Deutsche Schule, Madrid
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$5K - US$9K
Curriculum: German
Age Range: 3-18
Students: ~1,000
Location: Other Madrid, Madrid
Updated April 2026
In Brief
Deutsche Schule Madrid is a strong fit if German is your family's home language or your company is German and your child needs the Abitur. It is a genuine government-affiliated school - not a private venture - with low fees by Madrid standards, and the Fuencarral campus won the World Architecture Festival in 2016. For non-German-speaking families, the language barrier in the early years is real and worth discussing with the school before enrolling.
DSM is one of Spain's officially designated German schools abroad (Auslandsschulen), which means it is partially funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and follows the German state curriculum leading to the Abitur. The Abitur is recognised in both Germany and Spain as the CAU (Certificado de Aptitud Universitaria), giving graduates access to universities in both countries. At around 1,000 students, it is considerably smaller than LFM but large enough for a full secondary programme. The Fuencarral campus in northwest Madrid sits at Calle Monasterio de Guadalupe - close to the M-30 ring road and accessible from the north and northwest of the city.
Fees are the most affordable of any full-programme international school in Madrid - EUR 5,050 per year for primary ages (Classes 1-4) rising to EUR 7,990 for Abitur year. Unusually, the school uses a refundable deposit system called the Baustein (EUR 2,000 for a first child), which is returned when your child leaves. Partial financial support is available for some families through the school's own scholarship fund. Teaching is primarily in German with Spanish and English as compulsory additional languages from early on. The campus itself is architecturally striking - it won the World Architecture Festival's best school building award in 2016.
Rating data from iSchooladvisor shows 3.4 out of 5 across five reviews, which is a thin sample. The school has a secular, multicultural character and is not restricted to German nationals - but the language of instruction is German, and children arriving without German will need real support in the transition period. Ask the school specifically what language support looks like in the first two years for a non-German-speaking child. The northwest Fuencarral location works well for families in that part of Madrid but adds distance for those in Retiro, Salamanca or south Madrid.
What parents value
- –Fees from EUR 5,050/yr (primary) to EUR 7,990/yr (Abitur year) - the most affordable full international curriculum in Madrid. The refundable Baustein deposit is returned in full when your child leaves.
- –Official German school abroad, partially funded by the German government. The Abitur is recognised in both Germany and Spain, giving graduates access to universities in two countries.
- –Award-winning campus architecture (World Architecture Festival 2016). Strong STEM and music programmes; multilingual teaching in German, Spanish and English from primary age.
Points of consideration
- –Instruction is in German. Children arriving without German will face a significant language adjustment - ask the school what structured support is available in the first year and whether there is a language integration programme.
- –The Fuencarral campus sits in northwest Madrid at Calle Monasterio de Guadalupe. Families in central, southern or eastern parts of the city are looking at a daily commute - check whether the school bus network covers your area before visiting.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| KG1-KG3 (ages 3-5) | 3 | 7,850 |
| Classes 1-4 (ages 6-10) | 6 | 5,830 |
| Classes 5-6 (ages 10-12) | 10 | 6,257 |
| Classes 7-10 (ages 12-16) | 12 | 6,731 |
| Class 11 (age 16-17) | 16 | 7,377 |
| Class 12 / Abitur (age 17-18) | 17 | 9,224 |
Fees converted from EUR. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Admission Fee | 1,674 |
| Refundable Deposit - Baustein (1st child) | 2,309 |
| Schulverein (annual) | 231 |
Academic Results
Academic results have not been made publicly available by this school.
Extra Curriculars
Contact the school for details on co-curricular activities, sports programmes and facilities. Ask what a normal week looks like outside lessons for your child's age group.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
No published inspection details are currently available.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Madrid's international schools draw families from across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. Most of the schools in La Moraleja and Pozuelo serve a mix of corporate-package families and long-term Madrid residents.
Leadership
School leadership
Contact the school for current leadership details.