Lakeside School - Horgen and Lipschule are both in Zug, about 9 km apart. Both schools offer Swiss programmes, and Lipschule also offers Montessori. Published annual fees are close, at CHF 24,600 - 27,720 for Lakeside School - Horgen and CHF 21,456 - 31,416 for Lipschule. Lakeside School - Horgen takes pupils from 3 to 12, and Lipschule from 3 to 16.
Lakeside School Horgen is located in the center of Horgen at Alte Landstrasse 33-35, CH-8810 Horgen. Getting to school is easy by public transport: a 2-minute walk from Horgen train station, a 10-minute walk from Horgen Oberdorf train station, and a 10-minute walk from the Meilen-Horgen ferry.
Location
Lip Private School Zurich is located at Seestrasse 561, 8038 Zürich. It lies on the left bank of Lake Zurich near the city border with Wollishofen. The school is accessible by public transport.
Stages
Stages
Early Years (Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten); Primary School (Grade 1 to 6); Bilingual Matura (upper school through Swiss Matura).
Stages
Cycle 1: Montessori Kindergarten and Primary Level from 3 years; Cycle 2: Middle Level from 9 years; Cycle 3: Secondary Level from 11 years; Focus Year: 10th School Year from 15 years.
School type
School type
Day School on one campus.
School type
The school is a private Montessori-based school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Student support rooms for individual language and learning support in small groups.
Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Switzerland
Country affiliation
Switzerland
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
School Bus (Küsnacht) with door-to-door and shuttle services
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application & entrance fees - Registration (application) fee: CHF 500 (non‑refundable). - Deposit (payable on signing the contract): CHF 2,000 for the first child, CHF 1,000 for the second child, CHF 500 for each additional child. The deposit is held against outstanding amounts and is refunded on exit according to the school's deposit policy.
Tuition fees (monthly and annual) — Pre‑Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Primary (Grade 1–6) - Pre‑Kindergarten (full programme — Wednesdays half day): CHF 2,050 per month / CHF 26,400 per year. - Pre‑Kindergarten (5 mornings per week): CHF 1,310 per month / CHF 15,720 per year. - Pre‑Kindergarten additional morning (per morning): CHF 260 per month / CHF 3,120 per year. - Pre‑Kindergarten additional afternoon (per afternoon): CHF 210 per month / CHF 2,520 per year. - Kindergarten (full programme — Wednesday afternoon free): CHF 2,310 per month / CHF 27,720 per year. - Kindergarten option with an additional free afternoon (Tue or Thu) or other half‑day patterns: examples listed at CHF 2,150 per month (CHF 25,800 per year) and CHF 2,200 per month (CHF 26,400 per year) depending on the chosen pattern. - Primary School (Grades 1–6): CHF 2,310 per month / CHF 27,720 per year. Sibling discount: 5% on tuition for the second child and 10% for each subsequent child.
Day Care, After‑school and optional services (examples) - Day Care (examples of monthly / yearly pricing and time slots): - Morning care (typical early slot): CHF 245 per month / CHF 2,940 per year (example option). - Afternoon Day Care (5 days per week, shorter slot): CHF 490 per month / CHF 5,880 per year (example option). - Full after‑school extended care (5 days to 18:30): CHF 735 per month / CHF 8,820 per year (example option). - Single morning/afternoon session and Wednesday‑afternoon rates are available at specific per‑session prices. - Spontaneous/occasional Day Care: charged hourly (example CHF 20 per hour for spontaneous bookings) and invoiced separately.
Hot lunch and school bus - Hot lunch (monthly examples): CHF 200 per month (4 days/week, excl. Wed) or CHF 250 per month (5 days/week, incl. Wed); annual equivalents CHF 2,400 / CHF 3,000 respectively. - School bus (where available and charged): typical example CHF 300 per month / CHF 3,600 per year (train‑station shuttle integrated in tuition at some locations; paid bus routes noted as an additional cost).
Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and recurring charges are stated as monthly amounts and are payable in advance at the beginning of each month. The school issues invoices and applies its stated monthly billing schedule. Prices are subject to change per the school's published fee schedule.
Boarding - Boarding is not offered at this campus; the school operates as a day school with Day Care and after‑school options.
