It’s that time of year again to start preparing school applications for the kids. I’ve noticed many newcomers on the forums asking how to find schools. When I first started, I was probably like you, just Googling “Spanish public schools” or “colegio público Madrid.” But the amount of scattered information that comes up can be overwhelming.
In reality, to precisely find the right school, you need to know some of the “long-tail keywords” that local Spanish parents use. These terms help you narrow your search and get straight to the point. Today, I’m sharing the tips I’ve gathered over the past two years!
The First Critical Step: Choosing a School Schedule
In Spain, public schools primarily have two types of schedules, and this is crucial for dual-income families! One is called jornada continua, and the other is jornada partida. The difference is significant!
| Type | Schedule | Pros/Cons |
|---|
| Jornada Continua | Typically 9:00 - 14:00, followed by optional lunch and after-school activities. | Kids have free afternoons, but requires early pickup. |
| Jornada Partida | Typically 9:00 - 12:30, a long lunch break, then classes resume from 15:00 - 16:30. | Fits a traditional workday, but midday transport is inconvenient and can be tiring for kids. |
So, when you search, you can use colegio público jornada continua + [your city or neighborhood] for a more precise search, which will save you a lot of time.
Essential School Services You Can’t Overlook
For working parents, the support services offered by a school are essential. You absolutely need to know these terms: comedor escolar (school cafeteria), servicio de madrugadores or aula matinal (early morning care), and actividades extraescolares (extracurricular activities). If you live far away, ruta escolar (school bus service) is also a very useful term. Simply add these terms to your search after the school’s name to see if they offer these services.
Application Season ‘Jargon’
When application season arrives around March and April, you’ll encounter a whole new set of terms. For example, solicitud de plaza escolar (school place application), baremo de admisión (admissions scoring system), puntos por domicilio (points for home address), and puntos por hermanos en el centro (points for siblings at the school). Understanding these terms is key to deciphering official documents and estimating your family’s potential points, so you know where you stand. I hope this information is helpful, and I wish you all success in getting your child into a great school! ¡Mucha suerte a todos!
