Your Guide to School Open Days in Luxembourg

Choosing the right school is a critical decision, particularly when moving to a new country or seeking a new educational environment. Luxembourg offers a wide range of options when it comes to schools, including public local schools, international state schools, and private and international schools. However, making the right choice can be a daunting task. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of all the available open days for schools across the country to make the process easier for families.

Attending a school open day is a great way to get to know the school and its environment. During these events, parents and their children have the opportunity to meet with the faculty, tour the school’s facilities, and get a feel for the school’s culture. Here are some of the benefits of attending open days:

1. Guided tour of the school: Students typically lead the tour and provide a comprehensive overview of the school’s facilities, including classrooms, sports facilities, and any other amenities available.
2. Information stalls about the curriculum and different student activities: These stalls provide insight into the curriculum, extracurricular activities, and other opportunities that the school offers.
3. Presentation on the school’s offers: These presentations provide an overview of the school’s ethos, vision, and any unique selling points.
4. Demonstrations and different workshops: These give parents and children a chance to experience the school’s environment and culture firsthand.

In Luxembourg, there are three main types of schools: public local schools, international state schools, and private and international schools.

1)Public local schools (Free of charge)

All children who are 4 years of age by 1 September of the current year are required to attend school. School is compulsory for a period of 12 consecutive years. Parents will receive an information letter from the Service Enseignement in March of the same year to enroll their child in school. Schools are usually assigned based on your residence location. There’s no opendays however parents can ask for visits once their kids are enrolled.

2)International state schools (Free of charge)

International state schools operate according to the curricula, promotion criteria, and schedules of the European school system. They offer five years of European primary education in a French, English, or German-speaking section. Students can then pursue secondary education leading to the European baccalaureate.

Here are the open days for international state schools:

1. the Differdange & Esch-sur-Alzette International School (EIDE): open days are on 27 Feb for Esch-sur-Alzette and 29th Feb for Differdange starting at 13:30
2. the Lënster Lycée International School in Junglinster (LLIS): Not published yet
3. the École Internationale Edward Steichen in Clervaux: (LESC): Open days on 2nd March from 09:00 to 12:00
4. the École internationale à Mondorf-les-Bains (EIMLB): Open day on 24th Feb and registration is required.
5. the École internationale Mersch Anne Beffort (EIMAB): Open day on 24th Feb from 09:00 to 12:00. registration starts on 1st March online
6. the École internationale Gaston Thorn (EIGT) in Cessange: Open day is on 3rd Feb will be held in Merl from 10:00 am.
7. The International School Michel Lucius in Limpertsberg: Open day on 2nd March from 09:00 to 12:00
8. Eis Schoul in Kirchberg: Opening day is on 24th Feb and registration is required.

3)Private and international schools

Private and international schools have their own setups, providing classes with the same curriculum as state schools, French curriculum, British or American system. Here are the private and international schools in Luxembourg:

1. École Charlemagne (French school) in Walferdange: No Open days. However, they can welcome parents every day through booking.
2. École Française de Luxembourg (EFL) famous for Vauban in Gasperich: Open day is on the 3rd February starting 14:00.
3. École Maria Montessori in Strassen: No open day. However, they can welcome parents every day through bookings
4. Fräi-ëffentlech Waldorfschoul Lëtzebuerg in Limpertsberg: Open day is on 22 March and they offer visits by booking through this email waldorf@ecole.lu 
5. International School of Luxembourg (ISL) in Hollerich: They have a calendar with different days https://islux.openapply.com/events/new?only=tours , Next event is on 12th January.
6. Over The Rainbow (OTR) in Belair: Openday is not published yet.
7. George’s International School Luxembourg in Hamm:  No open day however they welcome parent throughout the year for school tours
8. École Montessori Schule, Hobscheid: Open day is on 3rd feb from 10:00 to 12:00, registration required.
9. Scuola Materna Cattolica Internazionale: No information about opendays
10. European School Luxembourg 2 (ESL2) Open day details are not published yet but registration starts from 26 feb till 22 March 2024

In conclusion, choosing the right school for your child is an important decision, and attending open days can help you make an informed choice. Luxembourg offers a variety of schools, from public local schools to international state schools and private schools with different curricula. By attending the open days, parents and students can learn more about the schools, take guided tours, and ask questions about the curriculum, activities, and admission process. It is important to note that some schools may not have open days, but they can arrange private tours by appointment. We hope this blog has provided useful information and guidance for parents and students looking for the right school in Luxembourg.