Other costs and charges - School fund (one‑off or standing contribution): CHF 1,000 (listed as Schulfond on early years pages). - Extra‑curricular / leisure courses and certain activities (e.g., external providers for After‑School Clubs, holiday care, class trips) are charged separately when applicable. - Occasional charges for spontaneous Day Care or special services are invoiced separately (example: CHF 20 per hour for spontaneous Day Care bookings).
Refund and cancellation rules (fees) - The registration (application) fee of CHF 500 is non‑refundable. - The deposit is retained as security against outstanding amounts and is refunded on exit subject to the school's deposit policy and any minimum attendance period conditions specified in the contract. Specific deposit refund conditions (timing and forfeiture in case of late cancellation) are set out in the school's admissions/contract terms.
Fee payment options - Invoices and the school's fee portal are used to manage billing and payments; recurring tuition is invoiced monthly in advance. Payment instructions (IBAN/QR reference or e‑billing and the parent fee portal) are provided on the school's invoicing/parent portal. Parents may follow the school's invoice instructions when making payments.
If you need specific monthly versus annual amounts for any single program option or confirmation for a particular academic year, use the published fee schedule entries above for the current programme options and fee levels.
Fee details
Application / registration fees - No separate application or one‑off registration fee is published as part of the school's publicly‑listed fee schedule for the current academic year.
Tuition fees by year group (annual and per term equivalent) - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual CHF 27,120. Per term equivalent (annual ÷ 3): CHF 9,040. - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual CHF 27,120. Per term equivalent: CHF 9,040. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual CHF 27,120. Per term equivalent: CHF 9,040. - Grade 1 (age 6): Annual CHF 27,840. Per term equivalent: CHF 9,280. - Grade 2 (age 7): Annual CHF 27,840. Per term equivalent: CHF 9,280. - Grade 3 (age 8): Annual CHF 27,840. Per term equivalent: CHF 9,280. - Grade 4 (age 9): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 5 (age 10): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 6 (age 11): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 7 (age 12): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 8 (age 13): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 9 (age 14): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 10 (age 15): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is presented and charged on an annual basis (the published fee figures are annual amounts). Per‑term figures above are simple thirds of the annual amount to show a per‑term equivalent.
Boarding / accommodation - The school operates as a day school; boarding provision is not part of the school's offering.
Sibling discount and family reductions - Sibling reductions apply: second child receives a 15% reduction; third child receives a 25% reduction on the published tuition.
Other costs and typical extras - No separate, mandatory uniform fee is stated in the published fee overview. Additional costs for items such as learning materials, school trips, extracurricular activities, lunches or late‑care are not included in the headline tuition figures and may incur extra charges.
Refunds and withdrawals - No public, itemised refund policy for partial terms, late starts, or early withdrawals is included in the school's published fee figures.
Fee payment options - The published fee information does not itemise accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer, direct debit or credit card). Contact details are provided for direct enquiries about payment arrangements.
Notes for record use - The amounts above are the school's published annual tuition rates for the current academic cycle and include the sibling discounts rule shown. Per‑term figures shown here are computed as one‑third of the annual fee to provide a term‑equivalent value for database display.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
Tuition includes meals. A Wednesday afternoon care option (12:30–18:00) is available for 265 CHF per month (3,180 CHF per year). Nachschulbetreuung (after-school care) runs after the end of classes from 16:00 to 18:00 and can be added for 1–4 days per week: 90 CHF per month (1,080 CHF per year) for 1 day; 137 CHF per month (1,644 CHF per year) for 2 days; 184 CHF per month (2,208 CHF per year) for 3 days; 231 CHF per month (2,772 CHF per year) for 4 days. The tuition schedule also lists full-time options with and without Wednesday meals (e.g., Vollpensum) priced accordingly (e.g., 2,440 CHF per month with Wednesday meals; 2,618 CHF per month without Wednesday meals; amounts vary by cycle).
House system
House system
The school has two dedicated buildings: the Kindergarten House and the Primary School House.
House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
Lip Privatschule Zürich operates Lip Schule as a private school. The operator's address is Seestrasse 561, 8038 Zürich, and the Handelsregisternummer is CH-020.4.018.819-2. Oliver Steinlin is listed as Co-Geschäftsleitung (Co-Managing Director). Lipschule AG is the corporate entity behind Lip Schule.
