Why choose us

In 1995, the school was formally registered as St. Dominic’s International School, Portugal, and introduced the IB Middle Years Programme, strengthening its growing IB framework.  
 
At this time, it remained one centre of the Fundação Obra Social das Religiosas Dominicanas Irlandesas, a charitable foundation under which it operated as a not-for-profit organisation.

This was a transformative milestone for St. Dominic’s International School, Portugal, as it became a proud member of International Schools Partnership - ISP.  

Becoming an ISP school was SDIS´s gateway to a dynamic global network of world-class schools. It provided access to unparalleled opportunities for our students to collaborate across continents, engage in innovative learning projects, and develop the skills to thrive as true global citizens. The world just became our classroom. 

For more than 50 years, St. Dominic’s International School, Portugal has nurtured a culture of truth, enquiry and well-rounded education, shaped by the IB philosophy. As Portugal’s first full IB continuum school, with 30+ years of IB experience, we bring ISP Learning.First™ approach to life and a deep expertise to every stage of education. 

Students embark on a connected and purposeful journey through the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, building rigorous thinking, ethical reasoning, agency and global citizenship along the way.  

At SDIS, academic excellence is built on a carefully connected IB journey. Through continuous formative and summative assessment aligned with IB criteria, teachers track growth across academic, social and emotional dimensions, helping students understand where they are, what comes next and how to improve. 

As students move through the MYP and into the Diploma Programme, they strengthen higher-order thinking, develop independence and take ownership of their progress.  
 
With MYP and DP results exceeding global averages  - including an 83.3% Diploma pass rate compared with 82.6% globally, and an average MYP score of 40.5 points against a global average of 37.5 - students consistently demonstrate strong academic achievement. SDIS combines ambitious academic outcomes with the personalised support families expect from an experienced IB continuum school.

Through our After-School Programme, students can choose from 30 clubs across sport, creativity, academic enrichment and personal development, with activities ranging from robotics and drama to football, volleyball and basketball. The Instrumental Music Programme expands these opportunities further, offering lessons for both beginners and experienced musicians in instruments including piano, violin, guitar and drums. 

Learners also engage deeply with experiences that build leadership, teamwork and global awareness.This breadth of engagement is reflected in the numbers: 30% of MYP and DP students participate in Model United Nations, 40% represent SDIS in sports tournaments and, through partnerships with 20 organisations, learners lead more than 40 community and service initiatives each year.

Guided by principles of diversity, service and the pursuit of truth, our teachers value respectful dialogue, enquiry, cultural understanding and individual growth. 

Our Learning Support Team works with educators and families to remove barriers to learning, while safeguarding and wellbeing professionals help create a safe, caring and inclusive environment. 

Annual IBO training, Professional Learning Communities, NEASC accreditation and CIS and ECIS membership reflect a culture of continuous improvement across learning, care and leadership.

Career development at SDIS begins in Grade 6 as part of the Life Learning Programme, with structured support from Grade 8 onwards. Through tutor-led sessions, workshops and industry experiences, students build self-awareness and the confidence needed to make informed choices. As they progress, university counsellors provide personalised guidance for national and international pathways, supporting course selection, application strategy, recommendation letters and submissions.

Through Unifrog, students and parents can research universities and courses globally, shortlist options, track achievements and access enrichment resources. Alumni sessions for Grades 10 - 12, together with university presentations, workshops and parent webinars, provide valuable insight throughout the journey. This personalised approach helps students progress with confidence, with 92% accepted to their first-choice university destination.

We offer a genuinely international learning environment, with students representing 53 countries, 30 home languages and 70% coming from international backgrounds.

English is the language of instruction, alongside a strong focus on multilingual development, with students studying Portuguese and further language learning opportunities including Spanish, French and Mandarin, as well as the possibility of self-taught language pathways. 

Alongside ISP’s International Learning Opportunities for Students (ILOS), learners develop the language skills, confidence and cultural awareness needed to engage effectively in an interconnected world. 

This multilingual foundation is reflected in strong outcomes, with 58% of MYP students and 47% of DP students achieving bilingual certification.

Our Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Programme supports students in understanding themselves, managing challenges and making responsible choices. It integrates social-emotional learning with IB Approaches to Learning (ATLs) and the IB Learner Profile, helping students develop the skills to think critically, collaborate effectively and take ownership of their progress.

This approach also aligns with ISP’s Big Five, which include cognitive, global, digital, self-leadership and interpersonal skills.  

NEASC recognises this framework, noting that our students  are articulate international thinkers with higher-order thinking at the heart of teaching and learning.

At St. Dominic’s International School, Portugal, the campus is designed to support discovery, creativity and wellbeing from Early Years through to graduation.

More than 80 classrooms are complemented by specialist learning environments, including science labs, nature spaces, creative arts studios, libraries, sports courts and collaborative areas, as well as a dedicated IB Diploma Programme building. 

Located in Cascais, close to Carcavelos beach and within easy reach of Lisbon, Oeiras and Sintra, SDIS offers a calm and well-connected setting that supports both learning and wellbeing.

Summer at St. Dominic’s is a time to explore, create and connect. Open to children aged 3 to 12, our Summer Camp brings together sports, creative activities, nature exploration, interactive games and Lisbon outings throughout July.

Each experience encourages children to discover new interests, make friends and grow in confidence, all within a caring and well-supervised environment.

ISP schools are a shared ecosystem of innovation and ambition. Students embark on a dynamic and personalised learning journey, guided by the transformative Learning.First™ approach, unique only to the ISP family of schools. They learn through 5 pillars enriched by worldwide collaborations, solving real-world problems with peers across continents.

This powerful combination of academic achievement, multilingual learning and international opportunities creates unparalleled future pathways, preparing students for top universities and global careers.