Carlucci American International School of Lisbon

What Carlucci American International School of Lisbon does

Carlucci American International School of Lisbon (CAISL) is a private, non-profit international school serving approximately 755 students aged 3 through Grade 12 on a single purpose-built campus in Linhó, Sintra, Portugal. It is the only American international school in Portugal recognized by the U.S. Department of State and operates under a permanent license from the Portuguese Ministry of Education (granted 2003). The school is governed by the Fundação Escola Americana de Lisboa (FEAL), a non-profit foundation whose Board of Trustees is appointed by the U.S. Embassy to Portugal and Visteon Portuguesa, with all income reinvested into the educational program.

CAISL delivers an American curriculum with an optional IB Diploma pathway, enabling students to graduate with either the American High School Diploma or both credentials. The school is MSA-accredited through July 2029 with a Program of Distinction in Art and Music, and has been an IB World School since 2000. Academic outcomes are strong: a 100% IB Diploma pass rate with an average IB score of 34 (vs. global average of 30.8) and average SAT composite of 1267 (vs. world average of 1029). The student body represents 62 nationalities; about 32% of students hold American nationality, 19% Portuguese, and the remainder from other countries.

Revenue is generated primarily through tiered annual tuition (ranging from EUR 12,128 for Early Childhood/Kindergarten to EUR 23,532 for Grades 9-12), supplemented by a one-time EUR 600 registration fee, an annual EUR 1,953 building fee (first five years), and optional auxiliary services (lunch, transportation up to EUR 3,632/year, after-hours care up to EUR 1,200/year). The school employs approximately 90 educators and operates a sales-led, event-driven admissions process through its website, on-campus visits, referrals, and recruitment events. The technology stack includes a 1:1 laptop program (HP devices), VR tools (Meta Quest 3), 3D printers, robotics platforms, and a library with over 40,000 volumes complemented by digital resources (Sora, Discovery Education, BrainPOP, Mathletics, etc.).

Name

Carlucci American International School of Lisbon

Legal name

Carlucci American International School of Lisbon

Website

https://caislisbon.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CAISL is a non-profit American international school in Sintra, Portugal, serving 755 students aged 3-18 from 62 nationalities, offering the American High School Diploma and IB Diploma pathway as the only U.S. State Department-recognized American school in Portugal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAG

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDACADAK

International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Learning Academies & Montessori/Reggio/Steiner Programs

Keywords

• American international education
• IB Diploma Program
• K-12 private schooling
• College preparatory curriculum
• International school Portugal

Headquarters

HQ city

Sintra (Linhó)

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Annual tuition fees charged to families for student enrollment. Tuition varies by grade level, with higher fees for upper grades. Payment options include quarterly or annual billing. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Registration Fee: One-time 600 EUR fee charged when a student first applies and enrolls.
3. Building Fee: Annual building fee of 1,953 EUR payable for the first five years a student attends, beginning in Grade 1.
4. Auxiliary Services: Optional fees for lunch (included for EC-K, 1,212 EUR/year for Grades 1-12), transportation (up to 3,632 EUR/year for round-trip), and after-hours care (up to 1,200 EUR/year).
5. Application Fee: 100 EUR non-refundable application fee required to process enrollment applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CAISL delivers an American international education from Early Childhood through Grade 12, awarding both the American High School Diploma and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma to secondary graduates. The school's academic program is augmented by athletics, fine arts, learning support, English as an Additional Language (EAL), enrichment services, and post-secondary counseling, all delivered on a single purpose-built campus in Sintra, Portugal.