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Lakeside School Horgen offers a bilingual curriculum from Pre-Kindergarten through Primary School and into the bilingual Swiss Matura path in partnership with Freies Gymnasium Zürich. In Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, each class has English-speaking and German-speaking teachers, exposing children to both languages. In Primary School, instruction is delivered in English and German, with one native English-speaking and one native German-speaking teacher sharing responsibilities; there is an English week when all subjects are taught in English and a German week when they are taught in German; specialist subjects are taught in either language. The program follows Lehrplan 21, the Swiss national curriculum, and is enriched by international curricula. The bilingual Matura path offers continued study at the bilingual Gymnasium or ProGymnasium through the FGZ partnership, with an almost exam-free admission to the bilingual Gymnasium via Vorbereitungsklasse 6 (V6) after Grade 6, subject to passing the V6 entrance exam. Many Lakeside School students complete the Swiss Matura to gain access to world-class universities in Switzerland and abroad.
Curriculum details
Lip Private School Zurich is a Montessori private school offering Kindergarten and Primary (Cycle 1) from age 3, followed by Cycle 2 Middle Level from age 9, Cycle 3 Secondary Level from age 11, and a Focus Year (the 10th school year) from age 15. Cycle 2 features mixed‑age groups where students deepen their skills, explore interests, and learn to take responsibility, in an environment that strengthens personality and talents. The school is state‑recognized. Multilingual education is central: German and English are the everyday and teaching languages, and in Cycle 2 (grades 3–6 and the transitional year) lessons are conducted in German, English and French. New media are a fixed part of the curriculum, and every child has access to their own tablet. The Focus Year provides an individualized bridging year after secondary school for deepening, development and future planning, with personal guidance and flexible design.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Small class sizes.
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
Across its Swiss Matura pathway, Lakeside School Horgen reports that about 60% of students enter a Gymnasium after Grade 6, with many going to bilingual Freies Gymnasium Zürich or monolingual public Gymnasien; Perspectiva Nova provides on-campus exam preparation, contributing to strong higher-education progression.
Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Many Lakeside School students complete the Swiss Matura to gain access to world-class universities in Switzerland and abroad. The school bases its program on Lehrplan 21, the Swiss national curriculum, and integrates international curricula to support academic pathways. The FGZ partnership and V6 entrance exam structure facilitate transitions to Gymnasium-level education, and Perspectiva Nova provides on-campus exam preparation for Gymnasium entrances.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
We value a close relationship with students and parents. Our students' well-being and academic success come from trusting relationships and shared responsibility between family and school. The small-school environment provides a nurturing and familiar setting for development. Creative Education promotes healthy self-esteem, social skills, and collaboration through Physical Education, Music, Drama, Crafts, Design and Technology. After School Clubs and physical activities support social engagement and well-being.
Social & emotional learning
Learning is personal. Reliable relationships between teachers and students address individual needs. The school emphasizes personal development and provides a learning environment that fosters self-esteem within a familial setting.
Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
Student support rooms provide language and learning support in small groups.
Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
English and German are not merely two subjects; both are used in speaking and writing in every subject. Our teachers are native German or English speakers. We offer the Bilingual Matura.
English as an additional language
The school uses bilingual German/English Montessori pedagogy and has multilingual teachers and staff.
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
We value a close relationship with students and parents and emphasize well-being and academic success through trusted relationships and shared responsibility. The small-school environment creates a nurturing, familiar atmosphere. Creative Education promotes healthy self-esteem and social skills. After School Clubs and physical activities support well-being.
Mental wellbeing
Wellbeing is fostered through a familial environment, personal development, and positive learning experiences that strengthen self-esteem.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
Campus Horgen is in the center of Horgen. The Kindergarten House has its own floor, a kitchen and bathrooms, and a garden with a playground. The Primary School House includes bright classrooms, group rooms, a music room, and a crafts/design/technology room with workbenches, plus a drama room with a stage and seating. An exclusive in-house library is available to students, and each class has its own small library; the German library is a two-minute walk away for weekly visits. There is an on-site gym hall with a climbing wall, and the campus is easily accessible by public transport (2 minutes from Horgen train station, 10 minutes from Horgen Oberdorf, and 10 minutes from the Meilen-Horgen ferry).
