I recently moved to Barcelona, and the top priority has been finding a school for my kid. I was completely clueless at first, overwhelmed by all the different options. After some research, I’ve focused mainly on the international schools here, as I want my child to be in a multilingual environment and have an easier time applying to universities later on. I’m starting this thread to share my findings, hear your opinions, and provide a reference for other families new to the city.
Barcelona has quite a few international school systems, with the main ones being British, American, German, and French. My family is primarily considering English-language schools, so I’ve focused on a few of the more well-known ones. For example, The American School of Barcelona has a great reputation. Its facilities look amazing, the curriculum is purely American, and it offers the IB Diploma in high school. The downside is that the tuition is really expensive, and I’ve heard the admission standards are high, with long waiting lists and a rather complex application process. However, if your budget allows and you’re aiming for Ivy League-level universities, ASB is definitely a top choice.
Another school we’re seriously considering is The British School of Barcelona . It offers a purely British education, following the English National Curriculum from primary through high school, where students prepare for A-Levels. BSB has several campuses, located in Sitges and Castelldefels, which is very convenient if you live by the coast or in the southern area. My personal impression is that the British system is more academically rigorous. Compared to ASB, BSB’s tuition is a bit more affordable, though still not cheap. I have friends whose children attend BSB, and they say there are many school activities that the kids love, but there’s also a fair amount of homework.
Besides these two giants, there are other excellent options. For example, Benjamin Franklin International School also follows an American curriculum and has a great reputation. There’s also St. Peter’s School, which offers a blended education of Spanish, Catalan, and international curricula (similar to SEK International School
); it’s smaller in scale but is said to focus on personalized development. We also briefly looked into German and French schools, which are fantastic choices if your family has a German or French language background. I’ve put together a simple comparison table below based on information from official websites and forums. It might not be completely accurate, so feel free to add corrections or suggestions.
A Brief Comparison of Popular International Schools
| School Name | Main Curriculum | Key Advantages | General Location |
|---|
| American School of Barcelona | American, IB | Great facilities, top university placements | Esplugues de Llobregat |
| British School of Barcelona | British, A-Level | Academically rigorous, multiple campuses | Castelldefels, Sitges |
| Benjamin Franklin | American, IB | Good community feel, very diverse | Sarrià-Sant Gervasi |
| St. Peter’s School | Spanish/Catalan/IB Hybrid | Small class sizes, personalized attention | Pedralbes |
Choosing a school for your child is a huge undertaking. Every family’s situation and needs are different, so there’s no ‘best’ school, only the ‘right fit.’ I highly recommend booking a School Tour, to visit the campuses in person, talk to the admissions officers, and get a feel for the atmosphere. Our family is still deciding, but among the various international schools in Barcelona, we are leaning more towards BSB Barcelona, mainly because its location and curriculum align better with our plans. Are there any parents on this forum whose children attend these schools? I would love to hear about your real experiences! Thank you so much
!
