There are many private schools in Brussels. Some offer a complete curriculum from preschool to secondary, while others focus solely on one level.

Information about all private schools in Brussels — from preschool to primary and secondary — is available in the rest of this article.

Private schools in Brussels differ from public schools in several ways.
Parents who enroll their child in a private school generally do so for the following reasons:

• Small class sizes allow for more individual attention.
• Language immersion in English or Dutch within an international, multicultural setting — one of the main features of international schools in Brussels.
• Modern infrastructure with specialized equipment and a wide range of extracurricular activities.
• Teaching approaches that better match the needs and preferences of students and families — for example, active learning methods or Montessori schools in Brussels.
• Values, philosophy, or religious principles aligned with the family’s beliefs — there are many catholic or Christian private schools in Brussels.
• More structured and disciplined learning environment to support focus and academic achievement.
• Flexible academic programs that adapt to specific student needs.
• Higher academic expectations and stronger student support systems.
• Selective admission process, often seen as a mark of quality by some families.
• Positive social influence from the school community and classmates.

Most private preschools in Brussels are international schools.
These schools welcome children from age 2.5 to 6 over a three-year cycle (plus a reception class for younger children).

From preschool onward, private schools offer enriching educational programs that may include immersion in one or more languages, structured curricula, arts and music classes, extracurricular activities, and playful, interactive approaches focused on learning through play.

They also provide a multilingual and multicultural environment, welcoming children from diverse nationalities and backgrounds.
Teaching is often in multiple languages (English, French, etc.), allowing children to develop language skills from an early age.

As with preschools, most private primary schools in Brussels are international schools.
These schools serve students aged 6 to 12 from various national and cultural backgrounds and provide a multilingual, intercultural learning environment.

At the primary level, private schools offer diverse educational programs. Some follow the national curriculum of specific countries (Belgium, the UK, France, Germany, etc.), offering nationally recognized diplomas.

Others opt for a more international approach, such as the IB Primary Years Programme (International Baccalaureate) or the International Primary Curriculum (IPC).

International primary schools also often adopt a differentiated pedagogy that adapts to each student’s individual needs, supporting their academic, social, and emotional development.

Secondary education in Brussels is mainly for students aged 12 to 18 (the end of compulsory schooling). The program lasts 6 years for general, technical and transitional pathways, and 7 years for vocational education.

At the secondary level, there are two types of private schools:

• International secondary schools
• Private schools preparing for the central examination jury

International secondary schools in Brussels offer academic programs designed to serve a diverse student population, including expats, diplomats’ children, international families, or local students seeking international education.

These schools often use multilingual and intercultural teaching approaches to meet the needs of students from various backgrounds.
Their programs are based on international standards and may include the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the European Baccalaureate (EB) offered by European schools.

These schools place a strong emphasis on language learning, offering courses in multiple languages including English, French, German, Spanish, and more — helping students grow linguistically and culturally.

These schools offer specialized courses to prepare students for Belgium’s central examination jury (jury central).
These exams allow students to earn their official upper secondary diploma (CESS).

A CESS earned via the central jury is fully equivalent to the one delivered by public schools in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

Most students spend one to two years in a private jury prep school to obtain their diploma.