How many IB schools in Madrid
Madrid is currently home to 24 authorised IB World Schools registered with the International Baccalaureate Organization. That is the largest IB cluster in Spain by a wide margin, ahead of Barcelona's 18 and Valencia's 9, and places Madrid among the deepest IB markets in continental Europe alongside Geneva, Frankfurt and Brussels. About 16 of those 24 schools offer the full IB Diploma at sixth form. The remainder run the PYP or MYP only, transitioning their secondary cohorts onto Spanish Bachillerato, the English A Level or the dual diploma route.
Roughly a third of the IB authorisations in the Comunidad de Madrid are at state or concertado schools, which is unusual by international comparison. Schools like IES San Mateo and Colegio Las Naves run the IB Diploma as a public option, charging only a small voluntary fee. The remaining two thirds are private British, American and international schools, most of which run the British curriculum or the Spanish Bachillerato alongside the IB as parallel pathways.
The cluster is mature. Most established private IB schools in Madrid have been running the Diploma for at least a decade, with strong May session results. Newer authorisations from 2022 onwards include several British schools converting their Year 12 cohort into a dual A Level and IB pathway in response to parent demand.
Fees and the concertado question
Madrid IB fees split sharply along ownership lines. Private IB schools run from about EUR 8,400 a year at value-tier providers, including some of the smaller English-medium options in north Madrid, up to EUR 22,500 a year at the premium tier including King's College Madrid, ICS La Moraleja and St George's. The median private secondary fee in 2026 sits near EUR 14,800. State concertado schools that offer IB charge a small voluntary contribution, typically EUR 1,500 to EUR 4,000 a year, though families should expect additional costs for trips, books and the optional after-school programme. Our Madrid fees guide walks through the loading items in detail.
Two cost traps catch newcomers. First, all private schools in Madrid charge an admissions matricula of EUR 500 to EUR 3,000 on enrolment, typically non-refundable. Second, lunch (comedor) and after-school programmes are usually billed separately and add EUR 1,500 to EUR 2,800 a year. Negotiate the matricula before signing, particularly for sibling enrolments.
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Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each has been running the IB in Madrid for at least eight years with strong Diploma session results.
International College Spain in La Moraleja is one of the longest established IB World Schools in Spain, running the full PYP, MYP and DP continuum. Diploma cohorts consistently average above 35 points.
British Council School Madrid in Pozuelo offers a dual A Level and IB Diploma sixth form, with one of the strongest British curriculum estates in the city feeding into the Diploma Programme.
King's College Madrid Soto de Vinuelas runs A Levels with an IB option at sixth form and a deep British primary feeding the secondary. Strong record into UK Russell Group universities.
Hastings School Madrid in Chamartin runs both the British curriculum and the IB Diploma, popular with central Madrid families who want a city-centre school rather than the suburban estates.
Where IB families live
IB families in Madrid cluster around four areas. La Moraleja and the surrounding Alcobendas urbanisations for villa living near ICS, King's College Soto, SEK El Castillo and Runnymede. Pozuelo de Alarcon and Aravaca in the west for proximity to British Council School, Mirabal, ICS and the international clusters on the M-503. Chamartin and the northern barrios of central Madrid for families wanting urban living near Hastings, ICAI and the smaller Spanish-led IB schools. Las Rozas and Boadilla del Monte for newer family suburbs growing rapidly around recent international school openings.
IB tends to attract internationally mobile families on company assignments who value curriculum portability, alongside a growing cohort of Spanish families seeking an English-language alternative to the Bachillerato. For wider context on Madrid's school landscape, our Madrid international schools guide covers the British, American and IB pathways together.
Admissions calendar
Applications for the September 2026 academic year opened in most Madrid IB schools between October and December 2025. Tier 1 schools close their main intake for Year 7 and Year 12 by late February. Late applicants are placed on a waiting list and offered places only as withdrawals come through, typically April through July. For families relocating mid-year, applications are accepted on a rolling basis subject to availability, with most movement happening between November and February.
State and concertado IB schools follow the regional Comunidad de Madrid admissions calendar, which opens in late February and closes in mid-March, with placements published in early summer. For wider planning context, our cost calculator models school fees against typical housing costs in each major catchment.
Frequently asked questions
How many IB schools are there in Madrid?
Madrid has 24 authorised IB World Schools as of 2026, the largest cluster in Spain. About 16 of those offer the full IB Diploma Programme at sixth form, with the rest running PYP, MYP or both. Public schools account for around a third of the IB authorisations in the Comunidad de Madrid.
What is the average IB Diploma score in Madrid?
The Madrid average across reporting schools sat at 32.8 points in the May 2025 IB Diploma session, slightly above the global IB average of 30.3. The strongest schools, including ICS, King's and St George's, average above 35 points.
How much do IB schools in Madrid cost?
Tuition at private IB schools in Madrid ranges from about EUR 8,400 a year at value-tier providers to EUR 22,500 a year at the most premium British and IB flagships. The state-funded concertado schools that offer IB charge a small voluntary fee, typically EUR 1,500 to EUR 4,000 a year.
Is IB recognised by Spanish universities?
Yes. The IB Diploma is recognised by all Spanish universities for entry, though candidates without Spanish secondary credentials must take the EBAU university entrance examination or a UNEDasiss conversion. Most IB students in Madrid head abroad for university, mainly to the UK, US and Netherlands.
Can you transfer into an IB Madrid school mid-year?
Many Madrid IB schools accept mid-year transfers into Years 4 to 10 when places exist. Diploma Programme transfers after October of Year 12 are difficult because subject choices and internal assessments are already underway. The most common transfer window is January.
