St. John's is the long established American leaning option among the international schools in Brussels, and a school that families moving from the United States or between international postings shortlist early. It opened in 1964 and has grown into a full age 1 to 18 community in Waterloo, just south of the capital. What marks it out is the range of qualifications under one roof: it is an authorised IB World School yet also offers Advanced Placement and a United States high school diploma, a combination almost no other school in Belgium provides. It features in our roundup of the best American schools in Brussels for exactly that reason.
St. John's International School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes; Advanced Placement and a United States high school diploma |
|---|---|
| Stages | Early years through to the final year before university, ages roughly 1 to 18 |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School; accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Middle States Association |
| Boarding | Available in the senior years, with full, weekly and flexible plans |
| Fee band | Premium for Brussels |
| Campus area | Waterloo, southern edge of the Brussels area |
Curriculum and academics
The academic structure is built around the IB continuum. Younger children follow the Primary Years Programme, the middle years move through the Middle Years Programme, and the school is an authorised provider of the IB Diploma in the final two years. Where St. John's differs from most IB schools is that it pairs that route with an American programme, preparing students for Advanced Placement courses and a United States high school diploma. Few schools in Belgium offer the Diploma, Advanced Placement and a US diploma side by side, and that breadth is the reason American families and those expecting to apply to universities in the United States often place it at the top of their list.
That flexibility matters for a mobile community. A child arriving mid school from an American system can continue towards familiar credits and Advanced Placement, while one heading into a European or global path can take the full Diploma. Teaching is in English, with French and other languages taught throughout, and the school is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Middle States Association, the two bodies international and American schools are most often measured against. Confirm the current Advanced Placement and Diploma subject lists in the school's high school guide, since the combinations on offer shape which route fits your child.
Compare St. John's with other Brussels schools
Put St. John's next to up to two more schools to see curriculum, stages and fee band side by side before you shortlist.
St. John's International School fees
St. John's International School fees sit at the premium end of the Brussels international school fees range, which reflects the all through provision, the dual qualification pathways and the boarding option. Tuition rises by year group from the early years to the senior school, and the upper years carry the highest charges, so ask for the schedule covering your child's stage rather than working from a single headline figure.
Beyond tuition, plan for a registration or application fee, a deposit, lunch, the school bus and examination entries in the upper years, plus boarding fees if your family uses them. Boarding is charged separately from day tuition and varies with the full, weekly or flexible plan chosen. Ask the admissions office which charges are one time and which recur each year, and whether sibling or corporate arrangements apply, so the first year holds no surprises.
Admissions
The main intake is in late August at the start of the academic year, with mid year places offered where a year group has room, a regular occurrence given the movement of diplomatic, NATO and corporate families through Brussels. The school reviews previous reports, assesses readiness and considers English language level, and it can usually place a child arriving from an American or international school into the matching year. An application or registration fee applies, and a place is confirmed once the enrolment steps are complete.
Families joining for the Diploma, Advanced Placement or the boarding programme should apply earlier and share full records, since subjects already taken shape what is possible in the final years. Popular year groups can carry waiting lists, so register as soon as a move to Brussels is confirmed and ask the admissions team about availability and any assessment for your child's stage.
Location and who goes there
St. John's occupies a green campus in Waterloo, on the southern edge of the Brussels area, around half an hour by car from the city centre. The setting places it within easy reach of the southern residential belt and the towns south of the capital, and the school runs a bus network across the surrounding municipalities. The boarding houses widen the catchment further, drawing families who are between postings or who want continuity while a wider relocation settles.
The community is broadly international, with American families forming a large group alongside dozens of other nationalities from the European institutions, NATO and the corporate sector. Families tend to live in Waterloo itself, in Rhode Saint Genese and the southern communes, and in the leafy parts of Uccle closer to the city. For how the southern suburbs compare with the eastern belt around Tervuren and the central districts, the Brussels city hub sets out the neighbourhoods and their school options.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does St. John's International School follow?
St. John's is an authorised IB World School running the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes from age 3. Alongside the IB Diploma it also prepares students for Advanced Placement and a United States high school diploma, which is rare in Belgium and suits families moving between American and international systems.
How much are St. John's International School fees?
St. John's sits at the premium end of the Brussels range. Tuition rises by year group, with a registration fee, deposit and extras such as lunch, the bus and boarding on top for those who use them. Confirm the current schedule with the school before budgeting.
Is St. John's International School a good school?
It is one of the oldest international schools in Belgium, an authorised IB World School accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Middle States Association, and unusual in offering the IB Diploma, Advanced Placement and a US diploma together. We do not publish a star rating without verified parent reviews, so we describe its programme and standing rather than score it.
When do St. John's International School applications open?
The main intake is at the start of the academic year in late August, with mid year places where a year group has room. The school reviews previous reports and assesses readiness and English level, so apply early and send full records.
Does St. John's International School offer boarding?
Yes. St. John's offers boarding in the senior years, with full, weekly and flexible options, which is uncommon among IB schools in Belgium and suits families who travel or who are placing a child ahead of a wider relocation.
Where is St. John's International School?
The campus is in Waterloo, on the southern edge of the Brussels area, around half an hour by car from the city centre and within easy reach of the southern residential belt where many international families live.
