Quick answer: which bilingual schools in Brasília should families consider? The main Portuguese-English options in 2026 are the American School of Brasília and School of the Nations, both with the IB Diploma, SIS Swiss International School, The British School of Brasília and Brasília International School. All sit in Asa Sul or Lago Sul, and annual fees run roughly BRL 45,000 to 135,000 plus enrolment and materials.
Last reviewed: September 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Brasília is a diplomatic capital, and its school market looks like one. Embassies, international organisations, federal agencies and the companies that serve them create steady demand for English-medium and bilingual education, and the city has six schools on the ISA platform that teach in both Portuguese and English. Bilingual schools in Brasília range from fully international schools with foreign diplomas to Brazilian schools that deliver a large share of the national curriculum in English. This guide explains the difference, what each school offers and what families pay in 2026.
What bilingual means in Brazil, and why it matters
Brazil regulates the label more tightly than most countries. Under the National Education Council's guidelines for plurilingual education, a school may call itself bilingual only if at least 30 percent of instructional time in early childhood and elementary years, and 20 percent in ensino médio, is delivered in the additional language, with an integrated curriculum rather than extra English lessons bolted on. Schools that teach a foreign national curriculum and hold foreign accreditation are classed as international schools, and most of those in Brasília also run a Brazilian track so that students leave with the Brazilian ensino médio certificate alongside an IB, American or British qualification.
For families this creates two distinct products. International schools such as the American School of Brasília teach mainly in English with Portuguese as a strong second language and follow an August to June calendar. Brazilian bilingual schools teach in both languages across the day, follow the February to December Brazilian year and prepare students for the ENEM and vestibular university entrance exams. Which one suits you depends on how long you will stay and where your children will study afterwards.
Brasília's school geography
Almost every international and bilingual school is in Asa Sul, the southern wing of Lúcio Costa's Plano Piloto, on the wide avenues of the 600 and 900 blocks. School of the Nations is the exception, in Lago Sul, the lakeside district where most ambassadors' residences and many expatriate families live. From Lago Sul to Asa Sul is a 15 to 25 minute drive across the bridges; from the newer high-rise districts of Águas Claras and Sudoeste it is similar. The city was designed for cars and school buses are the norm, although Asa Sul families often walk or cycle within the superblocks.
Curricula available in Brasília
- International Baccalaureate: the IB Diploma at the American School of Brasília and School of the Nations, with the Primary Years Programme at SIS Swiss International School.
- American: US high school diplomas at the American School of Brasília and Brasília International School, both with Brazilian ensino médio certification.
- British: the English National Curriculum combined with the Brazilian programme at The British School of Brasília.
- Brazilian bilingual: the national BNCC curriculum taught in Portuguese and English, leading to the ENEM, at School of the Nations and SIS.
The bilingual and international schools to visit
American School of Brasília (EAB)
EAB, in the 600 blocks of Asa Sul, is the city's flagship international school and the choice of most diplomatic and corporate families. Instruction is in English with daily Portuguese, and students can graduate with a US diploma, the IB Diploma and the Brazilian certificate. Its August to June calendar makes it the easiest transition for children arriving from the northern hemisphere. It is also by a clear margin the most expensive school in the city.
School of the Nations
Founded in 1980 in Lago Sul, School of the Nations is a Brazilian bilingual school inspired by Bahá'í principles that teaches its curriculum in Portuguese and English from early childhood and offers the IB Diploma in the final years. It follows the Brazilian calendar and prepares students for both Brazilian and international universities, and its lakeside location suits families living in Lago Sul.
SIS Swiss International School Brasília
Part of the SIS group present across Brazil and Europe, the Brasília campus in the 900 blocks of Asa Sul offers a genuinely bilingual Portuguese-English programme from early years, with the IB Primary Years Programme framework and the Brazilian curriculum. It is a strong fit for families who want their children fully literate in both languages and who plan to stay in Brazil for several years.
