This call covers only enrollment/waitlist process for international & bilingual schools plus homeschooling legality and community — not the full School & Education category.
Good to know
Good to Know
- The headline 'tuition' figure a school quotes is rarely the full cost — school bus (ruta), lunch (comedor), uniforms, books, trips, and a one-off enrolment/registration fee (typically EUR 1,500-9,000 at admission) are usually billed separately and can add 30% or more to the first-year total.
- School fees in Spain are generally not deductible from national income tax (IRPF); the Comunidad de Madrid offers only a modest regional tax credit for specific items like uniforms or extracurricular language classes, not general tuition.
- Many multinational employers in Madrid include an education allowance (commonly EUR 10,000-25,000 per child per year) in relocation packages — worth clarifying before committing to a school, since some pay the school directly and others reimburse per term.
- Admissions for the following September typically open November-March, with assessments through spring and confirmed offers/reservation fees due around April-June, so nomad families planning a mid-year arrival should contact schools directly about flexibility.
- Curriculum choice matters for continuity: British-curriculum schools (the most common option in Madrid) lead to IGCSEs/A-Levels, American schools lead to a US High School Diploma (often combined with IB or AP), and a growing number of schools now offer the full IB continuum (PYP-MYP-DP) end to end.
- If you want real school choice for a September start, begin contacting Madrid international schools 6–12 months ahead — popular schools fill up and waitlist, especially for the most in-demand year groups.
- Don't wait on your NIE/residence card before applying — most international schools will process your application first and just require the NIE before the child actually starts term.
- If you're relying on the public or concertado system instead of a private international school, note the application window opens in March and place allocation depends on your registered local address (empadronamiento), not just interest in the school.
- Homeschooling in Spain (including Madrid) is a genuine legal grey area, not a clearly protected right — it's tolerated in practice for many families but carries a real (if inconsistently enforced) risk of a truancy inquiry, so get local legal advice before withdrawing a child from school, especially if you're in Spain on a visa that may require proof of school enrollment.
- There is an actual long-standing homeschooling parent community in Madrid, but it's informal (email lists, a community blog, occasional meetups) rather than a structured co-op — useful for peer support, not a substitute for legal advice.
Schools
American School of Madrid (ASM)
- Location
- Pozuelo de Alarcón, ~10 km west of Madrid city center
- Age Range
- 3–18
- One Time Capital Fee
- €6,000
- Notes
- One of Spain's oldest American schools (~1,050 students, 60+ nationalities); was the first American school in Spain to offer a full IB Diploma Programme. Corporate/employer-paid tuition rates are higher than the private-payer rates shown.
Curricula
- American (US High School Diploma)
- IB Diploma Programme
- Título de Bachillerato pathway
Tuition Annual 2025 2026 Private Payer
- Low
- €11,593
- High
- €23,878
- Low Grade Band
- Early Years/K1-K2
- High Grade Band
- Grades 9-12
International College Spain (ICS)
- Location
- Madrid area
- Age Range
- Full IB continuum
- Notes
- An IB World School delivering the full IB curriculum in English; over 45 years operating in Madrid. Fees are not consistently published across sources.
Curricula
- IB Primary Years Programme
- IB Middle Years Programme
- IB Diploma Programme
The Global College
- Location
- Central Madrid
- Age Range
- 16–18 (sixth-form/pre-university only)
- Notes
- IB boarding and day school for ages 16-18 only, run in partnership with IE University's Center for Entrepreneurship. High end of range includes boarding fees.
Curricula
- IB Diploma Programme
Tuition Annual
- Low
- €20,940
- High With Boarding
- €45,180
King's College, The British School of Madrid
- Location
- Soto de Viñuelas / La Moraleja area, north Madrid
- Age Range
- Through age 18
- Notes
- Part of a British-curriculum school cluster in the La Moraleja/Alcobendas area.
Curricula
- English National Curriculum
- IGCSE
- A-Levels
Tuition Annual
- Low
- €5,180
- High
- €30,985
St. George British School Madrid
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- 2–18
- Notes
- Different aggregators quote somewhat different bands (roughly EUR 7,500-18,600 depending on year group and source); treat as an approximate range.
