Schooling

Schooling is compulsory in Luxembourg from the age
of four until seventeen/eighteen. You must enrol your
child in a school as soon as you have arrived and
registered into your commune, even if it is in the middle
of the school year. State schools are free for children
residing within Luxembourg.

The Luxembourg school system consists of three stages:

pre-school (two years);
primary education (six years) starting the September after the child has turned six;
secondary education (six to eight years, depending on the level of education system).

The schooling system caters for children with special needs through learning
support and remedial teaching and for children with severe special needs there
are specialised centres outside the mainstream schooling system.

Pre-school and primary school

Children under twelve should be enrolled via the administrative service in your commune of residence.

Please note: if your child is between six and twelve you must bring their school reports.

The first two years of pre-school (Spillschoul) are taught in Luxembourgish (with an introduction to French and German), with classes consisting mainly of reading, writing, basic numbers and social skills.

Once the child reaches primary school the basic language changes to German and most of the classes and books will be in this language. French is introduced as the main language at eight.

At the age of twelve the child will be tested to see which level of secondary school is most fitting.

Secondary school

For children over twelve you can either go directly to your local school and see if there is a place for your child/ren or make an appointment with the CASNA (Cellule d’accueil scolaire pour élèves nouveaux arrivants) at the Ministry of Education and take with you:

passport or identity card;
social security card;
school reports (for the last two years);
certificate of residence.

The Ministry offers language training for newly arrived pupils amongst other things.

The spring before your child changes to secondary school education they will be tested to determine which level of secondary education is most fitting. If your child is already in secondary education when you arrive, their previous two years school reports will be taken into consideration.

There are two types of secondary education:

Lycée Classique - high classically-led education, with a view to the pupil progressing to higher education/university;
Lycée Technique - is a more technically based training, with a leaning towards vocational training, as well as standard.