Choosing schools in Barcelona for expats is one of the most consequential decisions you will make before relocating. The right choice shapes which neighbourhood you live in, how your children develop linguistically, and whether they can re-enter their home education system if your family moves again. Most guides to schools in Barcelona list the options without helping you understand which one is right for your situation. This one does.
Why schools in Barcelona for expats require a different approach
Most families treat the school search as something to handle after they have found a home. In practice, the order is often the opposite. The school determines the neighbourhood, not the other way around.
Barcelona’s top international schools are concentrated in specific areas: Sarrià-Sant Gervasi and Pedralbes for city-based options, and Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, and Sant Cugat del Vallès for the outer belt of established international institutions. If your children are enrolled in, or hope to enrol in, a specific school, a long daily commute will affect their well-being far more than most parents anticipate.
This is the first thing we work through with every family we relocate. Before the property search begins, the school question needs to be answered, at least in outline.
The three types of school in Barcelona
Barcelona’s education system operates on three tracks, and the differences between them go well beyond cost.
Public schools (escoles públiques)
Public schools are free for residents and follow the Catalan curriculum. Instruction is primarily in Catalan, with Spanish and English taught as additional languages. These schools are an excellent choice for families relocating long-term who want their children to integrate fully into Barcelona life. A seven-year-old arriving from London or New York can genuinely adapt to a Catalan school, and children typically do so faster than their parents expect. A teenager arriving with no Catalan or Spanish faces a significantly steeper transition.
Admission to public schools is based on your residential catchment area, so where you live determines which school you are assigned to.
Semi-private schools (concertadas)
Concertadas receive partial government funding but also charge fees, typically between 200 and 800 euros per month depending on the school. They follow the Spanish and Catalan curriculum but often have more flexibility in their teaching approach, and some offer bilingual programs that include English. Concertadas are an option many expat families overlook, assuming that “international” means “private.” For families who want a balance between local integration and a more structured environment, they are worth serious consideration. One important practical note: although concertadas are not public schools, the admissions process works the same way. Places are assigned based on your residential catchment area and applications follow the same March to April window as public schools, so the timing and documentation requirements are identical.
Private and international schools
Private and international schools are fully independent, fee-paying institutions offering curricula from the British, American, French, German, and International Baccalaureate systems. Tuition ranges from around 10,000 to over 27,000 euros per year. These schools are the primary choice for families on fixed-term assignments, families who intend to return to their home country, and families where the children’s existing language of instruction is not Spanish or Catalan.
The most important question: are you planning to stay?
Every family is different, but this single question resolves the majority of the school decision. It is the first thing we ask.
If your family is in Barcelona on a fixed-term assignment, or if you are likely to return to your home country within a few years, curriculum continuity is the priority. A child pulled out of the British system and placed in a Catalan public school for two years, then returned to a UK secondary school, faces a real academic adjustment. An international school following the British curriculum in Barcelona means that transition barely exists.
If you are relocating with the intention of staying long-term or permanently, the calculation changes. Public schools and concertadas are free or significantly cheaper; they provide genuine linguistic and cultural integration; and children who attend them typically leave secondary school trilingual in Catalan, Spanish, and English. The educational outcomes at Barcelona’s better public schools are strong.
There is also a middle path. Some families enrol in a concertada with a bilingual program for the first year or two while the children adapt to the language, then move them to a public school once they are settled. We have seen this work well for families who arrive when children are primary-school age.
International schools in Barcelona: a practical overview
For families choosing the international route, here is a working overview of the main options by curriculum.
The schools mentioned in this section are a selection of the most established options, not an exhaustive list. Barcelona has a wide range of private and international schools beyond those named here, and new options continue to emerge. It is also worth knowing that most international schools offer more than one curriculum. A German school, for example, will typically offer the Spanish curriculum alongside the German one, and many British and American schools incorporate the IB Diploma at secondary level. When researching schools, it is always worth checking the full range of programmes each one offers rather than assuming it follows a single curriculum exclusively.
British curriculum
The British School of Barcelona (BSB) has two campuses, one in Castelldefels and one in Barcelona city. Highlands, St. George International School, and Kensington School are established city-based options. These schools follow the IGCSE and A-Level pathways, making them the right choice for families likely to return to the UK or for those targeting UK universities.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
The IB is the most internationally portable curriculum, recognised by universities worldwide and well suited for families who are uncertain about their long-term location or likely to move again. Barcelona and its surroundings have one of the highest concentrations of IB schools in Spain, with more than 15 schools offering the programme across the city and nearby municipalities, giving families a wide range of options at different price points and locations.
American curriculum
The American School of Barcelona in Esplugues and Benjamin Franklin International School in Sarrià are the main options for families from the US or those targeting American universities. The American School of Barcelona follows a full American curriculum with Advanced Placement (AP) courses at secondary level. Benjamin Franklin combines an American-style approach with the IB programme, making it a good fit for families who want US-aligned education with the added flexibility of an internationally recognised qualification.
French and German curricula
The Lycée Français de Barcelone follows the French national curriculum and is accredited by the French Ministry of Education. Deutsche Schule Barcelona in Esplugues serves the German-speaking community. Both attract internationally mobile families as well as their respective national communities.
