How many international primaries in Mexico City
Mexico City has roughly 28 English-medium or fully bilingual primary schools across the metropolitan area, the deepest international primary cluster in Latin America outside Sao Paulo. Around 18 sit within through-schools running from preschool jardin de ninos all the way to preparatoria at age 18, where families can enrol at reception and progress to sixth form on the same campus. A further 10 operate as dedicated primary schools or as primarias inside bilingual schools whose secundaria sits on a separate site or finishes at sixth grade.
Cohort sizes vary widely. The American School Foundation in Tacubaya runs roughly 1,100 students from kindergarten to sixth grade, the largest single international primary cohort in the country. The mid-cluster of Greengates, Edron Academy and Westhill Institute runs at 350 to 550 students per primary, large enough to sustain two or three classes per year group. The boutique IB Primary Years Programme primaries and the dedicated central Polanco schools typically sit at 150 to 280 primary students. Most central expatriate families can reach four or five sensible primary options inside a 45-minute drive, an unusually rich position by Latin American capital standards.
Fees and the primary tiers
Primary international school fees in Mexico City divide cleanly into three tiers. The value tier runs MXN 90,000 to MXN 160,000 a year and covers the bilingual primaries inside larger Mexican private schools, plus the smaller dedicated international primaries in Polanco and Coyoacan. The mid tier sits at MXN 160,000 to MXN 280,000 and captures established bilingual through-schools, the lower years at Eton School and the IB PYP entry primaries. The premium tier, MXN 280,000 to MXN 460,000, covers full Year 6 fees at the American School Foundation, Greengates, Edron Academy and the top-line bilingual through-schools.
Three Mexico City cost factors matter at primary. Non-refundable enrolment fees of MXN 20,000 to MXN 70,000 are standard at the premium schools, payable once. Annual quota voluntaria capital contributions of MXN 25,000 to MXN 50,000 are nearly universal at the through-schools and feel optional but are effectively required. The peso-dollar exchange matters for families paid in foreign currency: a five per cent peso swing changes the all-in cost by the equivalent of a month of fees. For wider context see our Mexico City international school fees guide.
Shortlisting a Mexico City primary?
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Illustrative example schools
The schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each holds CIS, AdvancED or NEASC accreditation and has at least 25 years of operating history in Mexico City.
The American School Foundation in Tacubaya runs roughly 1,100 students from kindergarten through sixth grade, the largest international primary in Mexico. Founded 1888, the school follows a US elementary core curriculum with the IB Primary Years Programme layered onto the lower years. Strong music, art and physical education at primary, with a competitive admissions process from grade 3 upwards.
Greengates School in La Herradura runs EYFS to Year 6 within a full British through-school taking children to A Level and the IB Diploma. Around 500 primary students across reception to Year 6, with the UK National Curriculum delivered in English from Year 1 and Spanish as a strong second language from reception. The school has held BSO inspection since 2008.
Edron Academy on Calzada Desierto de los Leones runs EYFS to Year 6 inside a British through-school founded 1963. Roughly 400 primary students, with the UK National Curriculum, EYFS and a distinctive emphasis on outdoor learning given the campus woodland setting at the edge of the Desierto de los Leones National Park.
Westhill Institute in Cuajimalpa runs an American elementary programme aligned to Cambridge International from kindergarten to sixth grade. Roughly 450 primary students, with strong progression into Westhill secondary and the IB Diploma at preparatoria. A popular choice for families relocating from the southern United States.
Eton School in Lomas Country and Santa Fe runs the IB Primary Years Programme from age 3 to sixth grade, the city’s leading PYP school. Around 380 primary students per campus, with strong inquiry-based learning and progression into Eton secondary and the IB Diploma.
For a curated editorial pick see our best international schools in Mexico City long read.
Which primary framework
The choice of primary framework in Mexico City is the most consequential schooling decision before secundaria, because it shapes everything from language balance to homework volume to assessment cadence. The UK National Curriculum with EYFS, used at Greengates, Edron Academy and Lancaster, leads naturally into IGCSE and A Level or IB Diploma at sixth form. The US elementary core, used at the American School Foundation and Westhill Institute, is content-rich and assessment-light through fifth grade, leading into middle school and the IB Diploma or Advanced Placement at preparatoria. The IB Primary Years Programme, used at Eton School, Greengates lower primary and Colegio Peterson, is inquiry-led and trans-disciplinary, leading into MYP and the IB Diploma.
One Mexico City wrinkle matters at framework choice: every primary school operating in Mexican territory must teach a portion of the SEP national programme, including Spanish language, Mexican history and civics. International schools meet this requirement in different ways, with the British schools running parallel Spanish-medium SEP lessons and the US schools integrating SEP content into homeroom. For the wider primary picture across cities see our curriculum hub. Families weighing primary against secondary should also see the Mexico City secondary hub.
Admissions and waitlists
The structural intake at Mexico City primaries is August, the start of the Mexican school year, with most schools opening registration for the following August intake in August or September of the preceding year. A second smaller January intake operates at some through-schools, more common at the bilingual end of the cluster than at the premium internationals. The American School Foundation, Greengates and Edron Academy run a January application deadline followed by a rolling waitlist through the spring and summer.
Waitlist intensity at primary follows a clear pattern. First-grade entry at the premium through-schools can run 9 to 18 months out, particularly for sibling-blocked applications and for the autumn-birthday cohort which tightens earlier. Second to fifth grade entry is usually possible within four to six weeks at most schools given the natural churn of expatriate movement. Sixth grade entry tightens again as families lock in for a clean transition to secundaria on the same campus. For broader Mexico City context see the Mexico City city hub and where expat families live.
Frequently asked questions
How many international primary schools are there in Mexico City?
Mexico City has roughly 28 English-medium or fully bilingual primary schools, of which around 18 sit within through-schools running from preschool to preparatoria. The American School Foundation, Greengates, Edron Academy and Westhill Institute are the largest single primary cohorts in the metropolitan area.
What age does primary school start in Mexico City?
Most Mexico City international primary schools start formal Year 1 or first grade at age 6, after one or two years of jardin de ninos preschool. The British-curriculum schools follow EYFS reception at age 4 to 5, and the US-curriculum schools start kindergarten at age 5.
How much do primary international schools cost in Mexico City?
Primary international school fees in Mexico City range from roughly MXN 90,000 a year at the value-tier bilingual primaries to MXN 460,000 at the premium through-schools The American School Foundation, Greengates and Edron Academy. Median Year 4 to Year 6 tuition sits near MXN 240,000.
Do Mexico City primary schools follow EYFS or IB PYP?
Mexico City primary supply splits across three frameworks. Greengates and Edron use EYFS into the UK National Curriculum, the American School Foundation and Westhill use a US elementary core, and a growing IB Primary Years Programme cluster operates at Eton School, Greengates and Colegio Peterson.
When should I apply for primary school in Mexico City?
Apply 9 to 18 months ahead for Year 1 or first grade at the most over-subscribed schools, including the American School Foundation, Greengates, Edron Academy and Eton School. Mid-year January entry is usually possible at lower year groups given expatriate movement and is reviewed on a rolling basis.
