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Tip Toe Discovery School

Brazil, São Paulo

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Portuguese
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1997
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Portuguese, Spanish
Strengths Languages, Outdoor Education, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Tip Toe Discovery School is a bilingual, Montessori-based day school serving children from ages 2 to 18 in Alphaville, near São Paulo, Brazil. The school uses a bespoke curriculum with Montessori in Early Education, fostering curiosity and a solid lifelong-learning foundation. English is introduced early and most materials are in English to support bilingual proficiency, while Portuguese and Brazilian Social Studies are taught in Portuguese. Elementary subjects are taught in English with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt materials, and additional languages are offered. Middle and High School maintain English immersion, with Portuguese and Brazilian Social Studies taught in Portuguese and other languages available. Small class sizes enable personalized attention, while grounds surrounded by nature include gardens and animals and extensive outdoor learning spaces. Founded in 1997 by Suzana and Vera, Tip Toe Discovery celebrated its first High School graduating class in 2020, with alumni studying worldwide. The campus emphasizes nature-based, experiential learning.

Estr. de Ipanema, 300 - Vila Velha, Santana de Parnaíba - SP, 06532-145, Brazil

The Essentials

Tip Toe Discovery School has instruction in English, Portuguese.

Location
Tip Toe Discovery School is located at Estr. de Ipanema, 300, Vila Velha, Santana de Parnaíba, SP 06532-145, Brazil. It is in Santana de Parnaíba, a municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The campus is in the western part of the state and serves as a bilingual preschool through high school campus.

Stages
Early Education (Montessori-based) forms the foundation for learning. Elementary School follows, expanding autonomy and academic horizons. Middle & High School prepares students for life beyond school boundaries.

Type
The school is a bilingual, Montessori-based day school. It serves preschool through high school.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks are included in tuition; meals are prepared and provided by the school's nutrition team.

Governance and Ownership
Independent school founded by Suzana and Vera; bilingual K-12 teaching in English and Portuguese.
Fees
Application fees
- No published application or registration fee amount is available. Parents should confirm any application, enrolment deposit or registration charges directly with the school.

Tuition fees by school year (per term and per year group)
- The school does not publish per-term or per-year tuition amounts for any year group (preschool, elementary, middle or high school) for the 2026/27 academic year or for 2025/26. No itemised tuition schedule or grade-by-grade fee table is publicly available. Parents must request the exact tuition schedule for the relevant year group and term directly from the school.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The school follows an American academic calendar (school year typically late July through mid-June). No published billing calendar, termly vs monthly billing breakdown, discount schedule, penalty policy for late payment, or detailed payment-term conditions are available. Confirm precise billing dates, instalment options, and any discounts or late fees with the school.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Tip Toe Discovery School operates as a day school; there is no published information indicating a boarding programme or any boarding fees. No boarding charges are listed.

Other costs and fees (uniforms, materials, transport, extracurriculars)
- No published schedule of ancillary charges is available. This includes uniform costs, textbooks or materials fees, transport/bus charges, extracurricular or activity fees, meals, school trip costs, instrument or lab fees, or incidental charges. Parents should obtain a full list of additional mandatory and optional fees directly from the school when confirming enrolment.

Refund information
- No published refund, cancellation or withdrawal refund policy for deposits, tuition payments or other fees is available. Verify the school's refund and cancellation rules, including timing and any administrative deductions, directly with the school.

Fee payment options (credit card, bank transfer, cheque, online portal)
- No published information is available about accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card, online payment portal, or cheque) or whether international payment options are supported. Confirm accepted payment methods and any transaction fees with the school's administration.

Administrative note for parents (factual summary)
- The school provides admissions guidance and contact details but does not publish detailed fee schedules or payment terms in its public admissions material. For definitive fee amounts, billing cycles, payment methods, refundable/non-refundable conditions, and any extra charges, request the school's official fee schedule or fee letter for the specific academic year and grade.
Academics

Tip Toe Discovery School teaches Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
Montessori Method provides the foundation in Early Education, encouraging curiosity and creativity and building a solid lifelong-learning base. English is introduced from a young age, with most material in English to support true bilingual proficiency and extensive outdoor learning spaces. Elementary School uses English immersion for core subjects, with materials from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, while Portuguese and Brazilian Social Studies are taught in Portuguese and other languages are offered. Middle & High School maintain English immersion for core subjects, using Houghton Mifflin Harcourt materials, with Portuguese and Brazilian Social Studies taught in Portuguese and additional languages taught as well. Class sizes are small to allow personalized attention, and the learning grounds foster exploration and interaction with nature.