What international schools actually cost
Tuition across private and international schools ranges from roughly 10,000 to 27,000 euros per year. On top of tuition, budget for a one-off registration fee of 1,000 to 3,000 euros, annual materials and technology fees, and school transport if the school operates a bus service from your area. The total cost of an international school place in Barcelona is typically 15 to 30 percent higher than the headline tuition figure once these additional costs are included
Neighbourhoods and schools: where to live
The school choice and the neighbourhood choice are directly linked. Here is how that plays out in practice.
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi and Pedralbes
The most established family areas within the city. Home to the highest concentration of international schools in Barcelona, strong expat communities, quiet residential streets, and good access to public transport. The majority of GTB clients relocating with children settle in this area. If you are choosing a city-based international school and want a walkable, family-friendly neighbourhood, this is the natural starting point.
Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern
Just outside the city boundary, and where several of Barcelona’s most established international institutions are located: the American School of Barcelona, Deutsche Schule Barcelona, La Miranda, and Highlands School are all here. These two neighbourhoods are quieter and more suburban than central Barcelona, with good road access and a genuine family-oriented community.
Sant Cugat del Vallès
Attract families who want more space, greener areas, and a quieter environment while remaining within commuting distance of Barcelona. Agora International School and European International School of Barcelona serve this area.
Gràcia and Eixample
Both have good access to city-based international schools but are more urban, denser environments. Families who prefer city living and do not need a large property often settle here, particularly those with children in younger year groups, where commute time is less of a factor.
The practical rule we apply is to confirm school availability and commute time before committing to a neighbourhood. We always recommend visiting the school and the local area before signing a rental contract. Our Home Finding service always takes the school location into account from the first search brief.
The admissions timeline: start earlier than you think
The most common mistake we see from families relocating to Barcelona is leaving the school search too late.
For public schools and concertadas, the annual admissions process runs from March to April for the following September intake. If you are arriving in September, applications need to be submitted in spring, which means confirming your neighbourhood, having your NIE or registration underway, and being ready to document your residential address, often before you have physically moved. The Catalan Department of Education publishes official admission calendars and requirements each year.
For international schools, the timeline is less rigid and most schools accept applications year-round. However, popular schools fill quickly, and waiting lists for specific year groups can be long. We regularly work with families who contact us in July hoping to start in September, only to find that their preferred school has no places in the relevant year group. Contacting schools 12 months before your intended start date is not excessive.
Documents typically required for enrolment include your child’s passport, proof of address (empadronamiento), previous school records and transcripts, and for some schools, vaccination records. International schools often require an introductory meeting or short assessment. Our Settling In services cover the empadronamiento and residence registration, which are part of this documentation.
If you are arriving mid-year, private and international schools are more likely to accommodate this than public schools and concertadas, which operate on a more fixed annual cycle.
How GTB's School Search service works
GTB offers a dedicated School Search service for families seeking expert guidance throughout the process. We work with you to identify the right school type for your family’s situation, research availability in the year groups you need, arrange school visits, and support you through the application and enrolment process.
The school decision and the housing search are closely connected, and we typically run them in parallel. Understanding which schools have places before you commit to a neighbourhood is one of the most practical things you can do to make your relocation go smoothly.
If you have questions about schools in Barcelona for your family, get in touchand we can talk through your situation directly.
FAQs – Schools in Barcelona for Expats
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What types of schools are available in Barcelona for expat families?
Barcelona has three main types: public schools (free, Catalan-medium), semi-private concertadas (partially subsidised, moderate fees), and private international schools (fully fee-paying, with curricula including British, IB, American, French, and German). The right type depends on your family's language situation, budget, and how long you plan to stay
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What language is used in Barcelona's public schools?
The primary language of instruction is Catalan. Spanish is also used, and English is taught as a foreign language. Immersion in Catalan is the norm, not the exception. Children who arrive young adapt well. Teenagers arriving with no prior exposure to Catalan or Spanish face a significantly steeper transition.
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How much do international schools in Barcelona cost?
Tuition ranges from roughly 10,000 to over 27,000 euros per year. On top of tuition, budget for a one-off registration fee of 1,000 to 3,000 euros, annual materials and technology fees, and school transport if applicable. The real annual cost is typically 15 to 30 percent higher than the headline tuition figure.
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When should I apply to schools in Barcelona?
For public and concertada schools, applications run from March to April for the following September. For international schools, applications are accepted year-round but popular schools fill up fast. We recommend contacting international schools at least 12 months before your intended start date.
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Which neighbourhoods in Barcelona are best for families with children in international schools?
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi and Pedralbes are the most established family areas within the city, with strong access to international schools. Esplugues de Llobregat is home to several major international institutions. Sant Just Desvern and Sant Cugat del Vallès offer more space and are popular with families who want a quieter, more suburban environment.
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Do I need an NIE before applying to a school in Barcelona?
For public schools and concertadas, you will need documentation confirming your residency, which typically requires having an empadronamiento. International schools are more flexible but will still require proof of identity and usually proof of address before enrolment is confirmed.
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Can GTB help with the school search?
Yes. Our School Search service covers identifying suitable schools for your family's situation, checking availability in the year groups you need, arranging visits, and supporting you through the application process. Because school choice and neighbourhood choice are closely linked, we typically run the school and property searches in parallel.
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What happens if we arrive in Barcelona mid-year?
Private and international schools are generally more able to accommodate mid-year arrivals, depending on availability in the specific year group. Public schools and concertadas follow a more fixed annual cycle and are harder to enter outside the standard September intake, though exceptions can be made.
