Best Secondary Schools in Madrid

Madrid runs one of the deepest secondary international markets in continental Europe. Three exit qualifications dominate: *A-Level, IB Diploma, and the Spanish bachillerato (with PAU/EvAU university entry). Most credible schools layer IGCSE at Year 11* below A-Level or IB.

Every foreign-curriculum secondary in Spain is authorised by the Ministry as a centro extranjero autorizado. NABSS (the National Association of British Schools in Spain) supports British schools through that authorisation. BSO is the UK Department for Education's voluntary inspection scheme. CIS is the international governance standard. Homologación converts foreign qualifications into the Spanish equivalent for entry to Spanish universities.

The market splits four ways: English-medium British running ENC to A-Level, IB Diploma schools (often after the MYP), American high school running US grades plus AP and IB, and dual British-Spanish schools delivering both pathways. Bilingual ESO and bachillerato are the Madrid norm rather than the exception.

The top tier

Five schools sit clearly at the front on published 2024 to 2025 results, accreditation, and depth of sixth-form provision.

International School of Madrid

Chamartín, ages 2 to 18. Founded 1971. Fees EUR 16,875 to 41,625. NABSS authorised. The strongest published A-Level pass rate in Madrid: 99% pass, 38% A/A, 79% A-C in 2025. *IGCSE 58% A/A, 84% A-B, 99% A-C.** Full Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE pathway, English-medium with Spanish as a subject. Premium fees; the pipeline justifies them for families set on the British route.

Runnymede College

La Moraleja, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1967. Fees EUR 9,300 to 23,700. BSO and CIS accredited. *57% A/A at A-Level and 67% A-A at IGCSE in 2025. The school British academics name when asked which Madrid sixth form sends pupils to Oxbridge. Single-site, English-medium from Year 1, traditional A-Level subject combinations. BSO plus CIS is the strongest inspection combination* in Spain; only Runnymede and King's hold both. Sibling priority is heavy; waiting lists run.

International College Spain

La Moraleja, ages 3 to 18. Founded 2000. Fees EUR 12,186 to 25,635. CIS, NEASC, Cognia accredited. Operator: Nord Anglia. The reference IB Diploma school in Madrid, the only one running the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) from age 3. IB Diploma average 35.2 in 2025, comfortably above the global average. English-medium with Spanish daily.

American School of Madrid

Pozuelo de Alarcón, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1961. Fees EUR 11,593 to 23,878. MSA-CESS accredited. The reference American high school in Madrid. US grades through Grade 12 with AP courses and the IB Diploma in upper school. IB Diploma top-30% average 37.9 in 2024. US-style transcripts, US-pattern college counselling, strong placement into American universities.

The British School of Madrid

Pozuelo de Alarcón, ages 2 to 18. Founded 1940. Fees EUR 5,100 to 14,070. BSO accredited. The oldest British school in Spain runs Madrid's most established dual British-Spanish sixth form. The BiBac pathway delivers A-Levels and the Spanish bachillerato in parallel: pupils sit Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel A-Levels alongside the PAU. *2025 PAU average 7.91; IGCSE 55% A-A, 74% A-B.* Fees at the more accessible end of the top tier.

Strong mid-tier

Larger, more bilingual, less consistent on published outcomes, still credible secondary choices.

Hastings School

Central Madrid, three campuses, ages 2 to 18. Fees EUR 7,700 to 20,750. ENC through Key Stage 4, A-Levels or the IB Diploma at sixth form. *IB Diploma 35 and 47% A/A at A-Level in 2024.** Central location is the draw for families avoiding the Pozuelo or La Moraleja commute.

Kensington School

Pozuelo, ages 18 months to 18. Founded 1968. CIS accredited. Cambridge primary into IGCSE then IB Diploma at sixth form. *IB Diploma 34 in 2025; 41% A at IGCSE; PAU 8.22 out of 10, 100% pass.** Strong dual-route results across British and Spanish examinations.

The English Montessori School

Central Madrid, ages 1 to 18. Fees EUR 5,000 to 13,450. Montessori in early years, ENC through primary and secondary, *A-Levels at sixth form with an IB option. 58% A/A and 98% pass at A-Level in 2024; EvAU 7.95.**

Brighton College Madrid

New Madrid campus, ages 3 to 18. BSO and CIS accredited. Already publishing *50% A/A at IGCSE and A-Level (2024)**. Sixth-form cohorts still building.

Deutsche Schule Madrid

Ages 3 to 18. Founded 1896. Fees EUR 5,050 to 7,990. CIS accredited. German curriculum to Abitur with an *IB Diploma stream averaging 38 points in 2024 and 52% A/A at A-Level. Strongest published IB average in the city**, fees well below the British and IB anchors.

Aquinas, Highlands El Encinar and Thames

Aquinas (Pozuelo, MSA-CESS, IB 31.52 in 2025) is the smaller American alternative to ASM. Highlands El Encinar (La Moraleja, CIS) runs Cambridge IGCSE alongside the IB Diploma and a Spanish track; EvAU averaged 13.975 out of 14 in 2023. Thames British School Madrid (Majadahonda, CIS) runs Cambridge into IGCSE and the IB Diploma.

Best for A-Levels

If the family is choosing on the A-Level cohort specifically, three schools sit ahead on published 2024 to 2025 results.

Runnymede and TEMS publish higher top-grade percentages; ICS Madrid publishes the strongest pass-rate floor. For pupils targeting Oxbridge or the Russell Group, Runnymede has the longest track record. Hastings, Brighton College Madrid and St. George Madrid also offer A-Levels but on shorter or less consistently reported records.