Student Teacher Ratio
Small class sizes are maintained to provide personalized instruction. The school limits classroom numbers to support individualized attention.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Tip Toe Discovery School fosters self-confidence and aims to develop courteous, respectful students who will contribute to the world. The Montessori approach is a cornerstone of early education, with staff who are qualified Montessori teachers and an environment designed for learning by experience. The school envisions students growing into respectful and highly regarded individuals. English immersion supports social interaction in an English-speaking environment, while Portuguese and other languages are taught and spoken as part of the bilingual program. The open school grounds and emphasis on exploration support students' social development.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school teaches all classes in English, including music, computer science, and physical education. The vast majority of day-to-day instruction is English-based. Portuguese and other languages are taught and spoken; the school is bilingual, teaching in English and Portuguese. Tip Toe Discovery School is a bilingual K-12 school teaching in English and Portuguese.
Parent Experience

History
Tip Toe Discovery School was founded by two sisters, Suzana and Vera, who sought to combine the Montessori Method with a bilingual education. In 1997, they opened Tip Toe - Montessori School of Alphaville in a country house and began teaching English to five preschool students. Over the years, their approach gained recognition, and the school expanded in facilities and grade levels. In 1999, the first group of students graduated from Elementary School, and in 2013 High School was inaugurated; in 2020 the school, now called Tip Toe Discovery, celebrated its first High School graduating class. With twenty-eight years of experience, alumni have pursued higher education in Brazil, the United States, Europe, and many parts of the world.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school is a bilingual K-12 school teaching in English and Portuguese, located in Alphaville on the outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil. The Montessori Method is a cornerstone of the education, and all Early Education staff are qualified Montessori teachers. Students are immersed in an English-speaking environment from start to finish, with Portuguese and other languages taught as part of the program. The grounds are open and spacious, surrounded by nature, with gardens and animals contributing to learning beyond the classroom.

Sports Facilities
There is a gym on campus for indoor activities. A playground with a climbing structure and a slide is on campus. Outdoor spaces are available, with grounds surrounded by nature, including gardens and animals. After-school sports are offered, including futsal, volleyball, gymnastics, and circus.

Academic Facilities
Core elementary subjects are taught in English, with materials provided by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, while Brazilian-based subjects (Portuguese and Brazilian Social Studies) are taught in Portuguese, and other languages are taught as well. Elementary classrooms have small student-to-teacher ratios to provide personalized attention. The school grounds are surrounded by nature and include gardens and animals. Early Education uses the Montessori Method, and all Early Education staff are qualified Montessori teachers.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Our extracurricular program offers students the opportunity to enrich their days. Culinary: Hands-on cooking experiences allow students to develop important skills and explore gastronomy practically and creatively. Science Lab: Practical laboratory experiences are important for learning in science and promote a fun, engaging way to learn; offered to Elementary School students from the 2nd year. Sports: We offer a variety of sports after school, including futsal, volleyball, gymnastics, circus, among others. Study Club: Extended study sessions for students who wish to continue studying after school. Other activities: Contact to learn about our complete extracurricular program.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Science Lab offers hands-on laboratory experiences for Elementary students starting from the 2nd grade. These activities provide practical learning experiences across scientific disciplines. The Study Club provides extended study sessions after school for students who want to continue their studies.

Social & Hobbies
Culinary classes offer practical kitchen experiences that are fun and interactive for students to develop important skills. Students learn to cook and explore the world of gastronomy in a practical and creative way. The activity fosters teamwork and practical life skills.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sports include futsal, volleyball, gymnastics, circus, and other activities after school. These activities encourage teamwork, discipline, and physical development. They provide a fun and engaging way for students to stay active and learn new skills.
Languages

Language Provision
English and Portuguese are the languages taught at Tip Toe Discovery School. In Elementary, core subjects are taught in English, while Brazilian-based subjects (Portuguese and Brazilian Social Studies) are taught in Portuguese, and other complementary languages are taught. Other languages are offered as part of the curriculum. From Early Education, English is introduced alongside Portuguese from a young age, with most materials English-based to establish a bilingual foundation.

Bilingual Teaching
Tip Toe Discovery School provides bilingual education from preschool through middle and high school. In Early Education, English is introduced alongside Portuguese from a young age, and most material is English-based to support bilingual development. In Elementary School, core subjects are taught in English, while Portuguese and Brazilian Social Studies are taught in Portuguese, with other complementary languages also taught. In Middle & High School, instruction continues with English immersion and Portuguese is used for Brazilian Studies, with additional languages taught as part of the program.

Immersion Programs
English immersion is the primary language approach across the school. Core subjects are taught in English, with English-language materials used (notably in Elementary with materials from a major English publisher). Portuguese is used for Brazilian Studies, and other languages are taught as part of the curriculum. English is introduced from a young age and is integrated across the learning experiences.
Admissions

Admissions
Admissions are accepted throughout the year. We maintain class sizes to preserve our student/teacher ratio, and when a class has no vacancies, applicants are placed on a waiting list. Step One: Express interest. Express interest by clicking Start the admissions process; we will provide an overview of the school and inform you of availability for your child's grade level. Step Two: Stop by for a visit. Schedule a Pop-up school day and participate in Open House events held throughout the year. Step Three: Confirm enrollment. When ready, complete the necessary paperwork; the process is designed to be as straightforward as possible. The school operates on an American academic calendar, with the school year starting in late July and ending in mid-June.

Waitlist
If there are no vacancies in a class, admissions are placed on a waiting list. The waiting list is used to fill vacancies as they arise during the year.
School Events
The school has not added events
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