Curricula
- English National Curriculum
- International Primary Curriculum
- IGCSE
- A-Levels
- IB Diploma Programme
Tuition Annual
- Low
- €8,580
- High
- €18,610
Runnymede College
- Location
- North Madrid area
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Like a few other British-curriculum schools in the area, offers A-Levels only as the final leaving qualification (no IB option).
Curricula
- English National Curriculum
- A-Levels (final qualification only)
Hastings School
- Location
- East Madrid (group of five campuses for different ages)
- Age Range
- Early years to 18
- Notes
- Sits in the premium tier alongside ASM and The Global College; operates as a group of five linked schools for different age ranges.
Curricula
- British curriculum
- IGCSE
- A-Levels
Tuition Annual
- Low
- €14,000
- High
- €26,000
International School of Madrid
- Location
- East Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Fees not consistently published across sources.
Curricula
- British curriculum
- A-Levels (final qualification only)
St George International
- Location
- East Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Described as one of the newer additions to Madrid's British-curriculum school scene.
Curricula
- British curriculum
Base International School
- Location
- Two campuses: Chamberí (central Madrid) and La Moraleja, Alcobendas
- Age Range
- 1–18
- Notes
- Part of the Affinitas Education network; fees not publicly listed in available sources.
Curricula
- IB Middle Years Programme
- IB Diploma Programme
- American curriculum
- British curriculum
Liceo Europeo
- Location
- Northwest Madrid
- Age Range
- 1–18
- Notes
- Large campus (45,000 m²); part of Inspired Education group; fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- American Program (Early Education)
- IB Primary Years Programme
- IB Middle Years Programme
- IB Diploma Programme
- National/Spanish Bachillerato
Brewster Madrid
- Location
- Chamberí (central Madrid, K1-10) and La Moraleja (K1-11) campuses
- Age Range
- K1 through Grade 12 (via a shared Pre-University Hub)
- Notes
- Around 250 students across 34 nationalities with small average class sizes (~15); fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- American curriculum (NEASC-accredited)
- IB Diploma Programme (Chamberí is the IB DP site; La Moraleja is an IB DP Candidate School, authorized 2024)
Richmond Park School
- Location
- Mirasierra district, Madrid
- Age Range
- Pre-nursery to 18
- Notes
- Fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- British curriculum
- EYFS
- Cambridge IGCSE
- Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
- Cambridge International AS/A-Levels
- French curriculum option
Mirabal International School
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- Nursery to sixth form (18)
- Notes
- Founded 1982; co-educational, non-religious, over 1,800 students - among the more affordable IB options in Madrid.
Curricula
- IB Primary Years Programme
- IB Middle Years Programme
- IB Diploma Programme
Tuition Annual
- Low
- €3,900
- High
- €7,500
SEK International School - El Castillo
- Location
- Villafranca del Castillo, outskirts of Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified, full continuum
- Notes
- Part of the SEK Education Group; known for strong STEM programmes.
Curricula
- Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP)
Tuition Annual
- Low
- €8,000
- High
- €15,000
SEK International School - Santa Isabel
- Location
- Central Madrid, near Retiro Park
- Age Range
- 3–12 (PYP), with further IB pathway
- Notes
- The only SEK campus located centrally in Madrid rather than in the suburbs.
Curricula
- IB Primary Years Programme (ages 3-12)
- International Baccalaureate
Tuition Annual
- Low
- €8,000
- High
- €14,000
SEK International School - Ciudalcampo
- Location
- North Madrid suburb
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- IB World School; large suburban campus; specific fee tier not itemized in available sources beyond general premium-band estimates.
Curricula
- International Baccalaureate
Brains International School La Moraleja
- Location
- North Madrid (La Moraleja)
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Long-established British-curriculum school with strong exam outcomes; sits in the premium fee tier per aggregator estimates.
Curricula
- British curriculum
- IGCSE
- A-Levels
St. Anne's School
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- 1–18
- Notes
- Established 1969; does not make fees public.
Curricula
- British curriculum with Spanish subjects
English Montessori School
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- 1–18
- Notes
- Combines British and Spanish curricula with a Montessori approach.
