Every year in Spain, rankings of the best schools are published, including public, semi-public (concertado) and private institutions that work both with national curricula and international programmes. Leading periodicals, as well as the Spanish edition of Forbes, publish their own rankings.
In 2025, the first ranking was published by the online platform micole.net, which is the most popular information and reference resource on Spanish primary and secondary educational institutions. When compiling the ranking, user ratings, metrics and students’ scores were taken into account.
1st place: Colegio Hastings School
- Address: Paseo de la Habana 204, 28036, Madrid
- Type of school: private, secular, co-educational (for boys and girls)
- Monthly tuition: from €700
General information. Founded in 1971, Hastings School is a prestigious British international school. It employs 122 teachers, with an average of 11 students per teacher. The campus includes modern classrooms, sports halls and a swimming pool. There are also courts for basketball and football. The school’s chess club is very active.
Study programmes. Teaching follows the National Curriculum of the United Kingdom with the awarding of IGCSE certificates, the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, as well as AS and A-levels.
Languages and academic results. The main language of instruction is English; Spanish and French are also taught. The school demonstrates strong academic performance: the average final score of graduates is 12.02 points out of a maximum of 14. Forty percent of the student body are international students, which contributes to a multilingual and multicultural environment. Academic performance is consistently high, as confirmed by graduates’ successful admission to leading universities around the world.
Prestigious awards and distinctions. Hastings School has been recognised for its innovative educational approaches and its focus on student wellbeing. The school actively participates in international educational contests and projects, receiving high marks for teaching excellence and the organisation of the learning process. Since 2009, it has obtained a total of 86 “Outstanding Cambridge Awards”, including 13 awards in 2021 alone, of which three were “Top in the World” and five “Top in Spain”, as well as recognition from NABSS for its high academic standards.
2nd place: Colegio Brains International School La Moraleja
- Address: Calle De La Salvia 48, 28109, Alcobendas, Madrid
- Type of school: private, secular, co-educational (for boys and girls)
- Monthly tuition: from €300 to €700
General information. Colegio Brains International School La Moraleja is a leading private institution with a strong focus on international programmes, innovation and sports development. The school’s facilities include modern classrooms, laboratories, sports grounds for football and basketball, as well as a swimming pool. There are 8 students per teacher. Students are also offered a wide range of extracurricular activities, including clubs and personal development programmes.
Study programmes. The educational process is based on active methodologies and innovation, enabling students to develop independence and critical thinking. The programme includes the International Baccalaureate (IB) and preparation for international examinations.
Languages and academic results. The main languages of instruction are Spanish and English. French and German are also offered. Students consistently demonstrate high academic results and successfully enter prestigious universities both in Spain and abroad. The average final score of graduates is 11.24 out of 14.
Prestigious awards and distinctions. The school has been recognised for its innovative teaching approaches and has received numerous awards at national and international educational conferences. Colegio Brains is an active participant in competitions and projects, confirming its high academic standards and regularly ranking among the top schools in Madrid and Spain.
3rd place: Colegio Tajamar
- Address: Calle de Pío Felipe 12, 28038, Madrid
- Type of school: semi-public (concertado), Catholic, boys only
- Monthly tuition: from €100 to €300
General information. Colegio Tajamar offers a personalised approach to education, with a strong emphasis on cultivating responsibility and respect for others in children and teenagers. Its extensive extracurricular programme includes football, basketball, handball, tennis and other sports, various clubs and hobby groups, as well as hikes twice a year along the Way of St. James (Caminos de Santiago).
Study programmes. The school covers all levels from preschool to Bachillerato and vocational education under the Spanish curriculum, and also offers a dual Spanish–American programme, Bachillerato Dual. The educational process is built on active methodologies and modern innovative approaches, including religious education.
Languages and academic results. The main languages of instruction are Spanish and English, with German also offered. The school achieves high academic results thanks to its individualised approach to each student and close cooperation between families, students and personal tutors. There are 12 students per teacher. A high percentage of graduates receive honours diplomas and successfully enter leading universities in Spain and abroad.
Prestigious awards and distinctions. Over its 66-year history, Colegio Tajamar has received dozens of awards and distinctions, and its students have won numerous national and international sports competitions.
4th place: Colegio Trinity College Boadilla
- Address: Calle Playa de Formentor 41, 28660, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid
- Type of school: private, secular, co-educational (for boys and girls)
- Monthly tuition: from €300 to €700
General information. Trinity College Boadilla has already celebrated its 60th anniversary. The school is justifiably proud of its modern classrooms, laboratories, sports facilities and chess club. Students also benefit from extensive extracurricular programmes, including excursions, creative, theatre, science and literature clubs, as well as various sports activities.
Study programmes. Teaching is based on active methodologies, with an emphasis on developing critical thinking, personal skills and social responsibility. The school prepares students for international examinations and is accredited to deliver International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes. At secondary level there are 10 students per teacher.
