Lisbon is to have another international school. This time capitalising on the growing number of US citizens moving to Portugal through the country’s various visa schemes.
The Sierra Canyon American International School, an independent co-ed school for students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12, aims to cater for the demand for American elite education as more tech startup founders and US companies relocate or open European offices in Portugal.
The school offers a proven academic system and has a global alumni network from California, combining “Portugal’s local advantages with a world-class, non-profit school model offering both international and local families a direct pathway to top US education”.
The school is scheduled to open in September 2026 and has already acquired 170,000sqm of land in Alcochete on the South bank of the River Tagus, perhaps strategically placed to take advantage of Lisbon’s new international airport, which is slated to open at some time in the 2030s.
Construction of the school’s campus facilities is set to begin soon. The school’s development will be funded by the Sierra Education Development Fund through structured lending. Investors in the fund not only contribute to education but also qualify for Portugal’s Golden Visa benefits.
The school team will take part in the “Living in Portugal” West Coast US roadshow, from September 13 to 20, 2025.
The Sierra Canyon School is a private, independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory school for students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12 located in Chatsworth, California.
It advertises itself as a highly cosmopolitan campus community reflective of the Greater Los Angeles area and the world at large. Students are empowered to realise their greatest creative, ethical, intellectual and physical promise through small class sizes, a diverse student-teacher culture and a family-like environment.
The school in California is currently headed by Sergio Ribeiro, a US national of Portuguese extraction.
It will no doubt provide competition for existing international schools, such as the long-established Carlucci American International School of Lisbon (CAISL) and the more recent United Lisbon International School (ULIS).
International schools have become big business over the past five years with the influx of overseas professionals, investors, companies and relocators.
In September, The Lisboan school opened its doors to its first students. This international school, part of Artemis Education, is located in a historic building in the Alcântara district of Lisbon and serves students aged three to 14, with plans to add more year groups annually until 2028.
Before that, the United Lisbon International School (ULIS) opened its doors to students on September 14, 2020. The school was founded by entrepreneurs Chitra and Roman Stern and is a member of the Dukes Education family of schools.
Source: Essential Business
