International Schools in Luanda: 2026 Parent Guide

Updated October 2026

International schools in Luanda follow five main curricula: the International Baccalaureate (Luanda International School), British Cambridge (The British School of Angola), French (Lycée Alioune Blondin Beye), Portuguese (Escola Portuguesa de Luanda) and American (American Schools of Angola), plus a smaller South African option. Places at the most sought-after schools are limited, so expat families should contact admissions as soon as a move to Luanda is likely, ideally before signing a lease.

The main international schools at a glance

The table below lists schools whose curriculum and location we could confirm from the school’s own website or a recognized directory. Fees are not listed because schools revise them every year; ask each admissions office for the current fee schedule, including enrollment, capital and bus fees.

School	Curriculum	Ages / grades	Location
Luanda International School (LIS)	IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes; teaching in English	Ages 3 to 19	Via S6, Talatona
The British School of Angola (BSA), formerly Little Angels International School	Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE and A Levels	Early years to sixth form	Ingombota (early years) and Clube Naval, Ilha (primary and secondary)
Lycée français Alioune Blondin Beye	French national curriculum, AEFE partner school; French baccalauréat	Maternelle to terminale	Central Luanda
Escola Portuguesa de Luanda (EPL)	Portuguese national curriculum, under Portugal’s Ministry of Education	Pre-school to 12th grade	Central Luanda
American Schools of Angola (ASA)	US-style curriculum with Advanced Placement and a US high school diploma	Kindergarten to high school, plus college-level courses	Luanda
E.S.C.O.L.A. (English School Community of Luanda)	South African CAPS (IEB); online options for the final high school years	Pre-primary to Grade 9	Ingombota

Other private bilingual schools operate in Luanda, often Angolan schools teaching the national curriculum with extra English. They can be good value, but check what qualification your child will finish with and whether universities abroad recognize it.

Choosing a curriculum

International Baccalaureate (IB)

LIS is the only school in Luanda running all three IB programmes. The IB suits families who expect to move again, because the same framework is taught at IB schools worldwide and the Diploma is widely accepted by universities. According to LIS, it has more than 600 students from over 40 nationalities, and the campus in Talatona is close to the main expat compounds. Independent sources also list accreditation by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC); confirm current status with the school.

British (Cambridge)

The British School of Angola grew out of Little Angels International School, founded in 2020, and is a registered Cambridge school. It added a sixth form in September 2025, so A Levels are now offered in Luanda. Choose this route if you are likely to move to a UK-system school or apply to UK universities.

French and Portuguese national systems

The Lycée français and the Escola Portuguesa follow their home countries’ official programmes and calendars, which makes transfers to and from France or Portugal straightforward. Both teach mainly in their national language, so they are a better fit for French- or Portuguese-speaking children than for beginners.

American

American Schools of Angola offers a US-style program with AP courses and applications through the OpenApply platform. Ask which US body accredits the school and which campus your child would attend.

Admissions: how it works and when to apply

Contact admissions early. Ask about availability in your child’s grade, waiting lists and the deadline for the next intake.
Prepare documents. Most schools ask for passports, the last two years of school reports, a recommendation from the current school, vaccination records and, where relevant, any learning-support or psychological assessments.
Assessment and interview. Expect an entry assessment or interview, especially for older students and for English-language support.
Offer and deposit. A place is usually confirmed only after you pay an enrollment or registration fee. Ask whether it is refundable if your visa or posting falls through.
Visa link. Your children’s residence status follows yours. Check our Angola work visa guide for how family members are added.

Escola Portuguesa de Luanda has fixed rules

EPL publishes strict admission criteria. Pre-registration happens once a year in May (for 2026–2027 it closed in mid-May), and late applications are not accepted. Priority goes first to children of Portuguese public officials on mission, then Portuguese nationals, then Angolan nationals, then other nationalities, with siblings and staff children favored within each group. Most vacancies are in pre-school; places in other grades depend on students leaving. See EPL’s admissions page.

Tip: If your employer is relocating you, ask HR whether the company holds corporate places or pays fees directly to a school. In Luanda, the school often decides the neighborhood, and the neighborhood decides your commute. Read our guide to renting an apartment in Luanda once you have a likely school.

Questions to ask every school

What is the full fee schedule for this year: tuition, enrollment, capital or development levy, exams, bus, lunch and uniforms? In which currency is it billed?
Does the employer or the family pay, and are payment plans available?
What happens to fees if we leave mid-year?
What is the student-to-teacher ratio, and how many teachers are internationally recruited?
What English or Portuguese language support is available, and at what cost?
Can you support my child’s learning needs? Ask this before you move, with reports in hand.
Which accreditations does the school hold today, and when is the next review?
Where did last year’s graduates go to university?
What are the security arrangements at the gate, on buses and on school trips?
Does the school have a nurse or doctor on site, and which clinic does it use in an emergency?

Practical matters for expat parents

School calendars

The national-system schools follow French and Portuguese calendars, broadly September to July, while LIS and BSA publish their own academic calendars. The South African-curriculum school runs a three-term year. Check calendars before you book home leave, because they differ between schools.

Transport and safety

Most expat children are driven by a company driver or use the school bus. Traffic between the center, Ilha and Talatona can be heavy, so living near the school saves hours every week. Our Luanda safety guide covers safe transport options.

Health requirements

Schools will ask for vaccination records. Yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Angola, and malaria prevention matters in Luanda; talk to a travel-health clinic before the move.

Recognition back home or in Angola

If your child may later study in the Angolan system or at an Angolan university, ask the school how its diploma is recognized locally and check equivalence requirements with Angola’s Ministry of Education before your child’s final years.

Frequently asked questions

Which international school in Luanda teaches the IB?

Luanda International School in Talatona offers the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes for students aged 3 to 19.

Is there a British school in Luanda?

Yes. The British School of Angola teaches the Cambridge curriculum, including IGCSE and A Levels, from campuses in Ingombota and at Clube Naval on the Ilha.

How much are international school fees in Luanda?

Fees change every year and are not always published online. Ask each admissions office for the current schedule and check whether fees are billed in kwanzas or a foreign currency.

When should I apply?

As early as possible. Some schools have waiting lists, and the Escola Portuguesa only accepts pre-registrations during a fixed window in May.

Can my child join mid-year?

Often yes at the international schools if a place is free, but it is much harder at schools with annual intakes and nationality priorities, such as the Escola Portuguesa.

Sources: Luanda International School; The British School of Angola profile (Schrole); Little Angels International School / BSA; Escola Portuguesa de Luanda, admissions; DGAE Portugal, Escola Portuguesa de Luanda; AEFE school network; American Schools of Angola; ISASA school finder, E.S.C.O.L.A..

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