Cities / Barcelona / Benjamin Franklin International School
Benjamin Franklin International School
Barcelona's only full American-curriculum school (Pre-K to Grade 12) with both IB MYP and IB Diploma. Non-profit, founded 1986; around 700 students from 60+ nationalities in Pedralbes. IB Diploma average 35 in 2025 with a 98% pass rate.
In brief
An American-curriculum IB school in Sarrià, founded in 1985 by Barcelona families and now serving around 700 students from over 60 nationalities. American framework with the IB Diploma in the senior years, plus Advanced Placement.
BFIS sits on a single Sarrià campus that has had heavy capital investment over the past decade: a new Elementary building in 2016, a new Secondary in 2021, a four-storey Baccalaureate building in 2025, and a Center for Creativity and Innovation due in 2026. The school is non-profit, accredited by CIS and MSA, and runs the IB Diploma alongside US graduation requirements, which gives families optionality at university application stage.
Parent voice is consistently strong on teacher accessibility, small classes, and a real urban international community feel rather than embassy enclave. Families with multiple international school comparisons tend to single out the personal relationships staff build with students. University placement is solid. Suits American-track families who want a smaller, urban alternative to ASB; the central location and Sarrià setting are part of the appeal.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood (Nursery - Pre-K) | 3 | Annual | €12,950 |
| Elementary School (Kinder - Grade 5) | 5 | Annual | €17,000 |
| Middle School (Grades 6-8) | 11 | Annual | €18,240 |
| High School (Grades 9-12) | 14 | Annual | €21,720 |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | €250 | |
| Matriculation Fee - first child (non-refundable, annual) | One-time | €1,100 | |
| Entrance Fee (one-time, non-refundable) | One-time | €6,000 |
Reviews
- Parent reviews on the main directory are uniformly warm. Parents describe "a strong sense of community" and "a focus on the total well-being of the students", and the IB programme is consistently praised.
- One parent said the school felt "magical" and that they were "very satisfied with the education and support given to families".
- Teachers and counsellors are described as supportive in the demanding IB programme, with classes small enough that staff get to know individual students.
- Staff reviews are more mixed. Some teachers describe BFIS as having "some really dedicated teachers and administrators" but flag "a relative lack of organization" and frequent administration turnover.
- One staff reviewer said pay is "competitive" by Spanish standards but "not enough to save", and another raised concerns about hiring practices for local staff with children.
- The pattern: parent-facing experience sits well above the staff-facing one.
Head of school
Lila Jorge
Lila Jorge is the Head of School at Benjamin Franklin International School. She has extensive experience in international education leadership. She previously served as the Assistant Head of School at BFIS and has a background in education from New York. She is committed to fostering a sense of belonging and community as the foundation for learning, encouraging students to ask bold questions and become global citizens prepared to design innovative solutions for complex problems.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools 02
Academic results
- IB DP Average (2025) 35.0
- IB Pass Rate (2025) 98%