School in Luxembourg: three languages, the SIA, and six free European schools

A Dutch child can go to the ordinary public school in Luxembourg, and no school may refuse a child. But the ordinary school works in three languages: Luxembourgish as the language of the nursery class, then lessons in German and French. The find on the education ministry's site: there are six public schools that follow the European programme, with French, English and German sections, open to everyone and without tuition fees. The trap is compulsory schooling: since school year 2026/2027 it runs until eighteen, so whoever arrives with a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old must also arrange a place for that child.

How do I enrol my child?

Via the SIA, the Service de l'intégration et de l'accueil scolaires of the Ministry of Education, in the rue Aldringen in Luxembourg City. For children aged four to eleven the SIA arranges enrolment and placement; for those aged twelve or older the SIA first assesses school results and language skills to find the right class and level.

Bring to that first appointment:

• your child's identity card or passport;
• the school reports of the past two years;
• if possible, a copy of the certificat de résidence, which you get from the commune after your arrival report and matricule.

The SIA welcomes new families, advises on everything to do with school and offers two years of individual support. In addition, parents and schools can request an intercultural mediator free of charge, who helps at the first meeting and translates school information from the country of origin.

Which class, at which age?

Age	Where	What there is for newcomers
3 to 4	cycle 1, optional early year	Luxembourgish as the language of instruction
4 to 5	cycle 1, compulsory	Luxembourgish, introduction to French
6 to 11	cycles 2 to 4	regular class plus welcome courses in German or French
12 to 15	secondary, via the SIA	reception class with intensive French, or an integration class
16 to 17	secondary or CLIJA	integration classes for young newcomers

A child who turned four before 1 September must go to school. Children aged six to eleven go straight into a regular class, the classe d'attache, based on their results in the Netherlands, their age and tests in maths and their mother tongue. In addition they follow welcome courses: first one language, German or French, and only once that has settled a little, the second.

What do the three languages mean for a Dutch child?

In the ordinary primary school, teaching runs on German and French; English only comes in at secondary school. For a Dutch child German is the shortest bridge, but it is still stepping into a different system, not catching up a gap.

Secondary education therefore has routes per language profile. The ALLET classes are for pupils who are good at French and maths but weak in German; Français Plus is the reverse. In the LVF classes all subjects are taught in French. The Lycée Aline Mayrisch offers twelve- to sixteen-year-olds who went to school abroad a gradual entry. And for those aiming high there are the International Baccalaureate — in English at the Athénée de Luxembourg, in French at three other schools — and the English-language IGCSE and A-level route of the Lycée Michel Lucius.

What are the European public schools?

Six public schools follow the programme of the European Schools, without tuition fees. They are the international schools in Differdange and Esch-sur-Alzette, the Lënster Lycée, Clervaux (Lycée Edward Steichen), Mondorf-les-Bains, Mersch and the École internationale Gaston Thorn in Luxembourg City. They offer seven years of European secondary education in a French, English and German section, up to the European Baccalaureate. For newcomers the information runs through the SIA — ask about it at the first meeting.

Other language sections, such as those in the mother tongues of EU countries, are in the European Schools outside the public system. Whether there is room and a suitable section there, you check with those schools themselves.

Where do I start?

Almost half the population did not have Luxembourg nationality on 1 January 2025 — 47.0 per cent — so a foreign child in the class is the norm here, and the system is set up for it. Do choose the school before the home: which European school or which language route you want determines which communes qualify. How school fits into your sequence, with the rent and the report to the commune, is in the step-by-step plan for Luxembourg; for the home itself, see renting in Luxembourg.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 5 of 5 of the journey, step 5.4: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Luxembourg or go straight to step 5.4 in the open plan.