Primary and secondary schools in Malaga, Spain

Málaga, on the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia, had 597,173 inhabitants in 2025 according to the Andalusian Institute of Statistics and Cartography (IECA), and 69,892 of them were foreign residents. That international population shapes its schools: alongside the Spanish public and state-funded (concertado) system, families moving to the Costa del Sol can choose between British, French and Montessori schools that teach in English or French from the early years onwards.

What the schools offer

The schools in our directory follow different curricula, so the first decision is usually the system and the language:

• British curriculum: The British School of Málaga takes students from 3 to 18 and offers the Bachillerato alongside its British programme; Sunny View School, a British school just outside the city in Torremolinos, and Sunland International School also follow the British system
• French curriculum: the Lycée Français International de Málaga is linked to the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), teaches in French alongside Spanish and English, and prepares students for the Diplôme National du Brevet and the French baccalauréat
• Montessori: the Centro Internacional María Montessori takes children from 18 months to 16 years, works bilingually with mostly native-speaking guides and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on International Education (NEASC)
• Spanish system: C.E.S Santa María de los Ángeles, a concertado school, teaches the Bachillerato in Humanities and Social Sciences and in Sciences, as well as vocational training

Santa María de los Ángeles has a long history in the city: the school dates from the 1950s, when, according to the school, it was Spain's first vocational school for women, and it has been run by a teachers' cooperative since 1984.

Admission and school places

In Spain, primary school is compulsory and starts in the calendar year in which a child turns six; lower secondary education (ESO) is compulsory and free. Children of compulsory school age who arrive from abroad 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 enter or obtain the Bachillerato title, foreign studies must be recognised (homologación): the Bachiller title requires at least the last three years of study, with official, legalised documents and an official translation into Spanish.

Places in public and concertado schools are allocated under rules set by the regional education authority, the Junta de Andalucía. When there are more applicants than places, criteria such as siblings already at the school and the distance from home or work decide. The main application window is in March: for the concertado Bachillerato at Santa María de los Ángeles in 2026-27, applications ran from 1 to 31 March.

International schools run their own admissions. The British School of Málaga accepts enrolments all year round. At the Lycée Français, pre-registration for 2026-27 is online, and new students may be asked to take assessments.

Costs

Public schools are free during compulsory education, and concertado schools are publicly funded. International and other private schools set their own fees, which differ by school and stage; ask each school for its current fee list, including enrolment, meals, transport and uniforms. For older students who travel to school by city bus, EMT Málaga fares (in force since 1 January 2025 and extended through 2026) are €1.40 for a single ticket and €23.95 for a monthly pass.

Practical tips

• Decide early which qualification your child should finish with (Spanish Bachillerato, A-levels or the French baccalauréat), especially if a Spanish university is the goal
• Check whether a school is in the city itself or elsewhere on the Costa del Sol, and whether it runs school transport
• Collect school reports and get official translations before you move
• For a public or concertado place, note the March application window

Frequently asked questions

Are there international schools in Málaga?

Yes. Our directory includes British schools, such as The British School of Málaga, the Lycée Français International de Málaga and the Centro Internacional María Montessori.

Can my child join a Spanish school in the middle of the year?

Children of compulsory school age from abroad are placed in a year according to their age, knowledge and school history, and no recognition of earlier studies is needed up to the fourth year of ESO. The British School of Málaga also accepts enrolments all year round.

When do you apply for a public or concertado school in Málaga?

The main application period in Andalusia is in March; for the 2026-27 concertado Bachillerato at Santa María de los Ángeles, it ran from 1 to 31 March.

Are schools in Málaga free?

Compulsory education is free in public schools, and concertado schools are publicly funded. International and private schools charge their own fees.