Choosing an International School in Madrid: Curricula, Fees and Process

Knowing you want an international school is only the beginning. Madrid's offer is wide and varied, and choosing poorly — on fee, location or curriculum — can mean changing schools within months. This guide is for families who have already ruled out the Spanish state system and need to compare options with clear criteria.

For a general introduction to school types and geographic distribution, see our guide to international schools in Madrid. This article goes further: which curriculum suits which family profile, what real fee ranges look like, and how to organise the school visits process.

Which curriculum to choose by family profile

The curriculum is the first decision. The models are not interchangeable, and the right choice depends on three variables: intended length of stay in Madrid, children's nationality, and university plans.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The IB is the most nationality-neutral model: it is designed for mobile families who do not know which country they will return to. The IB Diploma is recognised by universities in over 100 countries, including Spain, the United States, the UK, and most of continental Europe.

It is the most academically demanding curriculum in the final two years (the Diploma Programme, ages 16–18) and priced accordingly. For families staying two years or more with university plans outside Spain, it is usually the best fit.

Madrid schools with IB programmes: King's College (Soto de Viñuelas), SEK International, El Porvenir, American School of Madrid (which also offers the American curriculum).

American curriculum

The American School of Madrid and Runnymede College (partially) follow the American curriculum. This is the obvious choice for US and Canadian families intending to return, or for those who want their children to maintain access to American universities through SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams.

The American curriculum in Madrid also works well for Latin American families with university plans in the United States.

British curriculum

British curriculum schools (GCSE + A-levels) are the best option for UK families or those planning to send children to British universities. King's College, Stonebridge, Runnymede College, and St. George's School are the main references in Madrid.

Following Brexit, demand for British-curriculum schools in Madrid has grown. For families with dual ambitions — access to both Spanish and British universities — A-levels have recognition in both systems.

Quality Spanish bilingual schools

For families staying in Madrid indefinitely who want integration into the local system without sacrificing English, good bilingual Spanish schools offer better value. The best ones — Colegio Montserrat, Retamar, Liceo Europeo — provide real English levels and solid university outcomes.

The key is not to confuse "bilingual" on paper with genuinely bilingual in practice. Attending actual classes during a visit is essential before deciding.

Real fee ranges (2026–2027 school year)

Fees vary considerably by school type, year group, and included services.

| School type | Monthly fee per child | Notes | |---|---|---| | IB (international) schools | €1,500 – €2,500 | Activities included; transport separate | | American curriculum schools | €1,200 – €2,000 | Some schools charge books separately | | British curriculum schools | €1,100 – €2,200 | Uniform fee per school year | | Spanish private bilingual | €500 – €1,100 | Very variable; lunch often included | | State-subsidised bilingual | €80 – €250 | Long waitlists; less flexibility |

Add to this: enrolment deposit (€600–€3,000 depending on school), school transport if the school is not near home (€150–€250/month), and extracurricular activity fees.

For a family with two children in an international school, total annual costs including all items can be between €40,000 and €60,000. This is a variable to factor into the financial planning of the move from the outset.

How to organise the visits and enrolment process

The recommended process has three phases:

Phase 1: research (3–6 months before arrival)

Identify 3–4 schools that fit the family's profile. Request open days by email. Most have scheduled open days in October–November for the following academic year; outside those dates, many also arrange individual visits.

At this stage, verify whether places are available for your child's age and year group. The most oversubscribed schools (King's College, SEK, American School) have waitlists that in Early Years and Lower Primary can run 1–2 years. Ask directly about waitlist status before investing time in the application.

Phase 2: in-person visits (1–3 months before arrival)

Do not enrol in a school you have not visited. The visit serves to assess the school's atmosphere, see actual facilities, speak with senior staff, and — if possible — with other parents in the same age group.

Key questions during the visit:

• What percentage of children at this level are native speakers of the teaching language?
• Is there a language support programme for children arriving with limited proficiency?
• How many families of the same nationality are currently enrolled?
• What percentage of teachers are native speakers of the teaching language?

Phase 3: application and enrolment

Most schools have a formal admissions process: online application form, submission of academic records (last two years' reports, in English or officially translated), and sometimes an interview.

Once a place is offered, you pay the enrolment fee to reserve it. This amount is typically non-refundable if cancelled after the deadline.

The link between school choice and housing

The school's location largely determines where it makes sense to live. The north-west axis (Pozuelo, Las Rozas, Majadahonda, Boadilla, Aravaca) concentrates most of the international offer. Renting in the Salamanca neighbourhood with a child enrolled at King's College in Soto de Viñuelas means between 45 minutes and 1 hour of commuting each way daily.

Some areas have international schools very close to where expatriates live:

• Pozuelo: Laude El Altillo, SEK El Castillo, Brains International
• Las Rozas: Runnymede College, Montessori Las Rozas
• La Moraleja / Alcobendas: American School of Madrid

Aedara's relocation service coordinates school search and housing search together, because the two decisions are linked and doing them separately usually leads to suboptimal compromises.

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References:

• Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. (2026). Schools with non-Spanish curricula. Madrid.
• International Baccalaureate Organization. (2026). IB World Schools in Spain. Geneva.