Moving to Brussels looking for schools

[DaddyOJ]

Hello all,
I'm moving with my two boys to Belgium for work in the coming months for work. I will be working in La Hulpe, but don't want to live there as it does seem to be a bit boring. I was looking at Ixelles and also Waterloo, can anyone tell me what are the best schools in these two areas. Not private as my wage won't stretch to that, so I'm looking at local. Any help would be welcomed.
Thanks

My dsis relocated a few years ago to Brussels to Watermael-Boitsfort so v close to where you are looking to be. It’s a lovely area within Brussels (so on the tram and metro network) but still close to the forest. Her experience (she moved with 1DD aged 7, now 12 and has DD2 aged 4) is that some schools are more favoured than others but it’s worked out fine. Can ask her for more details if you like.

Hi, thanks for that. This area would be good, if you could ask. I'm looking at a number different areas. From near Gare de nord next to the quay and down this way also.

HI there! We lived in Brussels for a total of 7 years. Two of my kids were at ISB, but my daughter attended local school in Stockel. I would not recommend living near Gare du Nord, however Ixelles, Watermael and Woluwe St Pierre are all nice. If you will be working near La Hulpe, there is also Overijse...

If you are going to use local schools, key question is which language you'll want (French or Dutch). The language communities operate schools so they are run as separate systems. Lots of state schools are Catholic in ethos (though ours was very low key with families of all faiths or none)

How old are the children? I know that in Stockel there is a good international mix in the schools. Probably the same in other areas where the metro feeds in toward the EU buildings... We knew kids at Don Bosco (French) who did well... There is quite a range of possibilities, some of which are oversubscribed (much like here!)

Hi Caddyshack, My boys are 8 and 11 the eldest has in the 6émé in France and they are bilingual French and English since birth. I would suspect the French system then. I heard in Brussels city itself the children have to learn both languages, is this true? I have been looking near the Sablon in the centre of town and easy to get to Gare Luxembourg. Do you know the schools in the centre of town?
Thanks for your help here.

So language is not an issue... The students take Dutch from 3ème in the French language schools I believe, but it shouldn't be a significant issue. I don't know the schools in the centre, so sorry I can't help, but metro line 1 runs from Stockel (great area) straight to Schumann. There are good schools along that line to be explored! We've been gone for 5 years so I'm not the most up to date... But it's a very simple commute to the EU area from Woluwe...