Notes / Madrid
Top 5 International Schools in Madrid
The five international schools in Madrid that should sit at the top of a relocating family's shortlist, ranked, with results, fees and reasons.
The brief
- King's College and ICS Madrid lead the English-medium IB market. Both posted IB Diploma averages above 35 in 2025, around five points above the global mean of 30.5.
- Runnymede College runs the strongest pure A-Level track in Spain: *57% A/A in 2025** and the longest Oxbridge record in the city.
- Deutsche Schule sits in a different price band entirely. EUR 5,050 to 7,990 for IB Diploma 38 in 2024 and *52% A/A at A-Level**. Roughly a third the fee of the English-medium top tier.
- La Moraleja and Pozuelo de Alarcón hold four of the five. Deutsche Schule sits in Montecarmelo, north Madrid.
- King's and Runnymede hold both BSO and CIS, the strongest external-inspection combination in the city.
Madrid has a deep international school market. Deutsche Schule traces back to 1896, The British School of Madrid opened in 1940, ASM in 1961, Runnymede in 1967. The wider field is covered in the pillar guide and the top 10 list; this is the shorter shortlist.
The ranking
1. King's College, The British School of Madrid
La Moraleja, ages 1 to 16, with the senior site at Soto de Viñuelas continuing to 18. Around 650 pupils. Group founded 1969, La Moraleja campus opened 2007. Fees EUR 8,115 to 16,110. BSO and CIS accredited. Operated by Inspired Education.
The most academically credentialled of the broadly accessible British schools in Madrid. IB Diploma average 35.5 in 2025, five points above the global mean. *52% A and 73% A-A at IGCSE in 2025.* English National Curriculum from Early Years, with the sister site carrying pupils through to A-Level and IB at sixth form.
Holding both BSO and CIS is unusual in Spain. The single strongest external-inspection combination available in the city. The infant pipeline into Soto is the structural consideration; families wanting a single-campus path to 18 generally compare to ICS Madrid instead.
2. International College Spain (ICS Madrid)
La Moraleja, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1980, on the current La Moraleja site since 1983. Around 1,200 pupils from roughly 70 nationalities. Fees EUR 12,186 to 25,635. CIS, NEASC and Cognia accredited. Operated by Nord Anglia Education.
The reference IB school in Madrid. Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) from age 3, English-medium with Spanish daily. IB Diploma 35.2 in 2025. Teacher-to-student ratio around 1:9. The natural choice for families already inside the IB system or expecting to move again, since a child can start at the youngest year and finish the Diploma without a curriculum break.
The campus is older than newer rivals. A few graduates flag that some buildings show their age, though academic culture and teacher quality are praised. A EUR 1,000 application fee and EUR 3,000 enrolment fee apply from Grade 1.
3. Runnymede College
La Moraleja, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1967 by Arthur Powell, now led by his son Frank Powell. Around 750 pupils across roughly 37 nationalities. Fees EUR 9,300 to 23,700. BSO and CIS accredited.
The academic name on the Madrid British circuit. *57% A/A at A-Level and 67% A-A at IGCSE in 2025.* Pure English National Curriculum through to A-Level with no IB option, a deliberate choice the school stands by. Single-site campus, traditional A-Level subject combinations, recent cohorts placing multiple students at Oxford and Cambridge each year.
About half the families are Spanish, which families looking for full British immersion sometimes underestimate. The academic culture is real pressure with warmer pastoral care than the reputation suggests. Sibling priority is heavy; waiting lists run at Reception, Year 7 and Year 12. Families targeting US universities sometimes prefer ICS for the IB route.
4. American School of Madrid (ASM)
Pozuelo de Alarcón, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1961. Around 1,000 pupils across more than fifty nationalities. Fees EUR 11,593 to 23,878. MSA-CESS accredited.
The established American school in Madrid. US Elementary from Kindergarten leading to Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma at high school. IB Diploma top-30% average 37.9 in 2024. Historically the home of the US corporate and embassy population, with a demographic mix of roughly one third American, one third Spanish, one third other passports.
Families praise the warmth of the community, the ease of slotting in mid-year, and the breadth of music, sport and theatre. Recurring complaints: turnover among teachers and counselling staff in some years, ageing parts of the facility, and a college counselling office some families have found weak. ASM remains the natural default for US passport holders on a Madrid posting. A one-off Capital Fee of EUR 6,000 (private) or EUR 8,100 (corporate) applies on entry.
5. Deutsche Schule Madrid
Montecarmelo (Fuencarral-El Pardo), ages 3 to 18. Founded 1896. Around 1,000 pupils. Fees EUR 5,050 to 7,990. CIS accredited.
The oldest international school in the city and the lowest-fee school on this list by a wide margin. Bilingual German-Spanish teaching with English from primary and optional French from later years; most graduates leave with three or four languages. The Abitur feeds students directly into German-speaking universities and is recognised in Spain.
The international track posted IB Diploma 38 points in 2024 and *52% A/A at A-Level in 2024. The purpose-built Montecarmelo campus opened in 2015 with strong music, art and science facilities. Fees roughly a third of the English-medium top tier** for comparable results. Best fit for German and Austrian families on a Madrid posting, Spanish families committed to a German pathway from nursery, and bilingual families wanting an academically demanding European school at a non-British price point.
