St. John's International School

Brazil, São Paulo

Save school

🔒

Asking this school a question isn't available on this profile

St. John's International School doesn't currently receive questions from parents through doris.

Schools that manage their doris profile answer parent questions directly.

Is this your school? Claim your profile to start receiving enquiries from parents.

Format

In person Video

Your timezone

Preferred slots (9am–4pm in school's timezone — pick at least 2)

Tell St. John's International School you're interested

How many children are you applying for?

Where's your family from?

Some schools have residency / visa requirements — this helps the school answer you.

I want to enrol in…

Anything you'd like to mention? (optional)

Independently researched by doris.

Not yet claimed by the school

Claim your profile

The school at a glance

Instructs in English, Portuguese, Spanish

Fees Fees not listed

Ages 1 - 17 years

Type Co-educational

Opened 2017

Bus Service No

Academic offering

Curriculum IB (PYP), Cambridge (Secondary), British Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum

Taught languages English, Portuguese, Spanish

Strengths Languages, Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts

Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language

Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Senior Secondary School

Introduction

St. John's International School in Cotia, Brazil operates two campuses and offers a unique blend of IB and Cambridge programs for ages 1 to 17. The Little John campus serves ages 1–5, while the St. John's International School campus serves ages 6–17. The Primary Years Programme is taught in English, Portuguese and Spanish, combining the IB PYP with the school's International English Learning System (IELS). From Year 1 onward, the curriculum also meets Brazilian curricular requirements. Cambridge English Preparation begins in Year 2, with Cambridge Main Suite progression from Year 6 (A2 Key to CPE). Students learn core subjects - English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Portuguese, and Spanish , alongside specialist instruction in Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education and Performing Arts. Facilities include indoor/outdoor learning spaces, a Theater, Arts Atelier, Sports Rooms and Courts, and a buffet-style restaurant; field trips, festivals and a Student Agency program enrich the international learning community.

Av. Dona Cherubina Viana, 1735 - Vila Santo Antônio, Cotia - SP, 06708-360, Brazil

Gallery

The school has not added photos

The Essentials

Location

Av. Dona Cherubina Viana, 1735 - Vila Santo Antônio, Cotia, SP 06708-360, Brazil. The school is in Cotia, a municipality in the state of São Paulo within the São Paulo metropolitan region. The campus serves Infants, Primary, Secondary and Senior School divisions.

Stages

Infants (Little John) 1 to 5 years; Primary 6 to 10 years; Secondary 11 to 14 years; Senior School 15 to 17 years

Type

International Baccalaureate (IB) World School; Cambridge curriculum is listed under Curriculum

Country affiliation

Rooted in the British education system

Diving Deeper

Food Options

St. John's Restaurant is set up as a buffet (self-service) and is supervised by a team of nutritionists who prepare the menu and monitor the students' meals.

Governance and Ownership

The school is an American-based company, fully accredited and licensed to operate in the educational sector.

Fees

Application fees
- No public, fixed application fee amount is published. The admissions process requires completion of an application form and submission to the admissions office via the school email.

Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)
- The school does not publish a detailed tuition schedule by year group or per term for the 2026/27 academic year (and no public 2025/26 fee schedule is available). Exact tuition amounts for specific year groups and term/year totals are not publicly available.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- No public statement of a standard billing schedule (termly/quarterly/monthly) or formal payment terms is available. Specific billing dates, deposit requirements, late-payment penalties, and installment plans are not listed publicly.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- The school operates as day campuses (Infants / Primary / Secondary / Senior) and does not advertise boarding provision; therefore no boarding fees apply.

Other costs and additional fees
- No public schedule is available for typical additional costs (uniforms, meals/cafeteria plans, transport/shuttle, extracurricular activity fees, examination fees, school trips, learning resources or technology charges). These potential extras are not published as fixed amounts.

Refund information
- No publicly posted refund policy, registration-deposit refund terms, or tuition-refund conditions are available. Specific refund rules and timelines are not published.

