Lisbon Montessori School

The school follows the Montessori philosophy, emphasizing the "prepared environment" to foster independence, spontaneous discovery, and freedom of movement. It utilizes mixed-age classrooms to promote social cohesion, empathy, and peer-to-peer learning. The approach focuses on nurturing the individual child's interests and innate curiosity rather than relying on external incentives like grades or awards.

The school offers three AMI-based programs: Casa dei Bambini (ages 3-6), Lower Elementary (ages 6-9), and Upper Elementary (ages 9-12). Instruction is primarily in English, with Portuguese-speaking assistants in the classrooms and additional Portuguese language lessons provided for Elementary students. The curriculum incorporates "Cosmic Education," which integrates history, geography, and science with local cultural elements.

Graduates are expected to be independent, empathetic, and self-motivated learners who respect themselves, others, and their environment. Elementary students typically perform well on standardized MAP assessments, with recent cohorts scoring significantly above the 50th percentile in Math, Reading, and Language Use. The school emphasizes the development of leadership, critical thinking, and a sense of global responsibility.

The school employs a psychopedagogue and a dyslexia and reading specialist to support student development. If a teacher identifies consistent struggles in any area, the school may require a formal psycho-educational assessment to secure temporary specialist support or provide specific instructional guidelines. Refusal to undergo such assessments may impact a student's re-enrollment.

Admissions are open to children aged 2 years and 10 months to 12 years, with a preference for families committing to a minimum three-year stay. The process requires a mandatory tour, submission of an application form, parent questionnaire, and relevant school reports or assessments. Applicants for the Elementary level must be fluent in English, and all prospective students are placed on a waiting list upon application.

The school year runs for 10 months, from September to June, comprising 178-180 student contact days. The calendar includes a fall break, two weeks of winter holidays, a one-week spring break, and two days for Carnaval. Additionally, the school offers a four-week Casa summer camp in July.

The campus features a prepared environment designed to maximize independent learning, including classrooms equipped with specialized Montessori materials. The school grounds include an outdoor environment and a gym, which is accessible to Casa students under supervision. Elementary students also utilize outdoor spaces for sports and team games.

The school provides a variety of after-school clubs, including cooking, sewing, chess, theatre, yoga, gardening, and Lego building. These activities are available for an additional fee and typically run from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM or 5:00 PM, depending on the club. Clubs are organized by age group, with specific offerings for Casa and Elementary students.