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Best 10 International Schools in Madrid

International Education in Madrid

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If you’re considering becoming an expat in Europe, there are few better places to base yourself than Spain. It has a great climate, a relaxed and family-oriented way of life, and plenty of culture and history to soak up.

Lucky for you, it also has one of the highest numbers of international schools on the continent, and at some of the lowest prices.

While school fees may be lower in Spain than elsewhere in Europe, in Madrid they are unfortunately higher than the national average. The yearly cost also does not include ‘extras’ like meals, transport or extra-curricular activities.

That being said, there are still many worthy contenders to check out in the Spanish capital.

A unique feature of international schools in Madrid is the high proportion of local Spanish students. In some schools, some 80% of the student body is made up of local kids.

This is in part because many international schools are state subsidised. To be granted funding by the Spanish government they must meet certain criteria, one of which is offering a minimum of 25% of school places to native children. Each class must also have at least 20% local students.

Subsidised international schools must also teach a bilingual curriculum, i.e the Spanish curriculum alongside foreign curricula. They must teach through Spanish as well as other languages. And subsidised or not, every international school must be approved by their country’s embassy.

English is the most common language of instruction in Madrid’s international schools, but due to the large numbers of local students, Spanish often rules in hallways and playgrounds. You can be sure your child will pick up the local language quickly!

There are a selection of international schools in or close to the centre of Madrid. However, the majority are located in leafy suburbs on the city’s outskirts, between the bustling city and the lush mountains. These schools usually have much bigger campuses with plenty of outdoor sports grounds and surrounding grounds.

Madrid’s international schools cater for children from age 2 or 3 right up to 18 years. Secondary education in Spain is compulsory up to age 16, after which students can opt to complete a ‘Bachillerato’ for a further two years. Some international schools will take students up to pre-Bachillerato level only.

European curricula rule in Spain’s international schools, with the British national curriculum being the most common. Outside of Europe, you’ll find plenty of schools offering the American curriculum, but not much else.

The school day runs from 9am to 2pm for primary school, and slightly later (around 3pm) for secondary students. Class sizes are small to medium, with around 25 students per class being the norm.

Native English-speaking teachers are commonplace in Madrid’s international schools. As Spain is a largely Catholic country, it’s not uncommon to see international schools run with a Catholic or Christian ethos too. As with any large capital city however, it’s easy to find just about any type of school in Madrid.

Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Madrid according to our users. However, there are another 49 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Madrid based on your requirements.

Recommended Schools

International School of Madrid

We are a family school in the heart of Madrid, and since 1971 have been offering a quality British education to children aged 2 to 18 from all over the world. We are known for our child-centred approach, happy atmosphere and high standards of academic achievement.
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €5,765
to: €13,685
Reviews
(2 reviews)

Thames British School

Thames British School is a leading International School in Madrid. We provide high quality education following the Cambridge International Programme AS/A Levels and IB Diploma Programme. We offer the full complement of education from the ages of 1 to 18 years old.
Curriculum
IB, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
1 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €4,725
to: €11,550
Reviews
(2 reviews)

Lighthouse American School

The school where we would have liked to go.
Curriculum
American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 14
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: €8,600
to: €9,800
Reviews
(5 reviews)

The Global College

The Global College is an innovative IB boarding and day school in the center of Madrid. Our highly personalized curriculum, superb career guidance, and urban campus provide an amazing pre-university experience.
Curriculum
IB
Language of instruction
English
Ages
16 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €17,700
to: €17,700
Reviews
(1 review)

St. George Madrid

We are a private British school, located in Madrid, with classes from 2 to 18 years old. We have students from more than 40 different nationalities who, from the first day, learn English with native teachers.
Curriculum
IB, British, Spanish
Language of instruction
English
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €8,170
to: €16,270
Reviews
(1 review)

Best 10 International Schools in Madrid

Out of a total of 59 International Schools in Madrid.

Based on the aggregated preferences of our users in the last 30 days.

Maxwell School

Maxwell School has a small teacher/student ratio; as a result it is able to provide all students with a tailor-made education that addresses students' strengths and individual needs.
Curriculum
British
Languages of instruction
English, Spanish
Ages
4 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €4,600
to: €14,000
Reviews
(4 reviews)

Fontenebro International School

Laude Fontenebro School is a private, bilingual (English/Spanish), co-educational day school for children aged 1-18 in Moralzarzal, in the northwest of Madrid. We belong to ISP (International Schools Partnership) with seven schools in Spain and one school in Cambridge (UK). We impart the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). German and French as Second Language in Primary-Sixth Form. Emotional Education (Botin Foundation), Bachillerate in Arts. 100% English Immersion for Pre-Nursery children.
Curriculum
British, Spanish, International
Languages of instruction
English, Spanish
Ages
1 to 18
Yearly fees - 2022/2023
from: €3,560
to: €6,220

Brewster Madrid

Brewster prioritizes joyful learning and is committed to continuous improvement through innovation and research. We offer students the opportunity to shape their educational journey so that each student has the skills, confidence, and desire to exert a positive impact on the world. All Brewster students belong to an inclusive and welcoming network that stretches across the globe. This inclusiveness helps our students build a deep sense of recognition, respect, and appreciation for different cultural, ethnic, and national groups. In essence, Brewster strives to provide students with a humanistic and meaningful education - an education that empowers our students to become good citizens who recognize, appreciate, and positively impact both their local and global communities.
Curriculum
American
Language of instruction
English
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: €6,180
to: €23,014

Casvi International American School

Established in 2017, Casvi International American School is a private, international, co-ed school, located in Tres Cantos, and based on the American school system whose mission is to educate and create citizens of the world.
Curriculum
IB, American
Languages of instruction
English, Spanish
Ages
3 to 18
Yearly fees - 2024/2025
from: €6,610
to: €10,570
Curriculum
IB
Languages of instruction
English, Spanish
Ages
1 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €6,090
to: €10,100

Thames British School

Thames British School is a leading International School in Madrid. We provide high quality education following the Cambridge International Programme AS/A Levels and IB Diploma Programme. We offer the full complement of education from the ages of 1 to 18 years old.
Curriculum
IB, British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
1 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €4,725
to: €11,550
Reviews
(2 reviews)

Colegio Internacional Aravaca

The school offer an individual, personalized and innovative learning to the students. This means that their students will be able to create their personal best in an international environment. This school is part of ISP, which is one of the biggest world school groups, so this means that the school is able to offer many international programmes and activities to their students.
Curriculum
IB, Spanish
Languages of instruction
English, Spanish
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €3,420
to: €7,120
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
12 to 18
This school does not make their fees public.
Reviews
(8 reviews)

Virtus The British Sixth Form College

Virtus is a Sixth Form College, a British school specialising solely in the A-Level stage (15-18 years of age) and university entry. The mission is to bring out the potential of future generations by offering them a cutting-edge education focused on personalisation, innovation and excellence.
Curriculum
British
Language of instruction
English
Ages
16 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €23,000
to: €23,000

Scandinavian School of Madrid

Happiness, respect for others, creativity, independent thinking, lifelong learning, empathy. We have a strong focus on well-being and mental health. We run various mental health programmes (MyHappyMind and Wishlist Program).
Curriculum
British, Swedish
Languages of instruction
English, Swedish
Ages
2 to 18
Yearly fees - 2023/2024
from: €7,340
to: €10,965

Find the Best International School in Madrid FOR YOU!

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