Fee payment options
- No public list of accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, online payment processors) is posted. For fee-payment arrangements and accepted methods, families should use the school contact details provided. The school's contact email is secretaria@stjohns-brazil.com and the phone number is +55 11 4551-4167. Campus addresses: Av. Dona Cherubina Viana, 1735 and Av. Dona Cherubina Viana, 830, Cotia, SP.

Brief summary of findings and data gaps
- A search of the school's public pages and commonly used international-school directories shows that the institution does not publish a fee schedule or detailed fee policy for the 2026/27 academic year (nor a public 2025/26 schedule). Because the required numeric fee items (application fee amounts, tuition by year/term, billing dates, refund rules, and payment-method lists) are not available in public materials, exact figures cannot be provided here.

Academics

Curriculum

The Primary Years Programme (Y1 to Y5) is taught in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, combining the IB PYP framework with the school's IELS (International English Learning System). The curriculum integrates core subjects—English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Portuguese, and Spanish—with specialist instruction in Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, and Performing Arts, while following Brazilian curricular requirements from Year 1 onward. Year 1 (Ages 6–7) is 50% English and 50% Portuguese, with bilingual literacy, early Spanish, and inquiry-based learning in Science and Social Studies. Cambridge English Preparation runs from Year 2, building the linguistic competencies for Cambridge exams; from Year 6 students progress into the Cambridge Main Suite (A2 Key through CPE).

Higher Education Progression

Senior School (Year 10 to Year 13) offers two integrated curricula: the Cambridge International Programme (IGCSE and A-Levels) and the Brazilian National Curriculum delivered through the Poliedro Preparatory System, enabling graduates to hold both national and international qualifications. Subjects are taught predominantly in English, with Portuguese in key Brazilian components. Cambridge English exams (FCE, CAE, CPE) and IELTS support international university admissions, while ENEM and vestibulares prepare students for Brazilian higher education; Year 13 provides a transition to Cambridge A-Levels or entry to Brazilian universities, depending on pathway.

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Student Agency centers learning by placing learners at the center of their own learning journey. Learners participate in constructing their learning, express their ideas, and make decisions. They develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, and become resilient by learning from challenges and celebrating successes. The teacher acts as an inspiring facilitator, guiding, challenging, and supporting while learners explore, question, and build knowledge in an autonomous and engaging way. Agency includes voice, choice and ownership, recognizing the rights and responsibilities of the individual. Our aim is to develop confident, adaptable individuals prepared to lead their own paths in a dynamic world.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Students are educated in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The IELS (International English Learning System) forms the backbone of the curriculum, focusing on English language mastery and global competencies. The mother tongue of instruction is English. The integrated curriculum blends the Brazilian Common Core with the British curriculum to support international-mindedness. The Cambridge Assessments International Mindset encourages global thinking, and Social Constructivism supports collaboration and idea-sharing. The program prepares students to be global citizens with strong English proficiency.

Mental Wellbeing

Assessment of social-emotional and physical development (PSPE) continues after enrollment to support students' adaptation and growth. In infants, assessments observe language exposure and social, emotional, personal, and physical development during visits. Primary assessments include informal interviews in English and Portuguese, with PSPE continuing after enrollment to support adaptation and growth. The admissions process emphasizes understanding the student's social-emotional profile and learning needs to support well-being. The school seeks to integrate social and emotional development with academic learning.

Parent Experience

History

The St. John's Academic Centre began its activities in Brazil in 1997 as an academic research and reference centre for excellence in the teaching of foreign languages. It assisted bilingual and international schools to plan activities, train staff, develop academic material, adapt curricula, and guide pedagogical assessment in all learning areas. In 2002, the St. John's Language School opened, focusing on language acquisition for student travel exchanges and preparing for ESOL Cambridge and other international certificates, while continuing to offer consulting to international, bilingual and regular schools. In 2008, in Oxford, the United Kingdom, St. John's worked on creating and developing a cohesive international education system to adapt and integrate both British and Brazilian educational cores, including preparation for Cambridge exams, and since then the International English Learning System – IELS – has been used in partner schools. In 2010, the St. John's Publisher was created to produce, develop and sell its own academic material related to IELS. In 2017, St. John's International School was established as an international school operating according to Brazilian and British education cores to teach the Primary Years Programme in English, Portuguese and Spanish to children aged 18 months to 15 years.

