Luxembourg has 660,000 inhabitants, of which 47% are foreign residents, and has developed an education system that matches its ethos: multicultural, flexible, and inclusive. Its schools boast a striking linguistic diversity, and German, French, and Luxembourgish are the traditional languages of instruction. To meet its diverse needs, the country has state, private and international schools (free or private).
Organisation of the Luxembourg school system
In Luxembourg, schooling is compulsory from 4 to 16 years old. Early education consists of four learning cycles. Cycle 1 begins at age 4 with compulsory pre-school education. Cycles 2 to 4 (6-12 years) constitutes primary education. The standard duration of each cycle is two years.
At the end of Cycle 4, a set procedure determines a child’s continuing education. Parents and teachers discuss children’s needs thanks to regular meetings. The child’s future education is determined according to academic performance, standardised national tests and, in some cases, psychological tests.
There is an optional first year called “éducation précoce” (early education) for children aged 3 to 4 years old.
Our tip: How to easily find a school in Luxembourg
You can browse the atSchool.lu platform to search for the best school and apply various filters: curriculum, private/state, main language, special needs. You’ll also find feedback from parents on the various schools, which can help you make the right choice.
A unique language system in Europe
From Cycle 1, children are taught in Luxembourgish, but begin to learn French through games and daily activities. There is also a focus on the language spoken by a child’s family. The idea is to prepare children for the multilingual society in which they are growing up.
German literacy beginsinCycle 2. It then becomes the language of instruction for most subjects, except French. Oral French begins in Cycle 2, and written French from Cycle 3.
In standard secondary education, German remains the main language until the 3rd year. Pupils start learning English in the 2nd year. In year 4, French takes over as the language of instruction for all subjects. The only exceptions are German and English lessons, which are taught in their respective languages. Students can choose a fourth language (Italian or Spanish) from year 5.
Education in Luxembourg: financial aspects
State education is completely free, from textbooks to transport. As of January 2023, roughly 8,010 pupils get free canteen school meals. Low-income families can get extra financial help from the Centre psycho-social et d’accompagnement scolaire (CePAS).
The “chèque-service acceuil” (CSA) service also provides families with financial help. As of December 2023, it helped 57,981 resident children and 3,581 cross-border children[3]. The CSA provides 20 hours of free childcare services for 46 weeks a year for 1-4-year-olds who are not in school.
Good to know: Foyer home insurance
Protect your child’s education and well-being with Foyer’s multi-risk home insurance. It covers essential educational equipment thanks to its “Portable Goods” warantee. You will be compensated in the event of a fall, breakage, or theft of tablets, smartphones, laptops, or other connected devices.
Comprehensive support so everyone can succeed
Pupils with specific educational needs require a variety of support systems:
- Adapted classroom teaching.
- Follow-up in some subjects in other classes if necessary
- Support from professional specialists
- Extending the learning cycle over three years instead of two
- Psychological support
For pupils arriving from a foreign country, the “Service de scolarisation des enfants étrangers” (SECAM) will assess their language skills and direct parents towards a suitable class. Intercultural mediators also help schools and families communicate with each other.
“Maison Relais” and “Foyers Scolaires” childcare services plus parental assistants provide free homework help for Cycles 2 to 4 . The Summerschool.lu platform offers catch-up lessons during the summer holidays, alongside learning materials that all pupils can use.
Good to know: A choice of curriculums
Luxembourg offers three distinct curriculums to meet the needs of its diverse population:
– Luxembourg state education: free of charge in the 170 primary schools spread across the country’s 100 communes and in secondary schools.
– International state schools: there are no registration fees and they follow the EU curriculum. The schools in Differdange & Esch-sur-Alzette, Junglinster, Mondorf-les-Bains, Edward Steichen in Clervaux, Anne Beffort in Mersch and Gaston Thorn offer different language sections: French-speaking, English-speaking, German-speaking.
– Private schools: these offer a wide variety of curriculums (French, EU, Montessori, etc.) Some receive state subsidies to make education more affordable. There are twelve private primary schools in Luxembourg.
Recognised educational expertise
Luxembourg has an extensive professional network to support inclusive schooling:
- Psychoeducational centres
- National and regional commissions.
- Specialist teachers.
The success of this approach speaks for itself, with less than 1% of pupils enrolled in special needs schools.
For 2024/2025, public primary education employs 6,438 teachers, 87.4% of them are civil servants. There are 5,982 secondary school teachers, more or less equally split between men and women (55.1% women, 44.9% men).
Luxembourg is successfully meeting the challenges of an inclusive education system adapted to a multicultural society. Its ability to combine academic excellence, social inclusion, and multilingualism makes it a unique European educational model. The various curriculums, access to financial help and personalised support showcase a policy that gives each pupil the chance to succeed.
The three key takeaways:
- A free state school system, with a choice between national and international curriculums adapted to a growing multicultural population.
- A progressive and structured linguistic approach. It allows pupils to master at least three languages by the time they leave school.
- A comprehensive accompaniment and support system, from extracurricular to financial help. It guarantees equal opportunities for all pupils, regardless of where they come from or their situation.