Facilities overview
Lip Montessori Private School Zürich sits in Zürich-Wollishofen near the lake. The building is designed for children's needs with bright, well-structured spaces that provide orientation and freedom of movement. Learning happens everywhere: in the learning landscape, on the break courtyard, and in the after-care area. The learning environment includes ateliers, learning niches, learning halls, and a school garden. The Kindergarten and early primary use a bilingual German-English Montessori approach, with German and English integrated into daily life.
Sports facilities
Sports facilities
An on-site gym hall supports physical education. The gym includes a climbing wall. A garden with a playground and equipment provides space for outdoor activity.
Sports facilities
On-site there is a large hall on the first floor used by the middle school, providing space for movement and sometimes serving as a theatre. The school operates an open learning space with personal workstations, group rooms, ateliers and a lakeside break area suitable for a variety of activities. There is no dedicated on-site gym; Lip Schule rents sports halls in Zürich and surrounding communities.
Academic facilities
Academic facilities
The Primary School House features bright classrooms and small group rooms for collaborative learning. There is a music room with instruments. A crafts/design/technology room contains workbenches for textile and technical design. A drama room includes a stage and seating. Student support rooms provide language and learning support in small groups. An exclusive in-house library is available for students.
Academic facilities
Lip Schule Zürich follows Montessori pedagogy in the Kindergarten and primary years, with a bilingual German-English environment. German and English are part of everyday life, supported by native-speaking teachers to encourage natural language acquisition; all other subjects are taught in German. The school emphasizes Montessori philosophy and a learning culture that fosters independence and curiosity. In the second cycle, digital competence and media literacy are integrated; students learn to research, evaluate sources, and use digital content responsibly, including use of iPads and other devices. In the third cycle, individual coaching focuses on expanding personal, social, and methodological competencies, with an emphasis on guiding the learning path toward future career choices. Examinations exist in various forms to demonstrate competencies, and a competence profile guides next steps toward future career choices.
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Exkursionen, camps and project days are integral to the program. From the primary to the secondary levels, students take part in field trips to nature, culture, and society, as well as theatre and museums. There are several project weeks and camps across three school years to explore different subject areas.
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
Lip Privatschule Zürich is a familial private school on Lake Zurich that offers children and adolescents an inspiring place for personal development. Since 1998 Lip has stood for an inspiring learning environment—before, during, and beyond compulsory schooling. As a Montessori private school, Lip operates with room within Lehrplan 21 for holistic, competence-oriented education.
Community
Community
The Lakeside School Horgen offers After School Clubs including Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding, and acting. The Escola app is used for communications; teachers, management, and office staff can be contacted via their own email addresses. A parents' evening is held for all classes at the beginning of the school year. Once a year, parent conferences are held to discuss a child's academic and social development; additional meetings can be requested by parents or class teachers.
Community
Lip maintains a close, friendly network with partners, suppliers, alumni, and the parents of its students. This Lip network provides graduates with additional opportunities and perspectives for entering the job market. The school emphasizes three core values: Inspiring learning happens everywhere—at the Wollishofen site, in the mixed-age open spaces, in the diverse learning niches, in the workshop, outdoors by the lake, and during outings; Personal learning is supported by reliable relationships between teachers and students and among staff, enabling holistic, competence-oriented growth within Lehrplan 21; and a Family-like environment that strengthens self-worth through positive learning experiences and encourages students to deepen their interests and pursue their own path.
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
Primary School runs from Grade 1 to 6, setting the bilingual foundation. The Primary School House provides bright, spacious classrooms and dedicated group rooms, including a music room, a crafts/design/technology area, a drama room with a stage, and language/learning support rooms. An exclusive in-house library is available, with weekly library visits led by the English-speaking class teacher, and the nearby German library is visited weekly. Upper school offers bilingual Matura options all the way to the Swiss Matura.
Academic & intellectual
Digital literacy is emphasized; students learn to use iPads, phones, and computers to research, evaluate, prepare, and present information. Responsible use of digital and social media is taught in class and daily life, with parental involvement. English and French are part of daily schooling; native-speaking teachers enable natural language learning while other subjects are taught in German. Excursions, camps, and project days bring world topics into the classroom and support cross-disciplinary learning.
Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Music room with a large selection of instruments. Crafts, design and technology area with workbenches for textile and technical design. Drama room with a stage and spectator seating.
