Kids

How to choose a school in Luxembourg

Choosing a school is, to say the least, a non-trivial task. Especially in Luxembourg. There are hundreds of them here, there are international, private, state schools, schools with non-standard teaching methods, and national schools. In this article we will understand what schools there are, why you need them and where you should enroll your child depending on your preferences.

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Due to the diversity of the Luxembourg educational system and the country's cultural particularities, choosing the right school for your children is not as easy as it may seem and requires careful selection. Luxembourg offers a wide variety of school options, each tailored to different languages, academic programs, and needs.

Since Luxembourg is trilingual (Luxembourgish, German, and French), many schools integrate these languages into their curriculum, which can be a challenge or an advantage depending on the family. In addition, not all schools accept students without entrance exams, which requires advance planning.

Among the types of schools available are:

Public schools: free and offer multilingual programs.
Private schools: with varied curricula, but with associated costs.
European schools: oriented to children of employees of European institutions.
International schools: with curricula such as the IB or the British system.
Alternative schools: based on pedagogies such as Montessori.

With so many options, the choice process deserves careful analysis.

How to choose a school?

Picking a school in Luxembourg can be a complex process due to the diversity of options available and it is always important to consider both the needs of the child and the expectations of the parents. An informed decision should be based on the following criteria:

Language of instruction

The Luxembourg public system is trilingual (Luxembourgish, German and French), while international schools may offer classes in English or other languages. Consideration should be given to the child's language skills and future goals.

Academic curriculum

It is necessary to evaluate which curriculum best aligns with the child's and parents' goals: national, European, international (IB), British, French or others.

Pedagogical methodology

Some schools follow traditional approaches, while others opt for alternative pedagogies such as Montessori or Waldorf, which privilege autonomous and practical learning.

Location and transportation

It is necessary to consider the proximity of the school to your home or work and the transportation options available.

Costs

Public schools are free, while private and international schools imply costs that vary considerably.

Reputation and results

It is necessary to investigate the school's grades, the comments of other parents and the academic achievements of its students.

Extracurricular activities

Some schools offer sports, music and other programs that promote the student's overall development.

Admission requirements

Check if the school requires entrance exams or other criteria that may affect enrolment.

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To make things a little easier for you, we have summarized some of the most relevant information about the schools we have mentioned in the article in the following table. However, this is only a starting point; you need to go deeper and look for more detailed information about the schools that most catch your attention.

School	Curriculum	Languages	Ages	Diploma	Fees (€/year)
Ecole Française de Luxembourg	French national curriculum	French	3-18	French Baccalaureate	~5,000
St. George's International School	British curriculum (GCSE, A-levels)	English, French	3-18	GCSE, A-levels	12,210–16,650
Ecole privée Notre-Dame Sainte-Sophie	French and Luxembourgish curricula	French, German (from early years), English (primary onwards)	4-19	French Baccalaureate, Luxembourgish Diploma (secondary general)	3,681
International School of Luxembourg (ISL)	International Baccalaureate (IB) and ISL Diploma	English, French, German	3-18	IB Diploma, ISL Diploma	19,805–23,446
Ecole Maria Montessori	Montessori curriculum	French, German	3-12	None	8,500
Waldorf School	Waldorf curriculum, International Baccalaureate	Luxembourgish (preschool), German (primary), French (secondary)	4-18	IB Diploma	Not available on their website; contact the school directly.
Over the Rainbow	International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum	English, French	3-18	IB Diploma	11,687–15,700
Ecole Charlemagne	French national curriculum	French	3-18	French Baccalaureate	~3,800
Ecole Européenne I Kirchberg	European Schools curriculum	English, French, German + other EU languages	4-18	European Baccalaureate	Free for EU staff; fees for others range from 4,113 to 14,496
Ecole Européenne II Mamer	European Schools curriculum	English, French, German + other EU languages	4-18	European Baccalaureate	Free for EU staff; fees for others range from 4,113 to 14,496
Athénée de Luxembourg	Luxembourgish secondary curriculum and IB Diploma option	English	12-19	Luxembourgish Diploma/IB Diploma	Free

Luxembourg public schools

In Luxembourg, schooling begins at the age of 4. We have already published an article in the guide on how the education system works in Luxembourg.

