The International Montessori School of Lisbon, which operates as Lisbon Montessori School, is the dedicated AMI Montessori option on our Lisbon city hub. It educates children from about two and a half to twelve in a bilingual English and Portuguese setting, with each classroom led by a guide who holds a diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale alongside a Portuguese speaking assistant. That faithful, AMI aligned approach distinguishes it from the many nurseries that borrow the Montessori name without the training behind it.
This is an independent reference page. GlobalSchoolGuide takes no payment from schools, so the school appears here on merit alone. We researched the detail below from the school and public sources when writing, and we describe anything we could not confirm, including a precise founding year, in qualitative terms rather than inventing a figure.
At a glance
Curriculum and academics
The school delivers an authentic Montessori programme across the recognised planes of development: a toddler stage from around two and a half, the Casa or Children's House for ages three to six, and Elementary divided into six to nine and nine to twelve. Mixed age classrooms, long uninterrupted work periods and the full set of Montessori materials are led by AMI trained guides, with a Portuguese speaking assistant supporting the bilingual environment so that children grow up genuinely working in two languages.
What makes this school stand out is the AMI alignment and the Middle States accreditation it secured, which together signal a programme held to an external standard rather than a loose interpretation of the method. It suits families who want continuity through the primary years in a true Montessori setting. Because the school runs to age twelve, parents should plan the next step for the secondary phase, and our Lisbon Montessori schools hub sets out how the local options connect.
Plan the full cost of a Montessori place
Use our fee calculator to model tuition plus enrolment, lunch and the extras for a Montessori place across the Lisbon and Cascais market.
International Montessori School of Lisbon fees
The school does not publish its tuition as a single headline figure, so we will not invent one. Montessori places in the Lisbon and Cascais area generally fall within the mid and bilingual privado bands described in our Lisbon international school fees guide rather than at the premium international level, but fees vary by programme and age, so request the current schedule from the school directly and confirm what each stage costs.
Budget for the usual extras alongside tuition. Expect an enrolment or registration charge and a deposit to hold a place, and account for lunch, materials and occasional outings. Transport in the Lisbon and Cascais area is typically a family arrangement rather than a school bus network at a school of this size. Use our fee tools to model the full annual cost before you commit.
Admissions
Admission centres on a September start aligned to the school year, with the toddler and Casa stages the natural entry points where children settle into the Montessori environment most readily. Places in the youngest classes are limited and sought after, so families planning a move should enquire early and ask about availability in the relevant stage.
Entry usually involves a visit and a conversation with the family rather than formal testing, in keeping with the Montessori approach, so that the school and the parents can judge the fit. Families coming from a conventional system should ask how a child new to Montessori is settled into a mixed age class, and confirm what the school needs to enrol.
Location and who goes there
The school serves the Lisbon and Cascais area on the western, coastal side of the city, where a large share of international families have settled. Its setting and bilingual English and Portuguese environment make it a practical choice for families on the coast who want a genuine Montessori education rather than a mainstream English medium school.
The community is international and bilingual, drawn to the AMI standard and the continuity from toddler to the end of the elementary years. To see how it sits beside the other Montessori and mainstream options and where families cluster across the city, start from the Lisbon city hub and the Lisbon Montessori schools hub.
Reviews
We do not yet have verified parent reviews for this school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish reviews only once we can confirm they come from real families. If your child attends or has attended this school, we would value your first hand account. Share your experience through the school reviews hub and help the next relocating family decide with better information.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the International Montessori School of Lisbon cost?
The school does not publish a single headline tuition figure, so request the current schedule directly. Montessori places in the Lisbon and Cascais area generally fall within the mid and bilingual privado bands rather than the premium international level, with an enrolment charge, deposit, lunch and materials on top.
Is the International Montessori School of Lisbon a real Montessori school?
Yes. It is an AMI aligned school where each class is led by a guide holding an Association Montessori Internationale diploma, and it holds Middle States Association accreditation, which distinguishes it from nurseries that use the Montessori name without the training.
What ages does the school take?
It runs from a toddler stage at around two and a half through the Casa years for ages three to six and Elementary for ages six to nine and nine to twelve, ending at about age twelve.
What language is the school taught in?
It is bilingual, with English as the main medium of instruction and Portuguese speaking assistants in each classroom, so children grow up working in both languages.
Where is the International Montessori School of Lisbon located?
It serves the Lisbon and Cascais area on the western, coastal side of the city, where many international families live.