Arts & creative
The Focus Year includes theater and music as modules. Project work and ateliers are integral to the curriculum. Rhythmized learning, stress management, and communication and teamwork are addressed. Garden projects, theater activities, and swimming courses are part of the experiential program.
Cultural & language
Cultural & language
English-speaking class teachers support language learning and lead weekly library visits. The German library is nearby and is visited weekly by the German-speaking class teacher and students. There are dedicated student support rooms for individual language and learning support in small groups. The upper school offers bilingual Matura up to the Swiss Matura.
Cultural & language
English and French are part of daily life not only in language classes but also during breaks, supervision, and meals. Native-speaking teachers enable natural, playful language acquisition. All other subjects are taught in German. The school uses Zurich's cultural offerings for excursions and projects to broaden students' cultural experiences.
Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
After School Clubs are offered, providing activities after the school day. Clubs include Kung Fu, gymnastics, coding and acting. Holiday Care provides a fun holiday programme in a familiar setting.
Social & hobbies
Community is built by collaboratively developing rules and encouraging respectful cooperation. Students develop social and personal competencies through teamwork and shared meals, strengthening their sense of belonging within the school. Open spaces support movement, play, and social interaction across age groups.
Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
Garden projects near Grenzsteig involve caring for the community garden, chickens, planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting; harvested produce is used in the garden kitchen. Internships and service-learning opportunities occur with partner companies to connect learning with real-world contexts.
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
Career exploration is facilitated through modules on career choice, internships, and applications. There are internships and service-learning opportunities with partner businesses, plus development of communication, presentation, teamwork, and conflict-resolution skills. The Focus Year spaces resemble coworking environments to prepare students for the working world, supported by personal coaching.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
An on-site gym hall is equipped with a climbing wall for physical education. The on-campus playground is well equipped and partially covered. After School Clubs promote physical and mental wellbeing through sports and creative activities.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Swimming courses and first-aid training are offered as part of the program. Rhythmed learning and stress management are included to support well-being. An in-house kitchen serves fresh meals daily and accommodates dietary needs, with opportunities for students to assist in meal preparation. The Focus Year provides open, calm coworking-style spaces to foster balance and focused work.
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
English and German are the languages of instruction with a balanced bilingual model. In Primary School, classes are held in two languages with English weeks taught by English-speaking teachers and German weeks taught by German-speaking teachers; all subjects are taught in the current language. French is taught in Grades 5 and 6. DaZ and EAL support, as well as Learning Support, are available.
Language provision
German, English and French are taught across Lip Schule Zurich. Cycle 1 uses German and English as everyday and teaching languages. Cycle 2 uses German, English and French. Cycle 3 provides English and French taught by a dedicated English teacher and a French specialist.
Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
The school offers a fully immersive English and German (50:50) programme with equal instruction in both languages.
Bilingual teaching
Cycle 1 is bilingual, with German and English as part of everyday life and teaching languages. Cycle 2 uses German, English and French as teaching languages. Cycle 3 includes English and French taught by a dedicated English teacher and a French specialist.
Immersion programs
Immersion programs
Immersion occurs through an immersive bilingual model across the primary school. Classes alternate English weeks with English-speaking teachers and German weeks with German-speaking teachers so that every class experiences both languages. All subjects, including Mathematics and Environmental and Social Studies, are taught in the current week's language. Specialist subjects such as Physical Education, Crafts, Design, Technology (CDT), Music, Drama and Coding are taught in both languages by native English- and German-speaking teachers. French is taught in Grades 5 and 6. German as an Additional Language (DaZ), English as an Additional Language (EAL), and Learning Support are available. A Bilingual Matura pathway is available for upper levels.
Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Registration is completed online for Lakeside School Horgen. You initiate the process via the Lakeside School registration portal. The Horgen campus address is Alte Landstrasse 33-35, CH-8810 Horgen.
2. Fees and the admissions procedure are described on the Fees & Registration page. This page provides information on tuition fees and the admissions procedure. Reviewing this page is recommended as part of planning your child's enrollment.
3. You can contact the Horgen campus by email or phone for admissions inquiries. The Escola app provides the primary channel for school communications with parents, and direct emails are available to teachers, management, and the office. Parent conferences are held once a year at the start of the school year.