Product overview

Carlucci American International School of Lisbon is a private international school serving students from ages 3 through Grade 12. The institution offers a comprehensive American international education program comprising Early Childhood (EC3-5), Elementary (Grades 1-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8), and High School (Grades 9-12). Students graduate with the American High School Diploma and may simultaneously pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The school provides dual diploma pathways recognized by universities worldwide. Beyond academics, the school offers athletics (soccer, basketball, volleyball, track-and-field), fine arts (music, visual arts, theater with a 400-seat auditorium), and extensive co-curricular activities. Support services include learning support, English as an Additional Language (EAL) instruction, enrichment programs, counseling, college counseling, and a testing center for SAT/ACT/AP exams. The campus features technology-integrated classrooms, libraries with over 40,000 books, science labs, and outdoor athletic facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood Program (EC3, EC4, Kindergarten) Early childhood education program serving children ages 3-5, focusing on socialization, language acquisition, and early academic skills through play and exploration. Classes max 20 students with two homeroom teachers.
• Elementary School Program (Grades 1-5) Elementary education program for children ages 6-10, featuring a homeroom teacher model with specialist instruction in Portuguese, PE, arts, and technology across Grades 1-5. Class size max 20 students.
• Middle School Program (Grades 6-8) Middle school program for children ages 11-13, featuring eight core subjects (Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies, Portuguese, Physical Education) plus two elective courses and advisory-based support.
• High School Program (Grades 9-12) High school program for students ages 14-18, offering the American High School Diploma with optional International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma pathway, college counseling, and VS Learning online courses.
• American High School Diploma Standard American secondary school diploma assessed on a 4.33 GPA scale, enabling graduates to pursue university studies in the USA and worldwide.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program Two-year pre-university program (Grades 11-12) requiring study in six subject areas plus Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and CAS; scored out of 45 points and recognized by universities worldwide.
• Testing Center Services Official test center administering SAT, ACT, and AP exams for college-bound students; also provides score validation services for Portuguese university applications.
• Learning Support Services Academic support services for students with mild learning difficulties, including small group instruction, progress monitoring, formal accommodations, executive functioning support, and literacy support.
• English as an Additional Language (EAL) Program Language support program providing small-group instruction, scaffolding, immersion strategies, and ongoing monitoring to build English language confidence for academic success.
• Enrichment and Extension Program Program focusing on deepening learning through differentiated experiences, designed to challenge students and extend abilities while maintaining engagement.
• Student Counseling and Wellbeing Services Comprehensive counseling program supporting students' personal, social, academic, and global development from Early Childhood through Grade 12.
• Post-Secondary Counseling Program University counseling service following a best-fit approach, supporting student-driven and parent-informed decisions through one-on-one meetings, group sessions, and university visits.
• Athletics Program Athletic program featuring outdoor soccer fields, multi-purpose fields, basketball courts, track-and-field facilities, gymnasium (configurable for basketball/volleyball), and fitness room.
• Fine Arts Program Arts program including dedicated music rooms, visual arts facilities, and a 400-seat theater for performances; students participate in choir, orchestra, drama, and visual arts.
• After-School Activities Program After-school program offering clubs and sports activities, with secondary teachers providing weekly office hours and library access until 5:00pm.
• Summer School Program Summer session providing continued learning opportunities and activities for enrolled students during school breaks.
• CAISL Store School store selling CAISL branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, hats), accessories (bags, water bottles, umbrellas), and school supplies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% IB pass rate vs 82.60% global average
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration23 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Fundação Escola Americana de Lisboa (FEAL)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1956FEAL is the governing foundation of CAISL, established in 1995 to oversee the school's governance and long-term direction. The Board of Trustees (three members: two appointed by US Embassy to Portugal and one by Visteon Portuguesa) establishes school policy and oversees the school's strategic direction while delegating day-to-day operations to school leadership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St. Julian's School: British international school located in Carcavelos near Lisbon, serving expatriate and Portuguese families across Early Years through Secondary. Directly comparable as a premium international school competing for the same Lisbon international family segment with a different national curriculum.
• Deutsche Schule Lissabon: German international school in the Lisbon area offering the German Abitur alongside Portuguese recognition. Comparable as a national-curriculum international school serving Lisbon's expatriate community.
• Lycée Français Charles Lepierre: French international school in Lisbon delivering the French curriculum to Portuguese and international families. Comparable as a Lisbon-based international school offering a national curriculum plus the French Baccalauréat.
• American School of Paris: American international school in the Paris region offering an American curriculum and IB Diploma to a multinational student body. Highly comparable as an American-track international school in Europe with similar accreditations and dual-diploma positioning.
• American International School of Vienna: American international school in Vienna offering American curriculum and IB Diploma to a diverse expatriate community. Comparable as an American-track international school in continental Europe serving U.S., local, and third-country nationals.
• International School of Brussels: Large international school in Brussels offering multiple curricula including IB programmes. Comparable as a European international school serving a multinational community and competing for internationally mobile families.
• American School of Barcelona: American international school near Barcelona delivering an American curriculum with IB Diploma pathway. Comparable as an American-track international school in southern Europe targeting expatriate and Spanish families.

Regional players

• Oporto British School: British international school in Porto offering the English national curriculum and IB Diploma. Comparable as a Portuguese international school with IB authorization, but operating in a different city.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carlucci American International School of Lisbon