Community

At St. John's, learning is driven by inquiry. As part of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, the inquiry-based approach places students at the center of their learning journey, encouraging them to ask questions, investigate real-world issues, and construct meaningful understanding. Field trips are organized twice a year to extend learning beyond the classroom. Celebrations of learning are essential, with events such as Read Across Americas, Art & Music Festival, International Day, June Festival and Science Fair that give students the opportunity to share their discoveries, showcase their talents, and reflect on learning with peers, teachers and families.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Families may participate in multiple opportunities to engage with the school, students and faculty. The academic calendar provides events such as International Night and Open House, as well as group projects exhibits and students' academic production. The most important is that parents show interest in the daily progress of their children, nurturing their efforts and showing appreciation for their improvement.

Facilities

Facilities Overview

St. John's International School is an IB School. The school operates two Cotia campuses: Little John International School for ages 1-5 and St. John's International School for ages 6-17. All facilities are learning spaces designed to support social, emotional, and academic development, with indoor and outdoor environments. The Little John campus provides a Sports Room, a Sports Court, and an Arts Atelier, plus a Cafeteria supervised by nutritionists. The St. John's International School campus includes a Sports Room, a Sports Court, a Theater, and an Arts Atelier, and a buffet-style restaurant supervised by nutritionists.

Sports Facilities

The Little John campus has a Sports Room and a Sports Court for physical activities. The main St. John's campus also has a Sports Room and a Sports Court. The main campus includes a Theater and an Arts Atelier in addition to its sports facilities. Activities take place in these spaces to promote health, socialization, and leisure.

Academic Facilities

All school facilities are learning spaces designed to develop social, emotional, and academic skills for students from 6 to 15 years old, encouraging collaboration and interaction in indoor and outdoor environments. St. John's International School is an IB School. The school uses the International English Learning System (IELS), developed by the St. John's Academic Centre & Publisher. The core curriculum and teaching approach are rooted in this international framework.

Extra Curricular Facilities

Sports and artistic activities are carried out in the Sports Room, Sports Court, Theater and Arts Atelier. Little John provides sports and artistic activities for 1-5-year-olds in spaces including the Sports Room, Sports Court, and Arts Atelier. The Theater and Arts Atelier on the main campus support performances and creative projects as part of extracurricular life. These activities promote health, socialization, and the development of morals and ethical values.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual

The school uses inquiry-based learning as part of the IB Primary Years Programme. Inquiry-based projects place students at the center of their learning, encouraging questions, real-world investigations, and purposeful action. Field trips are organized twice a year to extend learning beyond the classroom. Celebrations of learning, such as Read Across Americas, Art & Music Festival, International Day, June Festival, and Science Fair, give students opportunities to share discoveries, showcase talents, and reflect on their learning with peers, teachers, and families.

Arts & Creative

The school offers arts and creative activities such as Watercolor Painting, Drawing, and Eco Creative Art. Music is provided with Choir, Flute, and Musical Instruments Practice. Body and Culture activities include Expressive Movement, Asian culture, and Capoeira. Art and music are showcased through events like the Art & Music Festival, highlighting student creativity and collaboration.

Cultural & Language

The school teaches the Primary Years Programme in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The International English Learning System (IELS) underpins language learning. Cultural and language events include International Day, Read Across Americas, Art & Music Festival, and June Festival. Intercultural understanding and global citizenship are central to the IB framework.

Social & Hobbies

Social and hobbies are supported through a range of activities in music, athletics, and arts. Music offerings include Choir, Flute, and Musical Instruments Practice. Athletics include Capoeira, Functional Training, Handball and Basketball for students from Y5 to Y9, and Men's and Women's football. Body and Culture activities also involve Expressive Movement and Asian culture.

