Best International Schools Europe: For Families
Best International Schools in Europe for Families
Europe is one of the most popular destinations for international teachers and expat families—but finding the right school for your family takes more than just scanning a job ad.
We’re gathering trusted insights and data to help you uncover the best international schools in Europe for families. Not just the best on paper, but the ones that genuinely support educators, children, and partners alike.
Top rated schools include:
- American International School Vienna – tuition covered for dependents and a competitive package (for Europe) for experienced teachers.
- American School of The Hague is another great choice for families with a great location, although slightly less benefits.
- Ecolint (International School of Geneva) – the first truly international school offers an incredibly diverse student body and is great for families.
- UWC Maastricht is another top family-friendly school – offering a truly diverse student and teacher population and some solid benefits for families.
- International School of The Hague – is another top choice for families in a great location.
- Danube International School in Vienna, Austria offers a good package for Europe.
- The International School of Luxembourg sounds like a great choice for families, but with taxable benefits could be a stretch depending on your financial situation.
- The Anglo-American School of Sofia is another great pick if you’re considering Eastern Europe, which plenty of family-friendly benefits.
- In Spain, Benjamin Franklin International School is a top choice for families.
Schools to consider:
- The International School of Zug and Luzern has a good reputation, though the benefits don’t match other European schools which could make the high cost of living impossible for some families.
- Munich International School has a great reputation, but with only one child covered (as a taxable benefit) it’s unlikely to be financially viable if you have more than one child.
We’ll also let you know which international schools aren’t a great fit for teaching families. Like our first European international school reviewed by a current family – Pinewood American International School.
Another family reviewed school recently had a mixed response. Park Lane International School in Prague scored highly for overall recommendation (4 stars), but only provided one child tuition (which could rule out many teaching families). The reviewer also said the salary was poor for teaching families – another important consideration for many.
Choosing the Right International School in Europe
Teaching abroad is more than a job, it’s a family lifestyle. That’s why we’re going beyond the recruiter blurbs to help you work out what matters most for your family, such as:
- Tuition waivers or discounts for your own kids
- Housing support or rental stipends
- Annual flights and relocation assistance
- Health insurance coverage for the whole family
- Work-life balance and overall staff wellbeing
- Spousal employment opportunities
- School culture and how welcoming it is to families
- Language support for non-native speaking children
- Local childcare and early years access
- Diversity and inclusion practices at school and in the community
Where Are the Best International Schools in Europe?
Moving to Europe offers a wide range of international schools with different curricula and cultural environments. We’ll be profiling top-rated schools in:
- Western Europe: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium
- Southern Europe: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece
- Eastern Europe: Poland, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic
- Nordic countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland
Whether you’re headed to a global city like Berlin or Barcelona, or considering a smaller community with a lower cost of living, we’re aiming to give you practical insights you can trust.
Real Stories from Teaching Families
We believe the best information comes from real families living the international school experience.
That’s why we’re inviting you to share your honest thoughts through our short online survey:
- Does your current school support your family life?
- Are the benefits as good as they sounded?
- Is your school inclusive of spouses and children who aren’t part of the teaching staff?
- How easy is it to settle into the local community?
Please complete our online survey and help us shape a valuable guide for other international educators with families.