Primary and secondary schools in Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, had 1,731,649 inhabitants on 1 January 2025 according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). Catalan and Spanish are both official languages, and the city's international population supports a wide choice of schools: alongside public and state-funded (concertada) schools in the Catalan system, families can choose British, American, French, Italian, Swiss and International Baccalaureate (IB) schools.

What the schools offer

Our directory lists 16 primary and secondary schools in Barcelona. The first decision is usually the curriculum and the language of teaching:

• British curriculum: Kensington School, founded in 1966, teaches the British curriculum; BSB City, the Sarrià campus of The British School of Barcelona, takes children aged 3 to 18; St. George Barcelona, part of the ISP group, teaches from 2 to 18 and offers the IB at the end of secondary; other British-curriculum schools are Oak House British School and The Learn Academy, a pre-university college
• American curriculum: Benjamin Franklin International School (BFIS) teaches an American curriculum from Nursery to Grade 12, with the IB Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, and states that it has over 63 nationalities; Barcelona High School is an American school for ages 3 to 18; AESA Prep Academy of Barcelona is a Cognia-accredited American high school for grades 9 to 12
• French, Italian and Swiss schools: the Lycée Français de Barcelone; the École Ferdinand de Lesseps, a French primary school in the AEFE network with 150 years of teaching in the city; the Istituto Italiano Statale Comprensivo di Barcellona, the Italian state school, with primary and lower secondary at Carrer Setanti and the liceo at Carrer de l'Esperança; and the Escuela Suiza de Barcelona, which teaches in German, English, French, Spanish and Catalan
• Montessori and other approaches: Barcelona Montessori School in Sarrià, and Learnlife, an internationally accredited school for ages 5 to 18 with hubs in Barcelona, Castelldefels and Sitges
• Catalan system: Escola Pia Balmes, a concertada school in Sant Gervasi - Galvany, teaches from Infantil to Batxillerat and also offers the Dual Diploma

St. Peter's School is also listed in our directory.

Admission and recognition

In Spain, primary school is compulsory and starts in the calendar year in which a child turns six, and lower secondary education (ESO) is compulsory and free. Children of compulsory school age who arrive from another education system are placed in a year according to their circumstances, knowledge, age and school history, and no recognition of earlier studies is needed to join the Spanish system up to the fourth year of ESO. To obtain the Spanish Bachiller title, at least the last three years of foreign study must be recognised (homologación), with official, legalised documents and an official translation into Spanish.

For public and concertada schools in Catalonia, the main pre-registration for 2026-27 ran from 4 to 18 March 2026. Families who arrive later can apply for a place outside the pre-registration process, online or at the municipal school enrolment office (OME), for pre-school (3-6), primary or compulsory secondary education. International schools run their own admissions; St. George Barcelona, for example, accepts enrolments all year round.

Costs

Public schools are free during compulsory education and concertada schools are publicly funded. International schools charge their own fees. At BFIS, for example, annual tuition for 2026-27 ranges from €12,950 in early childhood to €21,720 in high school, plus a €250 application fee, a matriculation fee and a one-time entrance fee of €6,000. Ask each school for its full fee list, including meals and school transport.

Older students who travel by metro and bus can use the T-jove, a personal card for under-30s that gives unlimited travel in all fare zones for 90 days for €45.50, according to TMB; children aged 4 to 16 travel free with the T-16.

Practical tips

• Decide early which qualification your child should finish with (IB Diploma, A levels, American High School Diploma, French or Italian diplomas, or the Spanish Bachillerato)
• Check how much Catalan and Spanish are taught, especially if your child may later move to a Catalan school
• Students who finish a foreign or international diploma and want to study at a Spanish university can apply for the UNEDasiss accreditation

Frequently asked questions

Are there international schools in Barcelona?

Yes. Our directory lists British, American, French, Italian, Swiss and IB schools in Barcelona, among them Benjamin Franklin International School, BSB City, Kensington School and the Istituto Italiano Statale Comprensivo di Barcellona.

When do you apply for a public or concertada school in Barcelona?

Pre-registration for 2026-27 ran from 4 to 18 March 2026. Families who arrive later can apply outside the pre-registration process, online or at the municipal school enrolment office.

How much does an international school in Barcelona cost?

Fees differ by school and stage. At BFIS, annual tuition for 2026-27 ranges from €12,950 to €21,720, plus application, matriculation and entrance fees.