Due to the International nature of CAISL, students who meet requirements will be admitted during the school year. To facilitate your child's adaptation to CAISL, you may wish to schedule an extended tour of the school and/or an 'experimental day' prior to the first full day of class. Contact the school or admissions@caislisbon.org to schedule these visits.

Admission to CAISL is based on the following criteria:

I. Academic Standards: Students will be admitted only when their previous records and screening indicate a high likelihood that they can successfully complete the requirements of the division of the school for which they are requesting admission (Elementary EC3-Grade 5, Middle School Grades 6-8, or High School Grades 9-12).

NOTE: Admission into one division does not ensure promotion to subsequent divisions. (i.e. Admission to the Middle School does not guarantee subsequent promotion to the High School.)

II. The following records must be supplied prior to admission:

A. Official school transcripts for a minimum of the past three years.
B. Health, physical examination, and immunization records from a physician dated no earlier than six months prior to the first day of school.
C. Copies of educational-psychological testing and/or Individual educational plans, if such exist.

Unofficial records (such as parent copies of report cards) are acceptable for initial review but official transcripts must be provided within 30 days of enrollment. Admission and placement in grades or classes are provisional until the official transcripts are received. Falsification or concealment of records may result in the student’s being required to withdraw from school.

III. School Capacity and Class Size. Admission will be granted according to limits which ensure that standards of excellence will be maintained.

IV. English Fluency: All entering High School students not having English as their native language must, at a minimum, complete the IB SL English B program by graduation. Students requesting admission to grades 11 and 12 will not be eligible for admission unless found through testing to be capable of meeting this criteria.

V. For entry into the Early Childhood Program (3, 4, and 5 year olds) and Grade One (age 6), students must be age appropriate by September 1 of the current school year. The cut-off date is absolute, and no exceptions will be made.

VI. Special Learning Needs. Students admitted to CAISL must be able to function within the regular classroom setting and be able to work towards successful completion of CAISL academic requirements. A specialist team provides learning support for students with mild learning difficulties. CAISL does not have the facilities or faculty required to educate children with severe learning problems, including but not limited to significant learning disabilities, mental retardation, significant visual or hearing impairments, emotional/behavioral disorders, physical impairments, communicative disorders/aphasia.

VII. Admissions preference including priority on the waiting list will be given to students who meet the academic and behavioral requirements, according to the following hierarchy:

A. Current CAISL re-enrolling students, children of CAISL staff, and immediate family members of students in attendance.
B. Students transferring from other international schools or schools with an English-speaking, US/international curriculum.
C. Students who are fluent in English.

VIII. Initial English Testing: All students from Grade 6 upwards for whom English is not their native language will take an ESL placement test to ensure appropriate placement in English classes. Students applying for admission to the High School may be denied admission if they do not have sufficient competency in English.

IX. Initial Language and Math Testing: CAISL may require admissions or placement testing of each student prior to a final decision on admission. Such testing may consist of math, English, reading comprehension and writing skills, and Portuguese reading comprehension and writing skills. The purposes of these tests are:

A.      To identify any possible learning difficulties.
B.      To ensure appropriate placement in a grade or a class.

CAISL may also require the parents to submit the results of other achievement or intelligence testing prior to admission if in-house testing indicates a need for these records. Such additional testing will be at parent’s expense.

X. Financial Clearance from Previous School: Students whose families owe money to the previous school will not be admitted.

1. Fill out the Application for Admission and Health History

2. Ask the school where your child is currently enrolled (or where he/she last attended) to send official school records/transcripts to CAISL for current and past two years. Unofficial records may be submitted for preliminary admissions determination. Please note, however, that complete official school records, in English, Portuguese or Spanish, are necessary for final acceptance and grade placement.

3. Send the forms and school records to:

Cindy Ferrell
Admissions Coordinator

Carlucci American International School of Lisbon
Rua Antonio dos Reis, 95
Linhó 2710-301 Sintra
Portugal

4. When you are informed of the admissions decision, the registration fee and building fee needs to be paid to the CAISL Business Office to secure a place for your child. (Please note that the building fee is paid for five consecutive years for all students in Grade 1 and older). Please see the fee schedule for details regarding payment and discount information.