1) Children must attend public or private schools if they turn 6 years old by September 15 of that year. If there are available spots, children who turn 6 between September 16 and December 31 can also be accepted into public schools. Private schools are not subject to this restriction and typically accept children who turn 6 by the end of the year. However, some public primary schools have pre-kindergarten classes that accept children who are 5 years old but not yet 6, free of charge.
2) Public schools do not charge tuition from primary to secondary school, while universities do charge tuition. The tuition for public universities is approximately 500-900 euros per year.
3) Students under the age of 10 (i.e., students in grades 1-4 of primary school) cannot attend school alone and must be accompanied by a parent or an adult designated by the parent when going to and from school. Class hours are typically from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Lunch can be eaten at school, and most public primary schools charge for lunch. During school hours, students cannot leave the school without parental supervision. If you wish to extend your child's time at school, you can enroll them in the "Free Time Management Center" at the school, where they can be supervised after school. This allows you to drop off your child at 8:00 AM and pick them up at 7:00 PM. The supervision fee is usually around 100-150 euros per month (paid for 11 months a year). This is much cheaper than the private schools mentioned above.
4) Since 2008, a 12-year compulsory education system has been implemented nationwide, meaning that children cannot drop out of school until they are 18 years old.
5) Primary and secondary schools in Portugal are grouped and managed by region: several schools form a school cluster, with one school exercising administrative authority. Parents can only enroll their children in schools near their residence. Enrollment must be done at the office of the school with administrative authority. You can choose five schools that are close to you and rank them according to your preference. Required documents for enrollment include: a copy of your ID card, health card, proof of residence (utility bills), etc., and you must present the originals.
6) School transfer. You can transfer from a private school to a public school and vice versa. Transfers can occur at any time within the same grade. If you wish to upgrade after transferring, you must apply at the end of the academic year. You can also choose five schools that are close to you for the transfer.
7) Schooling in Portugal starts in mid-September and ends in mid-June of the following year. There are two short breaks (two weeks off during Christmas and Easter) and three exam periods. The total score for exams is out of 20 points. The transition from middle school to high school is based on a national examination. The national exam typically tests only three subjects, and the scores account for less than 50% of the total score. Regular exam scores account for more than 50% of the total score. Similarly, university admission also requires participation in a national examination, with regular exam scores also contributing to the overall score. Additionally, the most challenging university to enter in Portugal is the medical school, where students need to maintain an average score of around 19 points in school.
