Primary and secondary schools in Madrid, Spain

Madrid had 3,527,924 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the city council. Alongside public and private schools of the Spanish system, the city has British, American, French, Italian, Japanese and Dutch schools, as well as Montessori and IB schools, so families can often keep their children in the curriculum and language they already know.

How school works in Spain

Primary education is compulsory and starts in the calendar year in which a child turns six. Compulsory secondary education (ESO) is compulsory and free and generally covers ages twelve to sixteen, and the two-year Bachillerato prepares students for higher education. Pupils arriving from abroad can join any year up to 4º de ESO without having their previous studies recognised. To obtain the Spanish ESO or Bachiller title on the basis of foreign studies, families apply for homologación with documents covering the last four years (ESO) or at least the last three (Bachiller).

What the schools offer

Examples from the schools in Madrid in our list:

• Spanish public system: IES San Isidro, in the city centre on Calle Toledo, is a bilingual secondary school in English with a French section, and offers the IB Diploma and the Bachibac
• British curriculum: Hastings School and the International School of Madrid, both founded in 1971, teach children aged 2 to 18; the International School of Madrid follows the English National Curriculum. Sixth Form 21 focuses on A Levels in Year 12 and Year 13, the equivalent of 1º and 2º de Bachillerato, and is an official Pearson Edexcel centre
• American curriculum: the American School of Madrid has taught students of all nationalities since 1961 and offers the IB; Brewster Madrid is a K-12 school with campuses in Chamberí and La Moraleja and offers the American High School Diploma, Advanced Placement and the IB
• French system: the Lycée Français de Madrid, and Union-Chrétienne de Saint Chaumond, a Catholic school recognised in France and Spain where teaching is in French
• Other national schools: the Scuola Statale Italiana di Madrid (primary to upper secondary), the Colegio Japonés de Madrid (from 1º de Primaria to 3º de ESO) and the Nederlandstalige School Madrid, which describes itself as the only Dutch-language primary school in Spain (since 1964), for children aged 3 to 12
• Montessori: Madrid Montessori School has groups for ages 1-3, 3-6 and 6-12

Costs

Compulsory secondary education is free in the public system. Private international schools set their own fees, which can be high. At Hastings School, for example, monthly fees for 2026-27 (ten payments, September to June) range from €800 for Pre-Nursery to €2,120 for the IB years, and a one-off registration fee of €1,850 applies from Year 1 to Year 13, according to the school's fee page. Ask every school for a complete list of extra charges such as lunches, transport and uniforms.

Practical tips

• For public and state-funded schools, admission runs in spring: for 2026-27, applications were made from 11 to 25 March 2026, with up to five schools in order of preference on a single form
• Families who arrive outside that window can turn to the Comunidad de Madrid's school placement offices (Servicio de Apoyo a la Escolarización, SAE)
• Many international schools accept applications all year; the International School of Madrid, for example, keeps admissions open throughout the year
• Decide early whether your child needs a Spanish title or a foreign diploma, and keep verified school reports for any later homologación
• Check the commute: several schools are in suburbs such as La Moraleja, while others are in central districts

Frequently asked questions

Which international schools are there in Madrid?

Madrid has British schools such as Hastings School and the International School of Madrid, American schools such as the American School of Madrid and Brewster Madrid, French, Italian, Japanese and Dutch schools, and Montessori schools.

When do families apply for a public school place in Madrid?

The main admission period is in spring; for the 2026-27 school year it ran from 11 to 25 March 2026. Families who arrive later can contact the school placement offices (SAE).

How much does an international school in Madrid cost?

It varies widely. At Hastings School, monthly fees for 2026-27 range from €800 to €2,120 over ten months, plus a registration fee. Public education is free.

Can my child continue in the Spanish system after an international school?

Yes. Pupils can join a Spanish school up to 4º de ESO without recognition of their studies; for the ESO or Bachiller titles, foreign studies must be homologated.