Centro BranchHigh School

Discover the fascinating world of the German language at Colégio Cruzeiro!

In the age of globalization, mastering multiple languages is essential for achieving professional and personal success. That’s why at Colégio Cruzeiro we offer our students a unique experience of linguistic and cultural immersion.

German, the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union, is a strategic choice for those who want to expand their horizons and stand out in an increasingly connected world. Besides being the official language in six European countries, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, the German language also plays an important role on the economic scene, with Germany being the largest economy of the European Union, which contains 27 countries as members.

At Colégio Cruzeiro, we welcome families that want to explore the advantages of learning German with arms wide open, regardless of their familiarity with German culture. Our students have the unique opportunity to achieve the main German proficiency certifications during their time at Elementary School II and high school, as well as the crucial Cambridge English exams of different levels. This journey transforms them into authentic global citizens with valuable language skills to stand out in today’s world.

And that’s not all! At Colégio Cruzeiro, learning goes beyond the classroom. Our language immersions are exciting moments of interaction, games and play, in which students are challenged to speak only in German. On these special occasions, which take place in the 5th grade of the Elementary School I and in the 7th and 9th grades of Elementary School II, they take part in real conversational situations on relevant everyday topics, consolidating what they have learned in the classroom throughout the year.

And the culmination of this unforgettable journey is the Study Trip to Germany, reserved exclusively for High School students. For two weeks, students are hosted by German families, attend local schools and immerse themselves in German culture. This enriching experience culminates in a week of cultural experience in the country, providing students with a complete immersion and preparation for the internationally recognized DSD 2 certification, which they will take at the end of High School.

At Colégio Cruzeiro, we are committed to offer a quality education that prepares students for the real world. Through teaching German and our immersion experiences, we are building a bright future for our students, empowering them to become successful global citizens.

Join us on this journey to professional and personal success. Enroll in Colégio Cruzeiro today and discover the power of mastering German in an increasingly fluid and interconnected world.

We are a school with an emphasis on foreign languages.

In addition to fluency in German, we offer a strong and distinctive English teaching. We are the school that most often certifies English language proficiency, with 100% of our students achieving Cambridge University Certification by the end of High School.

We have experienced teachers, quality teaching materials and a library full of books and media in German, English and Portuguese. This is how we prepare our students to become true global citizens.

Discover your child’s unique potential with Colégio Cruzeiro’s full-time options!

We believe that each individual is unique and has unlimited potential. That’s why at our institution we offer a wide range of extracurricular activities (related to culture and sports), interdisciplinary projects and innovative technologies, with the aim of developing each student’s skills in different areas.

We want our students to explore their passions and discover new interests beyond the common academic curriculum. With the extra activities, we provide an enriching environment in the after-school hours, both for students enrolled in Colégio Cruzeiro’s Full-Time Program (TICC), which has the guidance of specialized teachers to direct their studies (Guided Study) and real learning workshops, and also for those who opt for the separate modality (Extra-Class Activity).

At Colégio Cruzeiro, we believe that students should have the opportunity to develop their specific artistic skills according to their interests. These extracurricular activities provide the ideal environment for them to improve in their areas of interest, which in the future they may even turn these areas of expertise into their future professions. Here, we bring the student to the center of learning, allowing everyone to be what they want to be, where they want to be.

Come and be part of our educational community, where skills are valued and cultivated. At Colégio Cruzeiro, your child will have every opportunity to reach their full potential and follow a successful path, whether here, in Germany or anywhere in the world.

Social Action: Transforming Lives and Building Ties of Solidarity

At Colégio Cruzeiro, social action and solidarity are fundamental values, rooted in our humanist education project. These principles are intrinsic to our history, which dates back to 1844, when the Sociedade de Beneficência Humboldt (SBH), initially known as the Sociedade Allemã de Beneficência, already offered support to German immigrants who had recently arrived in Brazil. This tradition of solidarity even preceded the foundation of the Deutsche Schule, now known as Colégio Cruzeiro, in 1862. Back then, social action meant providing financial aid to families in need and, above all, promoting support and incentives for Education.

Today, our voluntary participation in social action projects has become an opportunity for our students, staff and volunteers to experience different realities, which helps humanizing relationships and builds lasting bonds. This initiative goes beyond a one-off work, as it is an ongoing and constant practice. We currently have 15 action centers, covering various areas, such as Art and Sustainability, School Support, SingAction, Storytelling, Living Together, Body in Action, Body in Motion, Deutsch Lernen, HEMORIO, INTO, INCAVoluntário and Social Management. In addition, we have the groups of Ambiente de Transformação (Evening Education), Dialogues at School and a partnership with the renowned international organization TETO. We are always open to new actions, whether in response to the demands of society or to the initiatives of our own volunteers.

We invite you to learn more about Ação Social and its achievements, providing an enriching and transformative experience for everyone involved. Together, we are building a more supportive future, where every act of solidarity makes a difference. Learn more about our initiatives and find out how you can take part in this project.

The tradition of taking groups of high school students on a study trip to Germany began in the 1980s and has become one of Colégio Cruzeiro’s distinguishing features. Those who live this experience of immersing themselves in the daily practice of the German language for about a month, living with families, come back different.