Leadership & Professional

Student Agency places learners at the center of their learning journey. Agency empowers students to express ideas, make decisions, and take meaningful action. Students actively participate in constructing their learning and develop skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Self-efficacy is cultivated as teachers guide and provide feedback to support autonomous learning.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Athletics and activities support mind and body development. Daily practices take full advantage of expansive green spaces and multifunctional outdoor areas. All sports, physical and artistic activities aim to foster belonging, respect, teamwork, fair play, and responsible attitudes. Practices emphasize balance of mind and body and the importance of taking care of themselves.

Languages

Language Provision

English is the language of instruction for the majority of the curriculum, while Portuguese is used for Brazilian content such as Portuguese Language, Brazilian History, and Geography. Spanish is taught as a third language, starting in Year 1 in Primary and continuing through the curriculum. The mother tongue of instruction is English. Language development is supported by the IELS system and Cambridge exams (from Young Learners to CPE), with DELE Spanish certification preparation beginning in Year 6.

Bilingual Teaching

Three languages are used in instruction: English, Portuguese, and Spanish. In Primary (Years 1–5), Year 1 is 50% English and 50% Portuguese, with Spanish starting in August, and the programme combines the IB Primary Years Programme with the exclusive IELS – International English Learning System. The approach develops bilingual fluency in English and Portuguese and growing multilingual competence in Spanish.

Immersion Programs

Three languages are used across the curriculum: English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The IELS underpins English language mastery, and Cambridge English preparation begins in Year 2, progressing from the Young Learners suite to higher Cambridge exams.

Admissions

Admission Process. We are very happy that you are considering enrolling at St. John's. Our schools are carefully designed to promote intellectual growth and provide a healthy and balanced education for children and adolescents. Here, our students acquire new skills, discover their talents, cultivate a love of learning, and develop their curiosity through our inquiry-based approach. See below the steps of our admissions process: 1. This allows us to identify the campus of interest — St. John's International School (Primary, Secondary & Senior) or Little John (Infants) — and verify the availability of places. 2. School Visit: The second step is to schedule a visit to the chosen campus. Please contact us so we can arrange a meeting and introduce your family to our learning environment and educational approach. 3. Student Assessment: Assessments vary by age and level. Infants (1–5 years): the child will be invited to spend a day at the school before or after enrollment, during which we observe language exposure (English/Portuguese) and social, emotional, personal, and physical development. This is a playful and welcoming experience designed to help the school understand the child's profile. Primary (6–10 years): the student will participate in an informal interview in English and Portuguese, scheduled before or after enrollment. This assessment helps determine the current language level and recommend the Cambridge preparatory course and possible English or Portuguese supports to aid learning throughout the semester. The social-emotional and physical development assessment (PSPE) continues after enrollment to improve support for the student's adjustment and growth. Secondary (11–14 years): students are invited to undertake a leveling assessment at St. John's, covering Mathematics (Brazilian and British curricula). These exams help determine the student's academic level and guide placement in the most appropriate year, especially in subjects requiring progression of skills and content. 4. Family Interview: The final step is a meeting with the family and the student. This conversation is essential to understand the family's educational values and expectations, as well as the student's learning style. This helps build a meaningful and personalized connection between the student and the school's educational approach. Completing the enrollment form.

School Events

The school has not added events

FAQs

Where is St. John's International School located and which ages does it serve?

St. John's International School is in Cotia, São Paulo (Av. Dona Cherubina Viana, 1735 and 830) and serves children aged 1 to 17 across two campuses: Little John (ages 1–5) and St. John's International School (ages 6–17).

What type of school and curricula does St. John's offer?

St. John's is a co-educational international school combining the IB Primary Years Programme with the school's International English Learning System (IELS) and the Cambridge programmes, while meeting Brazilian curricular requirements from Year 1 onward.

How are the two campuses organised?

The Little John campus serves Infants (ages 1–5) and provides age-appropriate indoor/outdoor learning, sports and arts spaces, while the main St. John's campus serves Primary, Secondary and Senior students (ages 6–17) with expanded facilities including a Theater and Arts Atelier.

What is the admissions process for families relocating from overseas?

Admissions begin with identifying the campus and checking place availability, followed by a scheduled campus visit, age-appropriate student assessment (playday for infants, informal interview for Primary, leveling exams for Secondary), and a final family interview before completing the enrollment form.

