How many international secondaries in Mexico City
Mexico City has roughly 22 English-medium or fully bilingual schools that run all the way to sixth form or US grade 12, the deepest international secondary cluster in Latin America after Sao Paulo. Around 14 of these run the IB Diploma at sixth form, six run the US Advanced Placement system on a standalone basis and four run UK IGCSE and A Level. Most offer the Bachillerato Mexicano as a parallel certificate alongside the international qualification, which preserves the option of a Mexican university route through UNAM, the Tecnologico de Monterrey or the Universidad Iberoamericana.
Sixth form cohort sizes vary widely. The American School Foundation in Tacubaya runs roughly 250 students per high school grade, the largest international sixth form cohort in the country. Greengates and Edron Academy each carry between 80 and 130 students at sixth form, large enough to sustain a full IB Diploma subject menu including Higher Level mathematics, sciences and the arts. Smaller IB Diploma cohorts at Eton, Colegio Peterson and Westhill Institute run 40 to 80 students per year group, which can constrain subject combinations at Higher Level.
Fees and the secondary tiers
Secondary international school fees in Mexico City divide into three clear tiers. The value tier runs MXN 160,000 to MXN 260,000 a year and covers the bilingual secundaria preparatoria pipelines inside larger Mexican private schools and the entry-tier internationals. The mid tier sits at MXN 260,000 to MXN 380,000 and captures Westhill, Colegio Peterson and the lower secondary years at the premium through-schools. The premium tier, MXN 380,000 to MXN 540,000, covers full sixth form fees at the American School Foundation, Greengates and Edron Academy.
Sixth form years carry an additional premium of MXN 30,000 to MXN 60,000 above the upper-secondary headline, mostly because of small-class costs in IB Higher Level subjects. Examination fees of MXN 25,000 to MXN 45,000 for IB Diploma, AP or A Level sit on top of tuition in the final two years. For wider context on Mexico City costs see our Mexico City international school fees guide, and for whole-of-relocation budgeting see the cost calculator.
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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 the largest US-curriculum sixth form in Mexico, with the IB Diploma layered onto US high school in the final two years. Around 700 high school students, with Advanced Placement available in 18 subjects and a strong record of placement at US selective universities. The Bachillerato Mexicano dual certificate is automatic for Mexican-passport students.
Greengates School in La Herradura runs both the IB Diploma and A Levels in parallel at sixth form, an unusual hybrid that appeals to dual-mobility families. Around 100 sixth formers per year, with the IB Diploma cohort consistently averaging 32 to 35 points and A Level results that place 60 to 70 per cent of leavers in UK Russell Group universities.
Edron Academy on Calzada Desierto de los Leones runs the IB Diploma at sixth form following IGCSE in Years 10 and 11. Around 80 sixth formers per year, with strong creative arts and humanities tracks alongside science and mathematics. The school’s wooded campus and small cohort culture appeal to families seeking a smaller secondary environment than the premium American School.
Eton School in Lomas Country and Santa Fe runs the IB Middle Years Programme followed by the IB Diploma, the city’s most complete IB continuum after the American School Foundation. Around 60 sixth formers per cohort, with PYP-MYP-Diploma progression delivered across two campuses.
Colegio Peterson in Cuajimalpa runs the IB Diploma alongside the Bachillerato Mexicano dual certificate. Around 50 sixth formers per year, with a strong tradition of placement at the Iberoamericana, ITAM and Tecnologico de Monterrey alongside US and UK universities.
For a curated editorial pick see our best international schools in Mexico City long read, and for a deeper IB-only ranking the best IB schools in Mexico City guide.
Which sixth form route
The choice of sixth form route in Mexico City turns on three questions: target university geography, subject specialisation depth and the value placed on the Bachillerato Mexicano. The IB Diploma is the most portable option, recognised by every Mexican university through UNAM’s revalidacion process and by US, UK, Canadian and European universities directly. The US Advanced Placement route, dominant at the American School Foundation and Westhill, suits families heading back to the United States or Canada, with strong placement at competitive US universities through AP test scores. A Levels, offered at Greengates alongside the IB, lead to UK universities through UCAS.
The Bachillerato Mexicano dual certificate matters more than expatriate families often expect. Around 60 per cent of leavers from the leading bilingual secondaries go to a Mexican university, with the dual certificate giving direct access without the revalidacion process. Families planning to stay in Mexico beyond school should weight this dual certificate heavily. For wider sixth form context see our IB Diploma hub, American AP hub and A Levels hub. Families weighing primary against secondary should also see the Mexico City primary hub.
Admissions and waitlists
The structural intake at Mexico City secondaries is August, the start of the Mexican school year. The premium through-schools open registration in August or September of the preceding year for the August intake, with a January application deadline followed by a rolling waitlist. Sixth form entry rounds at Year 12 or grade 11 open in October and close in March, with offers issued through April and May based on transcripts, references and where required an admissions test in English literacy and mathematics.
Waitlist intensity at secondary follows the same pattern as primary but with sharper sixth form bottlenecks. Year 7 or grade 7 entry at the American School Foundation, Greengates and Edron Academy can run 12 to 18 months out. Mid-secondary entry from Year 8 to Year 10 is usually possible within four to eight weeks given the natural churn of expatriate movement. Sixth form entry tightens again as schools commit to IB Higher Level subject combinations, and late applications after May for the August intake are typically referred to the following year. For broader Mexico City context see the Mexico City city hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are there in Mexico City?
Mexico City has roughly 22 English-medium or fully bilingual secondary schools running to sixth form or US grade 12. The American School Foundation, Greengates, Edron Academy, Eton School and Westhill Institute carry the largest international sixth form cohorts in the city.
Do Mexico City secondaries offer the IB Diploma?
Yes, the IB Diploma is offered at roughly 12 Mexico City schools including the American School Foundation, Greengates, Edron Academy, Eton School, Colegio Peterson and Colegio Olinca. Median IB Diploma scores at the top Mexico City schools run between 32 and 37 points.
How much do international secondary schools cost in Mexico City?
Secondary international school fees in Mexico City range from roughly MXN 160,000 a year at the value-tier bilingual schools to MXN 540,000 at the premium through-schools The American School Foundation, Greengates and Edron Academy. Sixth form premiums add MXN 30,000 to MXN 60,000 on top of upper-secondary fees.
Which secondary curriculum is most common in Mexico City?
Mexico City secondary supply divides across the IB Diploma, the US Advanced Placement system, the UK IGCSE and A Level path, and the Mexican Bachillerato. A growing share of schools offer dual certification with the IB Diploma plus the Bachillerato Mexicano to ensure direct access to Mexican universities.
When should I apply for secondary school in Mexico City?
Apply 9 to 18 months ahead for Year 7 or grade 7 entry at the most over-subscribed schools, and 6 to 12 months ahead for the sixth form entry round at Year 12 or grade 11. The American School Foundation, Greengates and Edron Academy run a January application deadline followed by a rolling waitlist.
