dual track is the school's defining academic feature and the reason it appears in our best IB schools in Lisbon guide.
The mix suits families pointing in different directions. The American Diploma and AP route reads naturally to universities in the United States, while the IB Diploma carries weight with universities across Europe and beyond, and having both under one roof lets a family keep options open as a move settles. Parents weighing the IB against the American pathway can read our IB curriculum guide to understand how the Diploma's six subjects, extended essay and core compare with an AP heavy American transcript before deciding which fits their child.
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CAISL fees
As one of the largest and longest established international schools in the region, CAISL sits in the upper part of the Lisbon market. Tuition rises by stage from pre kindergarten through to grade 12, with the highest rate in the IB Diploma years where the programme is most resource intensive. The school publishes a current fee schedule by grade, so treat any figure as one that changes each academic year and confirm the latest directly, then place it against the bands in our Lisbon international school fees guide to see how it compares with the rest of the city.
Budget well beyond tuition. Expect a registration or application fee and a deposit to hold a place, and factor in the school's extensive bus network, which covers Cascais, Estoril, Lisbon and the surrounding areas and is a real cost given the Linho location. In the IB years, examination entry fees are charged on top, and lunch, trips and activities add to the annual bill. Ask how fees are staged across the year and use our fee tools to model the full cost before you commit.
Admissions
CAISL admits for an August or September start and reviews applications throughout the year subject to space, which suits the diplomatic and corporate families who move on their own timetables. Entry usually involves prior school records and, for older students, an assessment to place them correctly and to confirm readiness for the American or IB pathway in the senior years.
Demand for the most popular grades runs high at a school of this size and reputation, so waiting lists can form in over subscribed year groups. Families planning a move should apply early, ask directly about availability in their child's grade, and confirm what the school needs for the IB Diploma years if their child is approaching the senior phase.
Location and who goes there
The campus is at Linho, between Sintra and Cascais, on a purpose built site to the west of central Lisbon that opened in the late 1990s. The location places it within reach of the coastal belt where many international families live, and the school runs an extensive bus network across Cascais, Estoril, Lisbon and the surrounding areas to bridge the distance, which widens its practical catchment well beyond the immediate neighbourhood.
The community is genuinely international, drawing American, Portuguese, Brazilian, Chinese and many other nationalities, a spread that reflects its history as the State Department sponsored school and its dual American and IB offer. For the wider picture of who settles where across the region and how CAISL compares with the other internationals, see the Lisbon city hub and the Lisbon IB schools guide.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are CAISL fees?
As one of the largest and longest established international schools in the Lisbon area, CAISL sits in the upper part of the local fee range, with tuition rising by stage and the highest rate in the IB Diploma years. The school publishes a current fee schedule, so confirm the latest figures and budget for a registration fee, deposit and extras such as the bus network and examination entry on top of tuition.
Is CAISL a good school?
CAISL is the oldest American school in the Iberian Peninsula, founded in 1956, the only United States State Department sponsored school in Portugal, and an authorised IB World School offering the American Diploma, IB Diploma and Advanced Placement. That dual American and IB pathway suits families heading toward universities in the United States or internationally. Whether it fits depends on your child and your destination. We do not publish a rating without verified reviews.
What curriculum does CAISL follow?
CAISL teaches an American curriculum leading to the American High School Diploma, with a strong Advanced Placement programme, and is an authorised IB World School offering the IB Diploma in the final two years. Students can graduate with the American Diploma, the IB Diploma, or both.
Where is CAISL located?
The school is on a purpose built campus at Linho, between Sintra and Cascais, to the west of central Lisbon. It runs an extensive bus network covering Cascais, Estoril, Lisbon and the surrounding areas.
When do CAISL applications open?
The school admits for an August or September start and reviews applications year round subject to space. Demand for the most popular year groups is high, so families planning a move should apply early and ask about waiting lists for their child's grade.