Curricula
- British curriculum
- Spanish curriculum
- Montessori method
Thames British School
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- 1–18
- Notes
- Accredited by Cambridge, NABSS, the Spanish Ministry of Education, and the IB.
Curricula
- Cambridge International Programme (IGCSE, A-Levels)
- IB Diploma Programme
Green Stone British International School
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- 1–14
- Notes
- Authorised by the British Council and NABSS; pedagogical project designed with Oxford University input.
Curricula
- British curriculum
Alegra School
- Location
- Madrid suburb
- Age Range
- 3–18
- Notes
- British and International school; IB World School for secondary/Baccalaureate stages.
Curricula
- English National Curriculum (ages 3-11)
- IB Middle Years Programme (Secondary)
- IB Diploma Programme (Baccalaureate)
Casvi International American School
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- American curriculum
- International Baccalaureate
Aquinas American School
- Location
- Near downtown Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- English-medium school for local and expatriate students.
Curricula
- IB curriculum
Colegio Logos
- Location
- Outskirts of Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- IGCSE
- IB Diploma Programme
Colegio Alameda De Osuna
- Location
- Madrid suburb
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- IB Primary Years Programme
- IB Middle Years Programme
- IB Diploma Programme
Colegio Antamira
- Location
- Suburban Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- English-medium; fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- IB Primary Years Programme
- IB Middle Years Programme
- IB Diploma Programme
Colegio Arcangel Rafael
- Location
- Outskirts of Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- IB Primary Years Programme
- IB Middle Years Programme
- IB Diploma Programme
Colegio Montfort
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- National Curriculum for England
Colegio Nuestra Señora Del Recuerdo
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- English-medium school; fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- International Baccalaureate
Colegio Ramón Y Cajal
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- International Baccalaureate
Colegio CEU San Pablo Sanchinarro
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- IB Primary Years Programme
- IB Middle Years Programme
- IB Diploma Programme
International Scandinavian School of Madrid
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Fees not published in available sources.
Curricula
- English National Curriculum combined with Scandinavian education philosophy
Lighthouse American School
- Location
- Madrid
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Grouped among Madrid's premium American/British schools (alongside ASM, Hastings, The Global College) in fee-band comparisons; specific published figures not found.
Curricula
- American curriculum
Agora International School
- Location
- Madrid area
- Age Range
- Not specified
- Notes
- Noted as the one school in its cluster offering the IB Diploma alongside A-Level-focused peers.
Curricula
- IB Diploma
Typical Non Tuition Costs
- Application Fee
- €250
typical low end; ranges roughly EUR 100-400 across schools
IB Diploma Exam Fees Per Student
- Low
- €600
- High
- €900
One Time Enrolment Registration Fee Range
- Low
- €1,500
- High
- €9,000
Homeschooling
- Legal Status
- Decriminalized or tolerated
- Practical Risk
- Families who withdraw children from the school system without any formal step can face an absentismo (truancy) case opened by local social services, which in some instances escalates to the Fiscalía de Menores (minors' prosecutor); outcomes in Spanish courts have been mixed, with some rulings favoring parental choice and others ordering school attendance. Filing a written declaration of home education with the local education authority and keeping curriculum documentation is the harm-reduction step families and advocacy groups recommend to reduce this risk.
- Estimated Prevalence
- National estimates (cited by groups such as the European Network of Home Education and the Asociación para la Libre Educación, ALE) put the number of homeschooling families in Spain at roughly 2,000 to 4,000, a small fraction of school-age children overall.
- Legal Status Explanation
- Homeschooling is neither explicitly legalized nor explicitly banned in Spain (including Madrid). The Spanish Constitution's Article 27 guarantees a right to education, and national law (LOE, as modified by LOMLOE) makes education compulsory from age 6 to 16, but it does not specify that this must happen in a school building nor does it recognize home education as a formal alternative pathway. A 2010 Constitutional Court ruling (STC 133/2010) confirmed there is no constitutional guarantee of a right to homeschool, but it also did not criminalize the practice, leaving it in a genuine legal grey area with outcomes that vary by case and by autonomous community.
