CAISL is the only accredited American school in Portugal, and it seeks to blend the best from the United States model of education with that of a variety of national systems. All classes place a premium on communicating effectively and learning the skills of searching for and analyzing information rather than having the information handed to them by the teacher.

Technology is naturally integrated in the learning environment and Students in Grades 2-12 learn in a 1:1 laptop environment. Each is provided a laptop as a tool for learning.

The curriculum in the Native Language Portuguese classes closely parallels that taught by Portuguese public and private schools, thus easing transition out of and into the Portuguese system.

Students take Portuguese as either a foreign or a native language through Grade 9 and may elect to study Portuguese in Grades 10 through 12. Students who are not yet mainstreamed into the English classes are enrolled in the “Foundations of English Classes” which is designed to teach students to become socially and academically competent in English. This subject is offered without any extra fee for students in all grades through Grade 10 and at varying levels of fluency.

Almost all of our students go on to university either immediately after high school or after a gap year. This means that we work to challenge the students academically. We don't expect all of the students to achieve A's; we do expect them to do their best, to learn how to be responsible, to become giving members of the community, and to push themselves intellectually. Our academic program reflects these goals.

All students who complete CAISL’s graduation requirements earn an American High School Diploma.

Additionally, those who fulfill the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program requirements earn an IB Diploma. The IB is an option for students in Grades 11 and 12.

Either program allows entrance into universities in Portugal, the UK, USA and worldwide.

Almost all CAISL graduates go on to university, either immediately after graduation or after a gap year. Students are accepted at colleges and universities worldwide, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Portugal, other European nations and World countries.

Students begin meeting with their academic counselor in Grade 9, to discuss a program of studies during high school and their college plans.

Fundação Escola Americana de Lisboa, the foundation which governs CAISL, consists of two entities: - Visteon Portuguesa and the American Ambassador. Visteon appoints one representative to the Board of Trustees and the American Ambassador appoints 2 representatives, one a foreign service employee at the Embassy, and the other, an individual locally based with ties to both the USA and Portugal. The Board of Trustees determines policy, delegates executive, supervisory, and instructional authority to their employees, and appraises the results achieved in light of the goals of the school. They are also responsible for the financial operations and budget, personnel, public relations/information and long-range planning.

American Embassy:

• Miguel Espírito Santo Silva de Mello &
• Maurilio Rojano-Garcia

Visteon Portuguesa:

• João Paulo Ribeiro
  

Both CAISL and the foundation which governs it, (Fundação Escola Americana de Lisboa, are not-for-profit. The school’s annual budget of approximately €10 million is provided by tuition (79%), building and registration fees (9%) auxiliary fees such as buses and lunches (11%), and donations (1%).

CAISL operates under an “Autorização Definitiva” (permanent license) from the Ministry of Education to offer an American curricular program for all grades (EC3 through 12th).  The American curriculum program allows students to transfer in and out of the Portuguese national system at the same grade equivalent level.  

CAISL is authorized by the Ministry of Education to award the American High School Diploma to those CAISL students who successfully complete all requirements. With the American High School Diploma (and SAT Subject Tests), students may enter Portuguese universities.

CAISL continues to be authorized by the IB Organization to offer the IB Diploma Program, and this is recognized as well as part of CAISL's permanent license from the Portuguese Ministry of Education. 

CAISL is also an "assisted school" from the Office of Overseas Schools of the United States Department of State.  CAISL is the only school in Portugal with support from the Department of State of the USA.

Accreditation is different from Authorization. Authorization is the legal context within which a school is allowed to exist. Accreditation shows that a school is seeking external validation of quality.

CAISL is Accredited by the Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Education. More information on MSA can be found on its web site.

In addition to these various authorizations and accreditations, CAISL is also a member of the following professional associations:  Mediterranean Association of International Schools (MAIS), the Council of International Schools, Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and Independent Schools Management (ISM). 

CAISL is licensed from the Ministry of Education to offer an American Program from EC-3 through Grade 12. Each grade level of the CAISL program is valid for entry into the next grade of the Portuguese system.   Note that transfers become more difficult after 10^th grade, because of the differences in organizational structure of the American High School Diploma and the Portuguese “Secundário.”