Cities / Barcelona / Barcelona High School
Barcelona High School
A young American-curriculum school founded in 2020 by Akida Mashaka, a Harvard-graduate entrepreneur. Two campuses now, primary and preschool in Gràcia, secondary in Poblenou, with AP courses delivered as the alternative to IB or A-Levels.
In brief
A young American-curriculum school founded in 2020 by Akida Mashaka, a Harvard-graduate entrepreneur. Two campuses now, primary and preschool in Gràcia, secondary in Poblenou, with AP courses delivered as the alternative to IB or A-Levels.
BHS started during Covid with five students in a basement and has grown to around 500 across both campuses, with full Spanish Ministry of Education accreditation and WASC accreditation. The school markets a proprietary BHS Method centred on entrepreneurial pedagogy, and AP delivery is real, with the school operating as the AP exam centre for Europe. University outcomes for early cohorts have included strong US placements.
This is a founder-led startup school rather than an established institution, and parent feedback tracks that pattern: very positive on personal attention, smaller class sizes, and the founder's accessibility, with systems and policies still being built. Suits families who want an AP-based US route in central Barcelona, are comfortable with a young school, and value being known by name over scale.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool & Kindergarten (PK3-K5) | 3 | €13,900 |
| Elementary (Grades 1-5) | 6 | €15,900 |
| Middle School (Grades 6-8) | 11 | €17,900 |
| High School (Grades 9-10) | 14 | €20,900 |
| Pre-University High School (Grades 11-12) | 16 | €21,900 |
| Online (Grades K-12) | €13,900 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Matriculation Fee | €1,000 | |
| One-Time Entrance Fee | €2,500 |
Reviews
A young American school that has scaled fast since 2020, now spread across a secondary campus in the 22@ district of Poblenou and a primary/preschool site in Gracia. The pitch is small classes, a US diploma with AP options, no homework, and an explicit focus on social and emotional wellbeing alongside academics. The community is small and internationally mixed; the model is unapologetically non-traditional, which works for some families and won't for others.
Positives
- Scale and class size. Cohorts are small and teacher contact is close. Families describe the feel as personal rather than processed.
- Pastoral and wellbeing focus. Counselling and social-emotional support sit at the centre of the day, not bolted on. Students talk about feeling comfortable and known.
- American pathway. Accredited US curriculum, US high-school diploma, AP courses optional rather than required. Clear route to American university applications with SAT/ACT in-house.
Considerations
- Newness and rate of change. The school is only six years old and has grown from a handful of students to several hundred across two campuses. Programmes, sites, and staffing have moved quickly, which is part of the appeal but also means systems are still settling.
- Non-traditional model. No homework, flipped classrooms, project work, a strong founder-led narrative around reinventing school. Families looking for a conventional academic structure or a long track record of exam results will find a different proposition here.
- Independent track record. Too new to have a deep, multi-year body of independent parent and alumni feedback. Most of what circulates publicly is the school's own voice and a small pool of early reviews.
Leadership
Amanda Slefo
Amanda Slefo is the Director of Barcelona High School, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for innovative education. She believes in creating a nurturing environment where students can thrive academically and personally, fostering a love for learning and self-discovery.
Accreditations
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 01