At a glance
| School | Area | Ages | Fees (EUR) | NABSS | Curriculum | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's College Madrid | La Moraleja | 1 to 16 | 8,115 to 16,110 | yes | British, IGCSE | IB 35.5 (group) |
| International College Spain | La Moraleja | 3 to 18 | 12,186 to 25,635 | yes | IB PYP, MYP, DP | IB 35.2 |
| Runnymede College | La Moraleja | 3 to 18 | 9,300 to 23,700 | yes | British, IGCSE, A-Level | 57% A*/A |
| American School of Madrid | Pozuelo | 3 to 18 | 11,593 to 23,878 | n/a | American + IB DP | IB top-30% 37.9 (2024) |
| Deutsche Schule Madrid | Montecarmelo | 3 to 18 | 5,050 to 7,990 | n/a | German, Abitur, IB DP | IB 38 (2024) |
NABSS (National Association of British Schools in Spain) authorisation is the regulatory framework for foreign British-curriculum schools in Spain. American, German and IB-only schools sit outside it. Verify current fees and accreditation with each school.
How this list was built
Editorial ranking, four signals.
Accreditation. NABSS authorisation is the regulatory floor for British schools in Spain; equivalent licensing applies to the American and German tracks. BSO plus CIS is the strongest external-inspection signal in the city. King's and Runnymede hold both.
Published exam outcomes. IB Diploma averages, IGCSE and A-Level A*/A percentages from the most recent published cycle (2024 or 2025). The five schools on this list publish full results.
Depth of academic culture. Years of operation, sixth-form destination patterns, and the volume of pupils carried through each school's top entry points. Three of the five have been running for more than fifty years.
Curriculum coverage. The list spans the four main international pathways: British (King's, Runnymede), full IB (ICS), American with IB option (ASM), German Abitur with IB option (Deutsche Schule). A relocating family with a curriculum constraint has at least one credible option here.
Fee level did not drive placement. Deutsche Schule sits on the list at a third of the cost of the English-medium top tier on the academic case alone.
Schools just below the cut
The next five sit in the full top 10 list.
The British School of Madrid (formerly British Council School), Pozuelo. The most established bilingual British-Spanish BiBac in the city. *PAU average 7.91 and IGCSE A-A 55% in 2025.** Strongest fit for families staying in Spain long-term.
Hastings School, central Madrid, three campuses. *IB 35 and 47% A/A in 2024.** The central location is the draw.
Aquinas American School, Pozuelo. The smaller American alternative to ASM. IB Diploma 31.52 in 2025.
Brighton College Madrid, northern Madrid. Opened 2027, BSO and CIS accredited at launch. Too new for a results record of its own.
Thames British School Madrid, Majadahonda. Around 330 pupils. Parent signal is mixed on teacher consistency.
Related reading
- Best international schools in Madrid (pillar guide)
- Top 10 international schools in Madrid
- Best British schools in Madrid
- What is BSO accreditation?
- What is CIS accreditation?
FAQs
Which Madrid international school has the best IB results?
King's College Madrid at 35.5 points and International College Spain at 35.2 points in 2025 lead the English-medium IB market. Deutsche Schule Madrid posted 38 points in 2024 on its international track, and the American School of Madrid reported a top-30% average of 37.9 in 2024. The global IB Diploma average in 2025 was 30.5.
Which Madrid school has the strongest A-Level results?
Runnymede College at *57% A/A in 2025. Deutsche Schule Madrid* at 52% A/A in 2024 is the next strongest cohort on this list. Among the schools just below the cut, Hastings posted 47% A*/A.
British, IB or American: which curriculum should we choose for Madrid?
Curriculum follows the family's next likely move more than it follows Madrid. Families heading back to the UK pick Runnymede or King's. Families likely to move again, or targeting US universities, pick ICS for the full IB continuum. US passport holders on a Madrid posting pick ASM. Families staying in Spain long-term often pick The British School of Madrid for the bilingual BiBac, or Deutsche Schule for the German-Spanish dual track.
What is the real cost once fees, levies and extras are included?
Most schools carry enrolment fees of EUR 1,000 to 3,500, capital levies on entry (ASM charges EUR 6,000 to 8,100), annual transport of EUR 2,000 to 3,000 where used, and separate charges for lunch, after-school activities and exam entries. Budget EUR 3,000 to 5,000 a year above headline tuition at the established English-medium schools. Deutsche Schule runs lower across the board.
How early should we apply?
Reception, Year 7 and sixth-form entry at 16 are oversubscribed at King's, ICS and Runnymede in most years. Four to six months ahead is the minimum lead time.
Sources: school websites and 2024 to 2025 results disclosures for King's College Madrid, International College Spain, Runnymede College, American School of Madrid, and Deutsche Schule Madrid. NABSS (nabss.org) for the Spanish authorisation framework. UK Department for Education BSO scheme guidance. Council of International Schools (cois.org) membership directory. IB Organization Annual Statistical Bulletin 2025 for the global Diploma average.