Is there a published application fee amount or standard tuition schedule?

No public, fixed application fee amount or detailed tuition schedule for the 2026/27 academic year is published; the admissions process requires completion of an application form and submission to the admissions office via the school contact channels.

Does St. John's offer boarding or only day schooling?

St. John's operates as day campuses for Infants, Primary, Secondary and Senior School and does not advertise boarding provision.

How is the Primary Years Programme delivered and in which languages?

The IB Primary Years Programme (Years 1–5) is taught in English, Portuguese and Spanish and is combined with the IELS to develop bilingual literacy and multilingual competence while integrating core subjects and specialist instruction.

When do students begin preparation for Cambridge exams and how does that progress?

Cambridge English preparation begins in Year 2, and from Year 6 students progress into the Cambridge Main Suite, advancing through levels from A2 Key up to CPE as they move through Secondary and Senior School.

What senior-school pathways are available for university preparation?

Senior School offers integrated Cambridge International programmes (IGCSE and A-Levels) alongside the Brazilian National Curriculum delivered through the Poliedro Preparatory System, enabling graduates to pursue international university entry or Brazilian pathways such as ENEM and vestibulares.

What sports and arts facilities does the school have?

Both campuses include a Sports Room and Sports Court; the main St. John's campus also features a Theater and an Arts Atelier to support performances, creative projects and a broad programme of artistic and physical activities.

Are there indoor and outdoor learning spaces and how is outdoor learning used?

All facilities are designed as indoor and outdoor learning spaces that promote collaboration and social-emotional development, with expansive green and multifunctional outdoor areas used daily for physical activity, play and whole-child learning.

What dining arrangements are provided for students?

The school operates a buffet-style restaurant (St. John's Restaurant) and Little John has a supervised cafeteria; menus are prepared and monitored by a team of nutritionists who supervise students' meals.

What kinds of extracurricular activities and clubs are available?

Extracurricular offerings include music (Choir, Flute, Musical Instruments Practice), visual arts (Watercolor, Drawing, Eco Creative Art), body and culture activities (Expressive Movement, Capoeira, Asian culture), and sports such as handball, basketball and football.

How often do students go on field trips and what school events celebrate learning?

Field trips are organized twice a year to extend learning beyond the classroom, and the school hosts celebrations such as Read Across Americas, Art & Music Festival, International Day, June Festival and Science Fair to showcase student learning.

How does St. John's encourage student leadership and voice?

Student Agency is central to the school's approach, empowering learners to express ideas, make decisions and take meaningful action while teachers guide and provide feedback to develop autonomy, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

How does the school support students' social-emotional development after enrollment?

The school continues social-emotional and physical development monitoring (PSPE) after enrollment, using observations and interviews to support students' adaptation and growth and to guide appropriate classroom and pastoral support.

What support is available for students learning English as an additional language?

English language development is supported by the International English Learning System (IELS), which underpins instruction and the school's staged Cambridge English preparation; the school assesses language levels during admissions to recommend appropriate English or Portuguese supports.

How are infants assessed when joining the Little John campus?

Infants spend a play-focused day at school where staff observe language exposure (English/Portuguese) and social, emotional, personal and physical development to build a profile that informs classroom placement and support.

Who oversees St. John's and is the school accredited to operate in Brazil?

St. John's is operated by an American-based company and is fully accredited and licensed to operate in the educational sector in Brazil.

When was St. John's International School established in Brazil?

The St. John's Academic Centre began activities in Brazil in 1997, the language school opened in 2002, the publisher started in 2010, and St. John's International School itself was established as a school in 2017.

Search for more schools

Search schools in Brazil View all schools in São Paulo View all schools in Brazil IB curriculum schools in Brazil Open days & tours in São Paulo What is the IB curriculum? View all schools Search all schools

Visit Website

St. John's International School

Asking this school a question isn't available on this profile

Request confirmed

The school will be in touch soon. Schools typically confirm bookings within 5 business days

Tell St. John's International School you're interested

Sent to the school