Selecting a school in Portugal may seem like the most stressful aspect of moving with children. Online resources seldom reveal what life is actually like day to day, and each family has its own priorities. This guide emphasizes practical considerations and a straightforward decision method — particularly for families preparing to relocate to Lisbon.
First: Clarify What “Good” Means for Your Family
Before you compare schools, establish your nonnegotiables. Many missteps come from evaluating everything at once without a clear set of priorities.
- Commute: the amount of daily drive time matters more than you might expect.
- Curriculum: options include British / American / IB / local programs.
- Language environment: what your child is exposed to throughout the day.
- Support: learning assistance, ESL help, pastoral care.
- Culture fit: the school's structure, discipline, and communication style.
How to Decide Without Feeling Overwhelmed
A practical method that suits expatriate families well:
A straightforward process
- Shortlist by location first. In Lisbon, traffic can turn a decent school into a daily challenge.
- Confirm availability and admissions timeline. Waiting lists are common.
- Ask about the classroom reality. Class sizes, teacher turnover, communication style.
- Ask about support. ESL / learning support / transition support for new students.
- Do one visit (or virtual tour) per finalist. Trust your observations more than glossy brochures.
Pro tip: Create a concise one-page checklist and rate each school after visiting. It helps avoid the “everything feels identical” issue.
Questions Worth Asking Schools
These questions tend to uncover more than generic “tell us about your program” discussions:
- What is the usual class size for this age group?
- How do you integrate new students who join mid-year?
- How do teachers keep parents informed (weekly updates, apps, email)?
- What does a typical day look like (start/end times, breaks, homework expectations)?
- How do you support children who are anxious or adapting to a new country?
- What is your policy on language support (ESL) if required?
- How is heat managed and time spent indoors/outdoors during warmer months?
Costs & Logistics (The Part Nobody Enjoys)
Choosing a school isn’t just about tuition. Consider the total ongoing cost of the daily routine:
Common Pitfalls (And How to Steer Clear of Them)
- Relying on reputation alone: the day-to-day schedule matters more.
- Overlooking commute time: it impacts sleep, mood, and family life.
- Assuming “international” means the same everywhere: it doesn't.
- Not asking about support: transitions are real for children.
- Delaying too long: admission timelines can be tighter than expected.
Key Takeaway
The ideal school is typically the one that aligns with your family's actual schedule: its location, the level of support, and everyday comfort for your child—not the option with the most attention-grabbing advertising.
If you’d like help sorting priorities for Lisbon (commute, routines, questions to ask), get in touch — or call +351 912 345 678.