Best for IB Diploma

Six schools run the full IB Diploma with published 2024 to 2025 averages above the global 30-point mark.

For a continuous IB pathway from primary, ICS in La Moraleja is the natural choice. For an IB sixth form attached to a different primary route, Hastings, Kensington and ASM offer credible options. The Global College in Salamanca is a sixth-form-only IB specialist taking pupils from age 15, the only school in Madrid built specifically around the 16-to-18 Diploma window.

Best for American HS and AP

American School of Madrid is the reference choice. US grades through to Grade 12, AP courses across STEM, humanities and languages, plus the IB Diploma for pupils who want it. MSA-CESS accreditation places ASM inside the US regional-accreditation system, so transcripts read cleanly for US college admissions. IB Diploma top-30% average 37.9 in 2024.

Aquinas American School is the smaller alternative, also MSA-CESS, also in Pozuelo, leading to the IB Diploma (2025 average 31.52) with a narrower AP offering. Families with a strong US-university plan lean to ASM.

At a glance

NABSS authorisation is the regulatory floor for British-curriculum schools in Spain. American, IB-only, German, French and Spanish-medium schools sit outside the NABSS frame. Verify current accreditation with each school.

The age labels and exit points

ESO (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria) is the Spanish 12-to-16 stage. Bachillerato covers 16 to 18. Entry to a Spanish university requires the bachillerato plus the PAU/EvAU examination.

The English National Curriculum at secondary runs Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9), Key Stage 4 (Years 10 to 11, IGCSE at Year 11), and Key Stage 5 (Years 12 to 13, A-Level at Year 13). Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel dominate the exam boards.

The IB Diploma Programme runs ages 16 to 19. Six subjects (three Higher Level, three Standard Level) plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and CAS. Graded out of 45.

American high school covers Grades 9 to 12. AP is a subject-by-subject US qualification examined by the College Board.

Homologación converts an IGCSE plus A-Level record, an IB Diploma, or a US transcript into the Spanish school-leaving equivalent. Dual British-Spanish schools integrate this into the curriculum.

How to choose between them

Exit qualification. A-Level for a UK destination and depth-over-breadth fit. IB Diploma for a mixed or undecided destination and a pupil who thrives on a wider load. AP plus US transcript for North America. Spanish bachillerato (with British or IB alongside) if Spain is part of the plan.

English-medium or dual track? Families planning to leave Spain within five years lean to ICS Madrid, Runnymede, ICS or ASM. Families staying long-term, or with Spanish-national children, lean to TBS Madrid, Highlands, Kensington, TEMS or British Montessori.

Sixth form provision. Pure A-Level at Runnymede and ICS Madrid. A-Level plus IB option at Hastings, TEMS, Kensington and St. George. IB only at ICS, The Global College, Logos, Internacional Aravaca, and the IB stream at Deutsche Schule. AP plus IB at ASM and Aquinas. Bachillerato with IB at Colegio Base.

Location. La Moraleja holds Runnymede, ICS, King's and Highlands. Pozuelo holds TBS Madrid, ASM, Aquinas and Kensington. Aravaca holds British Montessori and Internacional Aravaca. Chamartín holds ICS Madrid. Central holds Hastings, TEMS and The Global College. La Moraleja from central Madrid runs 25 to 40 minutes outside rush hour and meaningfully longer inside it.

Accreditation. BSO is the strongest single signal of UK-equivalent academic standards. BSO plus CIS is the strongest combination (Runnymede, King's, Brighton College Madrid). MSA-CESS is the US equivalent (ASM, Aquinas). NABSS authorisation is the Spanish regulatory floor.

Related reading

• Best international schools in Madrid
• Best British schools in Madrid
• Best primary schools in Madrid
• IGCSE explained
• A-Levels explained
• IB vs A-Levels

FAQs

Which Madrid school has the strongest A-Level results?

Three sit at the front on published 2024 to 2025 results. *Runnymede College: 57% A/A in 2025, the longest Oxbridge track record. The English Montessori School: 58% A/A and 98% pass in 2024. International School of Madrid: 38% A/A and a 99% pass rate in 2025.**

Which Madrid school has the strongest IB Diploma average?

Deutsche Schule Madrid published 38 points for its 2024 IB cohort. ASM's top-30% published 37.9 in 2024. The Global College published 36.2 in 2025. International College Spain published 35.2 in 2025. The global average sits around 30 points.

Can my child sit Spanish university entry from an English-medium school?

Yes. NABSS-authorised schools follow homologación to convert IGCSE and A-Level results, or the IB Diploma, into the Spanish school-leaving equivalent, after which pupils sit the selectividad (EvAU or PAU). Dual British-Spanish schools integrate this directly into the curriculum.

Where does AP fit in Madrid?

The American School of Madrid is the only Madrid school running a full AP programme across subjects. Aquinas American School offers a narrower AP selection alongside the IB Diploma.

How much do Madrid secondary schools cost?

From around EUR 5,000 a year at the accessible end (Colegio Base, TBS Madrid, TEMS, Logos) to EUR 41,625 at the top of sixth form (ICS Madrid). Most established schools sit between EUR 14,000 and EUR 25,000 at top year.

Sources: school websites and 2024 to 2025 results disclosures for the schools named. NABSS (nabss.org) for authorisation framework. UK Department for Education BSO scheme guidance. Council of International Schools (cois.org). Middle States Association (msa-cess.org). Spanish Ministry of Education homologación, ESO, bachillerato and EvAU/PAU guidance.