International schools in Brazil

Search for the best international schools in Brazil; you can find a list of selected schools at the bottom of this page. Use the search filters to select only girls' or boys' schools, prep schools, senior schools or sixth forms; or you can search for schools that offer a particular curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate, the UK national curriculum, a US-style model or the International Primary Curriculum. 

Brazil has a thriving private, international education sector that serves both expatriates and globally minded citizens, with the majority of schools clustered around Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Brasilia. 

The diverse sector includes schools offering British, American, Swiss and Spanish study programmes and a large number of Catholic schools, as well as other faith schools including Lutheran, Baha’i and Jewish foundations. Most are coeducational day schools. 

There are 51 IB World Schools in Brazil, including 42 that are authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma. All bar one teach in English or offer bilingual instruction in English and Portuguese or another language.

Schools such as the The British School, Rio de Janeiro combine the IB Diploma with the English national curriculum and IGCSEs, while others blend it with American or Brazilian programmes. There are also many Brazilian private schools, which teach in Portuguese. 

Parents are advised to check schools’ accreditation arrangements. The Council of International Schools has three accredited schools in Brazil and Cognia, formerly known as AdvancEd, has 25 accredited schools across the country.

Education is compulsory for children aged six to 14. In the state system, Ensino Fundamental is divided into two stages and followed by three years of Ensino Medio. Instruction is in Portuguese and students follow a national curriculum with a broad range of subjects and some regional variations. The vestibular entrance exam determines entry to higher education. 

Brazil has faced criticism for failing to raise educational standards among the poor and in deprived regions. Following initiatives to address such problems, net enrolment reached 92.5 per cent of the age group in primary schools and 85.5 per cent in secondary schools in 2019, while gross tertiary enrolment was 55 per cent.

If you are looking specifically for International Baccalaureate World Schools in Brazil, you can find selected schools on our sister website: www.ibyb.org.