German School of Lisbon

Established in 1848, the Deutsche Schule Lissabon whispers stories of generations. It’s the oldest German school on the Iberian Peninsula. The Deutsche Schule Lissabon has seen Lisbon transform over the centuries. The school itself has been reborn multiple times. It reopened in 1895 after financial struggles forced its closure. World War I brought another closure, followed by a reopening in 1922. Then, World War II echoed this cycle, with the school reopening again in 1952. The Deutsche Schule Lissabon we see today, with its main buildings, was inaugurated in 1963. The school isn’t just one building. It’s a campus with a primary school, kindergarten, and secondary school in Lisbon. There’s another campus nestled in Estoril, a coastal town about 30 kilometers away. The Estoril campus houses a kindergarten and primary school. It serves the German immigrant community that thrives there. In Lisbon, the primary and secondary schools have separate spaces, even separate playgrounds. The primary school moved into brand new buildings in 2008. Its former building now provides much-needed space for the kindergarten. The Deutsche Schule Lissabon offers a unique educational blend. In secondary school, two class lines emerge. Two classes use German primarily, while two others focus on Portuguese. This structure earns it the title “Begegnungsschule,” or “school of encounters.” Initially separate, these lines merge again in seventh grade. Subjects like English, French, music, and art bring German and Portuguese students together. By tenth grade, classes are mixed again based on chosen subjects like biology, chemistry, French, art, and music. The Deutsche Schule Lissabon leads its students towards the Abitur, the German university entrance qualification. This opens doors to universities across Germany. For students eyeing Portuguese universities, special “Equivalência” classes bridge the curricular gap. In 2009, the Deutsche Schule Lissabon had a vibrant community of 1,154 students. Around 60% were Portuguese, with the remaining majority German. Many German students had parents working at the German embassy or for German companies like Siemens and Volkswagen. These families often stayed for two or three years, following the rhythm of international assignments. Even famous faces have graced these halls. Actress Alba Baptista, actor and director Manuel Cortez, comedian Herman José, and attorney Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger are among its notable alumni.