- Visa Consideration For Foreign Families
- Some Spanish residence visa categories require proof that resident children are enrolled in a recognized school, so foreign families on visas should verify their specific visa conditions before relying on homeschooling, as it can create a conflict with residency requirements.
Madrid Specific Community
- Caveat
- This is a small, informal parent-run community (email lists, blog comment threads, occasional meetups), not an institutionalized co-op with a fixed curriculum or facility — families should expect to self-organize via these networks rather than find a turnkey program.
- Exists
- Yes
- National Support Organization
- The Asociación para la Libre Educación (ALE) is the main national homeschooling association and has provided support (including group-rate arrangements for outings) to the Madrid group; ALE and the organization Educación Libre both offer legal guidance and community connections relevant to families in Madrid.
- Description
- A genuine, long-running Madrid-based homeschooling group ("Homeschooling en Madrid" / associated blog "aprendiendoenfamilia.org") is listed as a local Self-Directed Education group by the Alliance for Self-Directed Education directory. Community members describe organizing group outings, workshops, and informal parent-to-parent support going back to informal contact before 2006 and in-person meetups from 2006 onward.
International Bilingual School Enrollment
- Waitlists
- Popular schools may have waitlists, particularly for certain age groups and during peak (September-intake) application periods; families applying in peak periods should expect anywhere from a few weeks to several months' wait for placement depending on the school and year group, so applying early is advisable.
- Mid Year Entry
- Because many schools admit throughout the year as families move in and out of the city, mid-year entry is more feasible in Madrid than in some other capitals, though school choice is wider if applying ahead of the September intake.
- Overall Pattern
- Most international schools in Madrid run rolling admissions rather than a single deadline, with a typical sequence of enquiry and registration, submission of documents, an assessment or interview, an offer, and then a deposit to confirm the place.
- How Far In Advance To Apply
- For September entry, families should begin the process the previous autumn or winter, roughly six to twelve months ahead for the most popular schools, since many admissions cycles open earlier than parents expect. A commonly cited practical timeline is open-day visits and registering interest in the September–November window before the target start year, formal applications and assessments from December through February, and offers issued with deposits payable around March.
- Residency Note
- Most Madrid international schools accept applications from families who do not yet hold Spanish residency, but final enrolment is usually conditional on the residence card or NIE being issued before the start of term.
- Fee Deposit Note
- Bilingual private and international schools generally require a deposit to secure a place once an offer is made; families should confirm any dual-credential arrangements (e.g., IB plus Spanish Bachillerato) in writing before signing, and confirm the school's fee-escalation policy, as Madrid international school fees commonly rise a few percent annually.
- Public And Concertado System Note
- For the public and concertado (subsidized private) school system, the formal application window opens in March for September entry, and required documentation includes the NIE, proof of address (empadronamiento), and vaccination records. All children, regardless of nationality, are entitled to a public school place, but places are allocated by local catchment/proximity, so a registered address in the relevant area is required.
Documents Typically Required
- Passport copies for the child and both parents
- Residency cards / NIE once issued (most schools accept applications before Spanish residency is finalized, but enrolment is usually conditional on the NIE or residence card being issued before term starts)
- Previous school transcripts/report cards
- Vaccination records
- Proof of address (empadronamiento) — required for the public/concertado system, and useful supporting documentation generally
Market Overview
- Summary
- Madrid has one of Europe's largest and most varied international-school markets, spanning British (English National Curriculum/IGCSE/A-Level), American (AP/US High School Diploma), full IB continuum (PYP/MYP/DP), and bilingual Spanish-international schools. Most cluster in the northwest suburbs (Pozuelo de Alarcón, La Moraleja/Alcobendas, Aravaca) and the north (Alcobendas/Ciudalcampo), with a smaller number of centrally located options near the Retiro/Chamberí area.
- Boarding Schools Approx
- 9
- Bilingual Schools Approx
- 35
- British Curriculum Schools Approx
- 30
- Total International Schools Approx
- 73
- Average Annual Tuition Age12 Benchmark
- €11,880
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
This section has no cited sources.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.