The British School of Brasília
The British School combines the English National Curriculum with the Brazilian programme in Asa Sul, so children follow British year groups and assessments while meeting national requirements in Portuguese. It is smaller than EAB and attractive to families who want a British structure and a more intimate community.
Brasília International School
Brasília International School offers an American-style bilingual programme leading to a US high school diploma alongside the Brazilian certificate, at fees below the international flagship. It attracts Brazilian families seeking strong English and expatriates whose packages do not stretch to EAB.
What bilingual schools in Brasília cost in 2026
Brazilian schools quote fees as a monthly mensalidade, usually paid twelve times a year, with enrolment charged as an extra thirteenth payment. Converted to annual totals, indicative 2026 tuition is: American School of Brasília roughly BRL 95,000 to 135,000; School of the Nations roughly BRL 55,000 to 85,000; SIS roughly BRL 50,000 to 80,000; The British School of Brasília roughly BRL 45,000 to 75,000; Brasília International School roughly BRL 45,000 to 70,000. On top of that, budget for these extras:
- Enrolment (matrícula): typically one additional monthly fee per year, payable in November or December for the following year.
- Books and materials (material didático): BRL 2,000 to 6,000 a year, higher where imported textbooks are used.
- Uniforms: BRL 800 to 2,000 for a full set.
- School transport: BRL 6,000 to 12,000 a year through licensed van operators.
- Lunch and extended day: BRL 4,000 to 8,000 a year for meals, more for full-day programmes at Brazilian-calendar schools.
- External exams: IB Diploma and other international examination fees billed separately in the final years.
Sibling discounts of 5 to 15 percent are common, and Brazilian schools are legally required to publish their fee schedules before enrolment opens, so ask for the official table rather than a verbal quote.
Practical advice for choosing a bilingual school in Brasília
Decide which calendar you can live with. A child arriving in August from Europe or North America slots straight into EAB's year; joining a Brazilian-calendar school in August means entering the second semester of a year that began in February. For a long stay this matters less, and the Brazilian calendar aligns with local friends, sports and holidays.
Ask how much of the day is really in English. The 30 percent threshold is a legal minimum. Ask each school for the actual weekly timetable in each language for your child's year group, and how Portuguese is taught to children who arrive with none.
Think about the exit qualification early. A student who may apply to Brazilian universities needs the ensino médio certificate and ENEM preparation; one heading abroad benefits from the IB Diploma or a US or British qualification. The best Brasília schools offer both, but the combination is heavy in the final two years, so discuss the workload at the first visit.
Compare schools across Brazil
To see how Brasília's bilingual and international schools compare with those in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, browse the independent ranking of the best schools in Brazil, built from verified profiles, reviews and fee data.
More guides to schools in Brasília
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a bilingual school and an international school in Brasília?
A bilingual school follows the Brazilian national curriculum and teaches at least 30 percent of it in English, on the Brazilian February to December calendar, preparing students for the ENEM. An international school teaches a foreign curriculum mainly in English, usually on an August to June calendar, and adds a Brazilian track so students can also earn the national certificate. The American School of Brasília is international; School of the Nations and SIS are bilingual.
How much do bilingual schools in Brasília cost?
Expect roughly BRL 45,000 to 85,000 a year at the Brazilian bilingual and British or American-style schools, and BRL 95,000 to 135,000 at the American School of Brasília. Fees are charged monthly, with enrolment as an extra thirteenth payment, plus BRL 2,000 to 6,000 for books and BRL 6,000 to 12,000 for transport.
Can a child with no Portuguese join a bilingual school in Brasília?
Yes, especially under the age of nine, when children typically become functional in Portuguese within a year of daily immersion. Bilingual and international schools in the city run Portuguese support for newcomers, and the international schools teach the core curriculum in English so academic progress continues while the second language develops. Older teenagers are usually better served by the international schools.