How many IB schools in Mexico City
Mexico City has around 28 authorised IB World Schools across the metropolitan area in 2026, the largest single concentration of IB authorised schools in Latin America. The figure includes schools holding authorisation for at least one of the three main IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3 to 12, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11 to 16, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16 to 19. Around 18 of the 28 are authorised for the Diploma Programme, with the rest concentrated at PYP and MYP. A small group of 6 schools are authorised for all three programmes, providing the cleanest IB continuum from age 3 through to graduation.
Mexico City IB schools are mostly concentrated in the wealthier western and southern delegaciones of the metropolitan area, with the strongest clusters in Lomas de Chapultepec, Bosques de las Lomas, Lomas de Tecamachalco, Cuajimalpa, Calzada Desierto de los Leones and the Coyoacan and San Angel southern corridor. The IB programmes serve a mixed pupil body in the city, with around 55 per cent of IB Diploma candidates coming from Mexican families and the remainder from international expatriate, returnee Mexican and dual-passport families. The IB graduate destinations are split fairly evenly between US universities, UK and European universities, and Mexican private universities.
The Mexico City IB market has grown steadily since 2010, with the number of authorised IB World Schools rising from around 18 in 2010 to 28 in 2026. Growth has been concentrated in the bilingual Spanish-English IB Diploma segment, which has emerged as the preferred upper school pathway for Mexican families targeting US and UK university admissions. The IB Diploma is recognised by the Secretaria de Educacion Publica (SEP) for revalidacion to the Mexican Bachillerato, allowing IB Diploma graduates to apply to UNAM, ITAM, Tec de Monterrey and the wider Mexican university system alongside international applications.
The three IB programmes in Mexico City
Mexico City schools deliver the three IB programmes in different combinations depending on age range and school philosophy. The IB Primary Years Programme is delivered by around 16 schools across the city, with strong clusters at the American School Foundation, Greengates School, Edron Academy and Westhill Institute. The PYP runs through to age 11 or 12 depending on the school's transition point. The IB Middle Years Programme is delivered by around 14 schools and runs through to age 16. The MYP includes an externally moderated personal project at age 16 that prepares pupils for the IB Diploma's extended essay.
The IB Diploma Programme is the most widely recognised IB programme in Mexico City, delivered by around 18 schools to a total annual cohort of around 1,200 IB Diploma graduates. The largest single IB Diploma cohort is at the American School Foundation (around 130 IB Diploma graduates a year), followed by Greengates School, Westhill Institute and Edron Academy. The IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), the fourth and newest IB programme, is delivered by 2 schools in the city: Colegio Peterson Cuajimalpa and the Edron Academy. The IBCP combines IB Diploma subjects with a vocational career-related study and is aimed at pupils planning specific career-led university applications.
Choosing the right IB school in Mexico City?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Mexico City IB schools based on your child's year group, your IB programme preference (Diploma, MYP or PYP), your home area, and your budget.
Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each is an authorised IB World School with an established record of IB Diploma graduates and a consistent university destinations record.
Greengates School in Lomas de Tecamachalco is the longest established British international school in Mexico, founded in 1951. Authorised for the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes. Strong placement into UK Russell Group and US tier 1 universities, with annual offers from Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL and the Ivy League.
The American School Foundation (ASF) in Bosques de las Lomas is the largest international school in Mexico by enrolment, founded in 1888. Authorised for the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes alongside a parallel US High School Diploma plus AP stream. The largest single IB Diploma cohort in Mexico, with around 130 IB graduates a year.
Edron Academy on Calzada Desierto de los Leones is a Mexican-British school authorised for the IB Primary Years, Middle Years, Diploma and Career-related programmes. Particularly strong on the IB Career-related Programme, with an annual cohort of around 30 IBCP graduates in addition to the wider IB Diploma cohort.
Westhill Institute in Bosques de las Lomas is a Mexican-American school authorised for the IB Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes. Bilingual Spanish-English instruction throughout with a strong record of US university placement at the IB Diploma stage.
Colegio Peterson Cuajimalpa Campus in Cuajimalpa is a Mexican school authorised for the IB Diploma and Career-related Programme. Bilingual Spanish-English upper school with a particularly strong record of Mexican university placement alongside US and UK applications. One of two Mexico City schools delivering the IBCP.
Fees and the bilingual model
Mexico City IB school fees group into three tiers. The premium British and American international school tier (Greengates, the American School Foundation, Westhill Institute) charges MXN 450,000 to MXN 580,000 a year for the IB Diploma stage. The Mexican bilingual IB tier (Edron Academy, Colegio Peterson, Colegio Olinca and the wider Mexican-British and Mexican-American IB providers) charges MXN 280,000 to MXN 420,000 a year for the IB Diploma stage. The mid-market Mexican IB tier (Colegio Madrid, Colegio Williams, smaller delegacion-based IB schools) charges MXN 180,000 to MXN 260,000 a year for the IB Diploma stage. IB exam fees of MXN 22,000 to MXN 32,000 are typically charged in Year 13 across all three tiers.
