For parents, the question that matters most when moving to Luxembourg is not the flat, it is the language. A child who arrives at six speaking only English or French meets a system built for a multilingual country with its own order of languages. The good news is that the state offers real choices, and they are free. This guide explains schools in Luxembourg for expat families.
How are schools in Luxembourg organised?
School is compulsory from age 4. The ministry also announced that school obligation will rise from 16 to 18, with the change due from the 2026 school year, though a 16-year-old who enters working life can request an exemption for the length of the contract. The path in the public system is:
- Primary school (enseignement fondamental), ages 3 to 11. Four cycles. Cycle 1 lasts three years and its first year, early education (éducation précoce), is optional; cycles 2 to 4 last two years each.
- Secondary school, from age 12, seven years. Pupils choose between the classical track, oriented towards higher education, and the general track.
Newcomers should book an appointment with the ministry's reception and integration service (SIA), which advises families, helps them pick a track and follows the pupil for two years.
Which language will your child learn in?
This is the heart of the matter. In the standard public school:
- pre-school is in Luxembourgish;
- literacy is taught in German;
- French is introduced orally in cycle 2 and in writing in cycle 3;
- in secondary school, the classical track moves towards French in the upper years, and the general track mostly stays in German.
For a French-speaking or English-speaking family, that is a leap. The state offers alternatives, all free of charge:
- reception classes and integrated courses for children who speak none of the languages;
- public international tracks leading to the international or European baccalaureate, in French, English or German, with some pre-school classes;
- integrated courses in Portuguese for Portuguese-speaking families.
Private options exist as well: ten subsidised private lycées, and fee-paying international schools whose fees are set by each school.
Choosing between the standard public track, an international track and a private school depends on your child's age, languages and how long you plan to stay. Moovy can lay out the official options and the questions to ask the SIA or the school. It does not enrol your child; the school and the commune do.
How do you enrol your child?
- Contact the SIA for an appointment and advice on the right track.
- For primary school, register with the commune where you live. Bring the child's ID, a residence certificate from the commune, the vaccination record and the latest school reports; your commune gives the exact list.
- For secondary school, apply directly to the lycée.
- For a foreign diploma, equivalence or recognition is requested from the Ministry of Education.
Your commune also registers your own arrival; see residence in Luxembourg for EU citizens. Without a certificate of residence you cannot enrol your child, so do that first.
How much does school cost?
Almost nothing in the public system.
- Public school and public international tracks are free, with no registration fee.
- Meals are free for all primary pupils during school weeks, whatever the family income.
- Maisons relais and school day care are free Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 19:00 during school weeks. Before 7:00, after 19:00 and during holidays, a contribution follows the chèque-service accueil scale.
- For children under 4, crèches take children from 3 months; free hours apply to children aged 1 to 4 in recognised education and care services, and beyond them the chèque-service scale applies.
Family allowances add to the picture: €315.04 a month for a single child in the family group at 1 June 2026, plus age supplements. See the cost of living in Luxembourg.
What are the 2026-2027 school holidays?
All Saints: 31 October to 8 November 2026. Christmas: 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Carnival: 6 to 14 February 2027. Easter: 27 March to 11 April 2027. Whitsun: 29 May to 6 June 2027. Summer: 16 July to 14 September 2027. Plan the school year with these dates and check them with the school.
What mistakes should families avoid?
- Putting a French-speaking child in the standard track without support. German is the literacy language; ask the SIA about reception classes and international tracks.
- Assuming school stops at 16. The obligation is rising to 18.
- Waiting for the lease before asking about school. Where you live decides your commune and your options; see best places to live in Luxembourg.
- Forgetting interpreters. Intercultural mediators are free; they translate at parent-teacher meetings.
How do school enrolment and the first weeks work in practice?
The commune is the first stop for primary school, so you need your registration first. Ask about school enrolment at the same visit where you declare your arrival, so you can start the school file in parallel. The ministry's reception service (SIA) sees newly arrived families, advises them on tracks and follows the pupil for two years. Bring your child's school reports and vaccination record, and ask whether documents in English are accepted if they are not in French or German.
Parents who do not speak the school's language can ask for an intercultural mediator, a free service that interprets at parent-teacher meetings and helps with the first reception.
How do you choose between the public tracks and a private international school?
Compare three things: the language your child needs, the length of your stay and the cost. The public international tracks are free and lead to the international or European baccalaureate in French, English or German, which is attractive for families who expect to move again. The standard track is more integrated locally and teaches in German first. Private international schools charge fees set by each school and may offer other curricula. Visit, ask about waiting lists, and check how the school connects with the later years of secondary education.
What should you ask when visiting schools in Luxembourg?
Ask about the language of teaching at each stage, the support for newcomers, and what happens if your child falls behind in the first language. Ask how many children in the class speak your child's language, whether there is a reception class, and how the school works with the ministry's reception service. For the international tracks, ask which diploma they lead to and how it is recognised in your home country. For private schools, ask for the full fee schedule, including meals, transport and trips. Visiting two or three schools gives you a clearer idea than any ranking.
How do schools in Luxembourg handle languages beyond the first years?
The public system is built to teach three languages. German is the language of literacy in primary school, French is introduced orally and then in writing, and in secondary school the balance shifts depending on the track: the classical track moves towards French in the upper years, while the general track stays mostly in German. Children who arrive late may find the transition demanding, which is why the reception classes and the international tracks exist. The ministry's reception service can advise you on which route suits an older child; ask early, ideally before you rent a home, since your commune determines the primary school.
Dates and rules can change. Confirm with your commune, the SIA and the school before you decide.