In Portugal, both local and international parents often look to boarding schools abroad for stronger academics, English-language learning, or a more global environment. At the same time, more families from the United States are relocating to Portugal for quality of life, safety, and new work opportunities. And many plan to settle in Porto. For both groups, the same question comes up: Can my child continue on the American curriculum without boarding overseas or traveling to a school in Lisbon?
From September 2026, the answer will be yes. The American School of Porto (ASP) will open its doors with an authentic U.S. curriculum built on GPA, credits, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, bringing an American-style education to northern Portugal.
It’s a chance for families to give their children the same academic quality and international university pathways offered by top boarding schools, while staying together and helping shape the community as one of ASP’s founding families.
Why parents consider boarding abroad
Parents who choose boarding usually want some mix of:
- Global exposure and networks. Friends from everywhere, alumni communities, trips, Model UN.
- Structured academics. Clear routines, supervised study halls, strong college counselling.
- Independence. Living away from home can build self-management and resilience.
- Specialised programs. Niche arts, STEM, or sports pathways.
- Stability during relocations. One campus even if parents move countries.
- Curriculum continuity during moves. Staying aligned to GPA, credits, and APs across borders.
All of these are valid reasons; and for some teenagers, boarding can be a good choice. But if your goal is an authentic American curriculum and international rigour, while keeping family life close, American School of Porto might be the better option.
Challenges families often face with boarding schools
The same strengths come with real trade-offs. Common challenges of boarding school include:
- Limited family time. Fewer weekday dinners, fewer small moments. School breaks are intense catch-ups rather than regular connection.
- Homesickness and wellbeing. New culture, language, climate, food. Some students thrive; some struggle quietly.
- Rigid schedules. Great for routine, harder for individual needs, family events, or cultural holidays.
- Cultural adaptation load. New country + new school at once can be a lot, especially for younger teens.
- Travel logistics. Visas, flights, school pick-up windows, last-minute changes.
- The real costs of boarding school. Tuition is only one line. Families also budget for:
- Flights and airport transfers (multiple times per year)
- Visas/insurance fees (where required)
- Uniforms, kit, weekend activities, trips
- Exam fees, college testing, application support
- Exchange-rate uncertainty year to year
Boarding school or ASP? A side-by-side look
No two families approach education in the same way. What feels right for one child might not suit another, and that’s okay. Below is a simple comparison to help you see how the experience of boarding school abroad differs from enrolling in an international day school like the American School of Porto.
| What to consider | Boarding school abroad | American School of Porto |
| Curriculum | Often IB, British A-Levels, or AP | Full U.S. curriculum with GPA, credits, and AP pathway planned |
| College guidance | Experienced counsellors; global university prep | U.S. and international university guidance; American diploma |
| Daily life | Dorm-based routines; limited family time | Home–school rhythm; daily connection with family life |
| Cultural setting | New country, full immersion | International community in Porto + Portuguese culture every day |
| Wellbeing support | House system, dorm tutors, peer structure | Smaller cohorts; close teacher–student relationships; local support network |
| Logistics | Visas, flights, guardianship, long-distance planning | Local commute; parent access to school events and community |
| Annual costs | Tuition + travel + term breaks + extras | Tuition only; no long-distance or guardianship-related costs |
What type of student thrives in each setting?
Every family has different priorities, and every child has their own way of learning, growing, and connecting. For some, the structure and distance of boarding school may feel right. For others, staying closer to home while still accessing global opportunities is what makes the difference. Here are some gentle indicators of what kind of environment might support your child best.
Who thrives in a boarding school:
- A student who’s eager for independence and thrives in highly structured routines
- Teens who are drawn to specialist programs in sports, the arts, or STEM
- Families who move often and want continuity from one school community
- Parents who are open to long-term distance and the logistics that come with it
Students and families for whom ASP may be a better fit:
- Families living in Portugal, or planning a move, who want an American curriculum without the separation
- Students who learn best in smaller classes where they’re known and supported
- Parents who want a global education and the grounding of daily family life
- Teens aiming for international universities who prefer to stay rooted while they build strong academic and extracurricular records
- Founding families who like shaping a school’s culture from the start and want their child remembered as part of the first cohorts.
How ASP delivers the same global benefits without leaving Porto
An authentic American curriculum in Portugal
Students follow the U.S. credit system with continuous assessment, a cumulative GPA, and access to Advanced Placement courses. ASP’s curriculum keeps doors open for universities in the U.S., UK, Europe, and beyond, without resetting to a new system every time life changes.
A diverse, international community
ASP’s families come from multiple countries and our faculty is made up of native English-speaking teachers who have been trained and have worked extensively in the United States. Classrooms are globally minded, and welcoming to multilingual learners, so students develop the same international outlook you’d expect from boarding school, but rooted in Porto.
Personalized learning and holistic development
Smaller class sizes, counselling, and personalized support help each student grow academically and emotionally. Teachers know students by name, parents stay in the loop, and support plans can be adjusted quickly.
Building global citizens, not distance
Raising a global citizen doesn’t require distance. It requires rigor, perspective, and relationships. The American School of Porto, opening in September 2026, is designed around those values: combining an American curriculum with an international outlook and a close-knit community in Porto.
As one of the founding families, you’ll help shape the culture and traditions of a new school built for today’s globally minded students. ASP will offer a full U.S. academic pathway with GPA, credits, and APs, plus a rich program of clubs, arts, and sports that grow with the school year by year. It’s an opportunity to give your child world-class preparation, and still share daily life together at home in Portugal.
The best of both worlds
Boarding abroad can be a good choice for some students. But for many families — whether you’re already in Portugal or planning a move here — the balance changes once you consider wellbeing, time together, and the practical costs of distance.
The American School of Porto (ASP) brings the same academic ambition, global outlook, and university pathways families expect from leading international schools, all within reach in Porto. It’s a chance to offer your child world-class preparation while keeping daily life and family close.
Curious if ASP might be right for your child?
Start the conversation by completing our Inquiry Form and we’ll reach out personally, answer your questions, and share more about how ASP is designed for families like yours.