"I'm shy, so at first I couldn't speak, but then I was discussing politics, talking about Brazil, fashion, boys, everything. And that was incredible. I felt fulfilled. As well as being able to study German for real. When you go there, you live German, you start to remember things you learned when you were little, you learn new words, you see a different culture."
Letícia Salamonde (Centro Branch) went on the Study Trip in 2015.

"It's very important to be immersed in the language and to know that if you don't try to express yourself in German, you won't be able to make contact. Fluency improves, because here, even if you're a very good grammar student, it's very different from when you actually have to put what you say into practice."
Julia Veloso (Centro Branch) went on the Study Trip in 2014.

"Traveling to a place where you love the culture is a no-brainer. As well as Germany being safe, organized and having a great quality of life, it was there that I had a great time thanks to the school's study trip. What struck me most was the school where we studied, which was very well looked after, offered a variety of activities, and entertained the students with games related to the German subject. With this trip I became more independent, because as well as being in a group, we had to control our money, documents, etc."
Maria Clara Sharp (Centro Branch) went on the Study Trip in 2015.

"The trip to Germany had always been talked about very highly, and so we arrived in the second year of high school with great expectations. This excitement was not only due to the trip itself, but also to the preparation phase, such as the sale of shirts, which was a success. We were very happy for the opportunity we had to get to know new places and cultures and to share moments like these with our friends. This trip will certainly remain in our memories forever."
Bruna Girardi and Juliana Fernandes (Centro Branch) went on the trip in July 2017.

"Trips bring about change in so many areas that we change and perceive ourselves differently. We are both the agent and the subject: we suffer and practice this change. Therefore, other trips will make me have new assumptions, but the Study Trip to Germany happened at such a crucial moment in my education that it will mark me forever, changing not only my conception of the world, but of myself."
Tais Monte Santo (Jacarepaguá Branch) went on the trip in July 2016.

What parents think:
The Study Trip experience is always eagerly anticipated by parents. After all, for most students it will be the first time they’ve been to another country without their families. Read below what they observed after their children returned from three weeks living with German families, studying in regular schools, and experiencing everyday life in that country:

"The best thing of all was the discovery that they can survive very well without our tutelage, because they learned about independence and autonomy from an early age. They came back safer, more confident, more mature, and incredibly passionate about the affections they left behind. On a trip like this, their horizons broaden, and the possibilities enchant them. In a certain sense, however, it was a journey of no return because it was a dive into themselves, a time to check their limits, to really get to know each other, because it was the first experience that put everything we had taught them into question. And this will be a continuous journey towards maturity."
Bel Fester, Adriel Fester’s mother (Jacarepaguá Branch), who went on the trip in July 2017.

"The Study Trip to Germany was Maria Clara's dream come true. She loved the classes she had at the school in Tübingen and was able to practise and improve her German with the family who welcomed her so well. She also got to know some beautiful cities and a bit more about German culture. All this in the company of her friends. Unforgettable!"
Leila Carvalho, Maria Clara Carvalho’s mother (Centro Branch), who went on the trip in July 2016.

"Bruna loved her family, she was very well received, she made friends with her sisters, and they still talk to each other. The city, the walks, the people, the culture, the freedom, and the responsibility of being alone in an unknown country. Bruna enjoyed every moment and managed very well. She loved the course and the teacher. She says her German has improved a lot. She's already looking forward to studying abroad."

"The trip to Germany helped them to make more autonomous decisions and to be sure that they are fully capable of attending university in Germany. It was worth every day of the trip, and they evolved in every aspect. I am sure that I have chosen the best school for my children and that it offers every opportunity. I can't fail to mention the quality of the teachers: they have made a valuable contribution to all this training."
Adriana Amorim Oliveira, Mariana Amorim Oliveira and Pedro Amaral Amorim Oliveira’s mother, former students of Colégio Cruzeiro.

Immerse yourself in a universe of unlimited opportunities with Colégio Cruzeiro! Our innovative curricular approach, with an emphasis on teaching multiple languages, unlocks the doors to the world for our students.

Imagine the power of unlocking new cultures, expanding knowledge horizons, and gaining an invaluable professional edge - all of which is possible through the linguistic diversity we provide.

We go beyond the classroom! Colégio Cruzeiro has established strategic partnerships with renowned educational institutions around the world, offering our students the opportunity to excel in global and multicultural environments. We also have partnerships with international bodies such as the ZfA (Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen) and the Pasch program, which facilitate our students’ access to German language proficiency certifications and higher education institutions in Germany.

Our students become true global citizens, prepared, and empowered to thrive in an increasingly connected world.

We are proud to offer a range of internationally recognized certifications, including:

German: IVA 1, IVA 2, DSD 1, DSD 2
English: Starters, Movers, Flyers, A2 Key, B1 Preliminary, FCE e CAE - University of Cambridge

Those wishing to study in Germany can count on the guidance of our teachers and the possibility of taking the entrance exams to the Studienkollegs at the school itself. Through Colégio Cruzeiro, students can access institutions such as the Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, the Philipps Universität Marburg, Technische Universität Berlin, Uni Hamburg, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, among many other higher education institutions in Germany.

And for our students who wish to continue their studies in Portugal, we have special agreements with the following universities: Universidade Nova de Lisboa (College of Science and Technology), Coimbra University, Instituto Superior de Gestão (ISG) | Ensinus, Portucalense Infante Dom Henrique University, Lisbon University, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (IBP), Beira Interior University (UBI).

Come and be part of this transformative experience!