The bilingual model is the structural backbone of Mexico City IB schools. Around 22 of the 28 IB World Schools in the city run a substantively bilingual Spanish-English programme from kindergarten through to the IB Diploma. The bilingual model matters because the IB Diploma rules require pupils to take a language A in their best language and a language B in a second language. Mexican IB Diploma graduates from bilingual schools typically take Spanish language A and English language A (a double language A award), which is highly competitive on US and UK university admissions. Our Mexico City fees guide walks through the loading from optional university counselling support and weekend Spanish or English tutorial.
Where IB families live
Mexico City IB families cluster around three residential corridors. Lomas de Chapultepec, Bosques de las Lomas and Lomas de Tecamachalco host the strongest concentration of IB families in the western Polanco-Lomas corridor, with the American School Foundation, Westhill Institute and Greengates School all sitting in or near these neighbourhoods. Most Lomas families are within 15 to 25 minutes of their school of choice, with the Periferico orbital ring road allowing fast access between Lomas and Tecamachalco even in the morning peak.
Cuajimalpa and the Santa Fe corridor host most Edron Academy and Colegio Peterson families on the western edge of the metropolitan area, with new high-rise residential estates along Carretera Mexico-Toluca and the inner Cuajimalpa neighbourhoods. Coyoacan and San Angel in the south host families using the IB schools in the southern delegaciones, with most pupils commuting 25 to 40 minutes to school through the Avenida Insurgentes corridor. Our Mexico City neighbourhoods guide walks through residential trade-offs by school choice in more detail.
Admissions and the application calendar
The Mexico City IB school year runs from August to June, with the IB Diploma examination period concentrated in May for the May session and November for the November session. Applications for the August 2026 academic year opened at most Mexico City IB schools between September and December 2025. Year 7 and Year 12 entry are the most competitive points because most cohorts rebuild substantially at the start of the MYP and Diploma programmes respectively.
The American School Foundation runs a December priority application deadline with assessment days through January and offers in February. Greengates School runs a rolling admissions process with stronger main intake in August. Edron Academy and Westhill Institute run a competitive Year 12 entrance assessment in November, weighted on English literacy, maths and a personal statement. Mid-year transfers at primary and middle school are usually possible. IB Diploma transfers at Year 12 or Year 13 are difficult because the IB subject choices and the higher level subject pacing lock in early. The SEP requires authenticated previous school records (apostilled and translated into Spanish) for all transfer pupils.
Frequently asked questions
How many IB schools are there in Mexico City?
Mexico City has around 28 authorised IB World Schools in 2026, the largest single concentration of IB authorised schools in Latin America. Around 18 of the 28 are authorised for the IB Diploma Programme. A small group of 6 schools are authorised for all three IB programmes (PYP, MYP and Diploma), providing the cleanest IB continuum from age 3 through to graduation.
How much do IB schools cost in Mexico City?
Premium British and American IB school fees run MXN 450,000 to MXN 580,000 a year for the IB Diploma stage. Mexican bilingual IB school fees run MXN 280,000 to MXN 420,000 a year. Mid-market Mexican IB school fees run MXN 180,000 to MXN 260,000 a year. IB exam fees of MXN 22,000 to MXN 32,000 are typically charged in Year 13 across all three tiers.
Which Mexico City IB school has the largest Diploma cohort?
The American School Foundation (ASF) in Bosques de las Lomas has the largest annual IB Diploma cohort in Mexico, with around 130 IB graduates a year. Greengates School in Lomas de Tecamachalco, Westhill Institute and Edron Academy follow with annual cohorts of 60 to 90 IB Diploma graduates each.
Is the IB Diploma recognised in Mexico?
Yes. The IB Diploma is recognised by the Secretaria de Educacion Publica (SEP) for revalidacion to the Mexican Bachillerato, allowing IB Diploma graduates to apply to UNAM, ITAM, Tec de Monterrey and the wider Mexican university system. Most Mexico City IB Diploma graduates apply to a mix of Mexican, US and UK universities depending on family preference and academic profile.
When should I apply to a Mexico City IB school?
Plan applications 9 to 12 months ahead of the desired start date. Year 7 and Year 12 entry windows open between September and November of the previous year and close by January for the most competitive cohorts. Mid-year primary and middle school transfers are usually possible. IB Diploma transfers at Year 12 or Year 13 are difficult because the IB subject choices and higher level pacing lock in early.