According to Grand Duchy law, any child of school age is entitled to an education. It does not matter what gender, race, religion, ancestry, or parental similar statuses they have.

Education from 4 to 6 years of age is handled by Mairie

You have to apply to your place of residence and wait for the approval.

Children from 6 to 11 years old are assigned to schools by the municipality

Children from 6 to 11 years old are assigned to schools by the municipality. The municipality considers the application and notifies the schools of the new student. The municipality determines where to place the child based on the school report card from last year and the certificate.

Students older than 12 years old should contact CASNA

CASNA — Services for Newly Arrived Students. They will be able to help you find a class that matches your grades, language skills, and other criteria.

As you can see, public education is easy. Municipalities are interested in new students, and they take care of issues that occur.

Pros and cons

You don't have to worry about choosing.

Most of the questions will be taken over by the municipality.

The child will get a good education.

The child will speak three or four languages.

Strict monitoring of progress.

It is possible to stay for a second year (and more than once).

A class for a child is chosen based on his or her grades. Wishes are not taken into account.

Private schools in Luxembourg

It's more complicated with private schools. They are covered by the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. But enrollment, curriculum, and internal rules are determined independently.

Private schooling can be difficult, for example, due to a lack of knowledge of the language. It is therefore extremely important to take a closer look not only at the teaching staff but also at the requirements of the particular institution: in some places the classes may be taught in German, in others – in French.

Middle school education in Luxembourg is divided into several stages. Schooling is the education of children up to the age of 11. Further, there are lyceums and specialized institutions.

There is a quantity of private schools, nevertheless, detailed information on each is available online:

Ecole Française de Luxembourg (Study language – French).
St.George International school (Study language – English).
Ecole privée Notre-Dame Sainte-Sophie (Study language – French).
International School (Study language – English).
Ecole Maria Montessori (Study languages – French and German).
Waldorf School (Study languages – Luxembourgish and German).
Over the Rainbow (Study languages – French and English).
Ecole Charlemagne (Study language – French).

Most private schools also offer education for children over the age of 11. Choose the one that suits you best in terms of conditions, location, price, and considering your child's wishes.

Pros and cons

The class and the direction are chosen by parents and students.

Education is regulated at the state level.

It can be expensive.

The program and conditions of education should be looked up in advance.

When studying in a specific language, there is no guarantee that the child will be fluent in one of the national languages of Luxembourg.

European schools in Luxembourg

Ecole Européenne I Kirchberg and Ecole Européenne II Mamer — are two European schools of the Grand Duchy. They are considered private, but preference is always given to children of EU civil servants, such as children of diplomats.

There are language sections for almost all EU countries. Usually, the children of secondees go to the schooling department that corresponds to their native language.

Pros and cons

Perfect for educating children while parents are on a long-term business trip or on a diplomatic mission.

A great opportunity to receive an education in the native language.

A strict priority-based system.

Hard to enroll if the parents are not working for the EU state authorities.

Courses in native languages do not imply learning the national languages of Luxembourg.

International schools in Luxembourg

There are many international schools in the European Union. The Grand Duchy territory is no exception. Multicultural environment and international diploma — are the main advantages of such type of education facilities.

It is better to apply in advance to these schools because there are internal waiting lists. However, it may be possible to get a place even in the middle of the year.

Many private schools are partly international. Don't forget to check the diploma format when you apply.

A few examples of international schools:

Athénée de Luxembourg offers a classic middle school education, international classes, and summer school.
International School of Luxembourg is a full-cycle school for children ages 3 to 18. Includes optional preschool (1 year).

Pros and cons

Complete school education.

International bachelor's degree (IB).

Classic and international curriculum.

Usually, the cost is high.

There is no guarantee of learning all the languages spoken in Luxembourg.

The school monitoring of the progress is only available in the IB program.