How many American schools in Madrid
Madrid hosts roughly 8 schools running a true American curriculum pathway from Kindergarten through to a US high school diploma with Advanced Placement. A further 14 schools offer the AP programme as a sixth form option alongside a Spanish or British primary pathway, giving families a broader pool to consider if they value the AP credential at university entry rather than the full American school experience.
The American School of Madrid in Pozuelo is the historical anchor and the only school in the city accredited by both the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the College Board. Founded in 1961, it has educated several generations of American expatriate, Spanish bilingual and international families, with a current cohort of around 1,100 students from EYFS through Grade 12. Smaller American-influenced schools have opened in the past 15 years, including some bilingual options designed for Spanish families wanting US college access.
The American cluster in Madrid is smaller than the British cluster but more concentrated. If your priority is a true US transcript, AP credit and direct admission to American universities, the pool of credible options is small enough to evaluate in a week of school visits. If you are willing to consider IB and A Level pathways as alternative routes to US universities, our Madrid IB hub shows the broader options.
Fees and the AP question
American school fees in Madrid range from about EUR 12,800 a year at value-tier providers to EUR 28,400 a year at the American School of Madrid, the most expensive school in the city for senior years. The median Grade 8 tuition in 2026 sits near EUR 19,200. AP exams are charged separately at roughly EUR 130 each, with most students taking three to six AP subjects across Grades 11 and 12. Our Madrid fees guide shows the full year-by-year fee curve and the loading items that turn a EUR 19,000 headline tuition into roughly EUR 25,000 once lunch, transport, capital levies and AP exam fees are paid.
Two cost traps catch newcomers. First, the American School of Madrid charges a one-off capital levy of EUR 4,500 per child on enrolment, which is rare for European international schools and worth budgeting for at the start. Second, bus transport is comparatively expensive in Madrid because routes are long, often EUR 2,400 to EUR 3,200 a year depending on the catchment area. Families on company-sponsored relocations should negotiate a transport allowance separately from tuition.
Shortlist three Madrid American schools
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three schools based on your child's grade, your budget, your home area and your AP subject priorities.
Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each offers a credible American curriculum pathway and has been operating in Madrid for at least 15 years.
American School of Madrid in Pozuelo is the flagship and the only full Middle States accredited American school in the city. Around 1,100 students from EYFS through Grade 12, with a strong US university admissions track record.
International College Spain in La Moraleja runs the IB Diploma at sixth form but offers AP courses through the senior years as a parallel pathway, particularly popular with American families based in the northern suburbs.
Brains International Schools runs multiple Madrid campuses with a hybrid US and Spanish bilingual programme, popular with Spanish families seeking American college access without leaving the local system entirely.
SEK International School Ciudalcampo in north Madrid offers an AP programme as part of its IB Diploma pathway, with a US high school diploma option for the sixth form cohort.
Where American families live
American families in Madrid cluster around three areas, shaped by the American school estate. Pozuelo de Alarcon and Aravaca in the west are the heart of the American expat community, anchored by the American School of Madrid and a long-standing community of US-affiliated diplomatic, military and corporate families. La Moraleja and the Alcobendas urbanisations to the north for families using International College Spain and SEK Ciudalcampo. Las Rozas for newer family suburbs growing rapidly around tech sector expat relocations.
Pozuelo and Aravaca have an established American community infrastructure including bilingual paediatric practices, English-language sports leagues and Thanksgiving and Independence Day traditions. For wider planning context, our Madrid international schools guide covers the full international landscape and our cost calculator models school fees against housing in each catchment.
Admissions calendar
Madrid American schools follow a calendar closer to US schools than to Spanish or British schools. Applications for the August 2026 intake opened in October 2025 at most American-pathway schools, with priority deadlines in December and main intake deadlines in February. Offers are typically issued by April. The American School of Madrid runs a rolling admissions process with priority given to siblings, returning families and corporate-sponsored relocations.
Mid-year transfers are accepted at most American-curriculum schools subject to space, with the most common windows in January and at the end of the spring break in March. Grade 11 mid-year transfers are difficult because AP subject selections are usually made the prior spring and AP exam registration closes in November.
Frequently asked questions
How many American schools are there in Madrid?
Madrid has roughly 8 schools running a true American curriculum pathway leading to a US high school diploma with Advanced Placement. The flagship is the American School of Madrid in Pozuelo. A further 14 schools offer the AP programme alongside a Spanish or British primary pathway.
Is the American School of Madrid accredited in the US?
Yes. The American School of Madrid is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and authorised by the College Board to offer Advanced Placement courses. Its high school diploma is recognised by US universities for direct entry without conversion.
How much do American schools in Madrid cost?
Tuition at American curriculum schools in Madrid ranges from about EUR 12,800 a year at value-tier providers to EUR 28,400 a year at the American School of Madrid. The median Grade 8 tuition in 2026 sits near EUR 19,200 before transport, lunch and AP exam fees.
Does AP get accepted by Spanish universities?
Yes, but with caveats. Spanish universities accept Advanced Placement results converted via UNEDasiss credential recognition. Students aiming at Spanish universities should plan a UNEDasiss conversion in their final year and may need to sit additional EBAU subjects. Most AP students in Madrid target US universities.
Can my child move from a US school to a Madrid American school?
Yes. American curriculum schools in Madrid follow the same grade structure, AP syllabuses and US-style transcripts as schools in the United States. The transition is straightforward at any grade level. The most common transfer points are Grade 6, Grade 9 and Grade 11. Mid-year moves are accepted subject to space.