Languages and academic results. The main languages of instruction are Spanish and English; French and German are also available. Students show consistently high results in national and international exams and successfully enter leading universities in Europe and worldwide. The average IB score of graduates is 8.18 out of 10.
Prestigious awards and distinctions. Colegio Trinity College Boadilla regularly participates in competitions and conferences, confirming the quality of its teaching and its commitment to serious, in-depth academic education. The school appears every year in the TOP-100 of the best schools in Spain according to Forbes.
5th place: Colegio Ramón y Cajal Arturo Soria
- Address: Calle de Arturo Soria 206, 28043, Madrid
- Type of school: private, secular, co-educational (for boys and girls)
- Monthly tuition: from €300 to €700
General information. The Ramón y Cajal Arturo Soria school, like other leading colleges in Spain, prides itself on its innovative approach to education. It has modern classrooms, sports halls, tennis courts, a swimming pool and playgrounds. Students are offered a wide choice of extracurricular activities, including football, basketball and tennis, as well as a variety of creative and academic clubs.
Study programmes. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Bachillerato programme aims at the holistic development of students with a focus on critical thinking, emotional intelligence and social responsibility. The school offers programmes adapted to individual needs and adheres to international educational standards.
Languages and academic results. Teaching is carried out in Spanish and English, with French and Chinese also offered. The school achieves high results in national and international examinations. There are 10 students per teacher, and graduates show strong performance in final exams, with an average score of 10.97 out of 14. Each year several students receive honours diplomas.
Prestigious awards and distinctions. The school is regularly recognised at national forums for its high teaching standards and strong academic achievements. Among other distinctions are three gold medals won in 2023 by students at physics Olympiads.
Best schools in Spain in 2025: 6th to 10th places
The schools ranked 6th to 10th in the 2025 Best Schools in Spain list are:
- Colegio Alkor (Alcorcón, Madrid) – private secular co-educational school with monthly tuition from €300 to €700. Study programmes: Spanish Bachillerato and the US High School Diploma. Teaching is in Spanish and English, with French and Chinese also offered.
- Colegio Internacional Aravaca (Madrid) – private secular co-educational school with monthly tuition from €300 to €700. The curriculum is based on the International Baccalaureate (IB), with the option of obtaining a High School Diploma. Teaching is in Spanish and English, with French and German also taught.
- Colegio Valle del Miro (Valdemoro, Madrid) – private secular co-educational school with tuition from €300 to €700 per month. The study programme is Bachillerato Dual, which allows students to obtain two diplomas: the Spanish Bachillerato and the US High School Diploma. The main languages are Spanish and English, with German also offered.
- Colegio San José del Parque (Madrid) – semi-public religious co-educational school, with monthly tuition from €100 to €300. The programme includes Bachillerato Dual and in-depth study, in addition to Spanish, of English and French. By the first year of Bachillerato, students’ level of English reaches C1/C2.
- Colegio British School of Vila-real (Vila-real, Castellón) – private secular co-educational school with monthly tuition from €300 to €700. The programme is based on the British National Curriculum with the possibility of obtaining two diplomas: the British A-Level and the Spanish Bachillerato. The main languages of instruction are English, Spanish, French and Valencian, with German and Chinese also taught.
Best public schools in Spain in 2025
The best public schools in Spain in 2025 were recognised as:
- Colegio Fernando de Los Ríos (Alcorcón, Madrid)
- Colegio José María Del Campo (Seville)
- Colegio Ciudad del Mar (Torrevieja, Alicante)
- Colegio Federico García Lorca (Alcorcón, Madrid)
- Colegio Aníbal González (Seville)
- Colegio Carmen Conde (Alcorcón, Madrid)
- Colegio Miguel de Cervantes (Alcorcón, Madrid)
- Colegio Lorenzo Luzuriaga (Madrid)
- Colegio Timplista José Antonio Ramos (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria)
- Colegio Vasco Nuñez De Balboa (Madrid)
Best international schools in Spain in 2025
The best international schools in Spain working with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Bachillerato Internacional programme are:
- Colegio Hastings School (Británico) (Madrid)
- Colegio Brains International School La Moraleja (Alcobendas, Madrid)
- Colegio Trinity College Boadilla (Boadilla del Monte, Madrid)
- Colegio Ramón y Cajal Arturo Soria (Madrid)
- Colegio Internacional Aravaca (Madrid)
- Colegio British School of Vila-real (Vila-real, Castellón)
- Colegio Lycée International Barcelona Bon Soleil (Gavà, Barcelona)
- Colegio European International School of Barcelona (Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona)
- Colegio Brewster Madrid (Madrid)
- Colegio Lestonnac l’Ensenyança de Tarragona (Tarragona)
Spanish schools organise open days every year. This is an excellent opportunity for parents and future students to get to know the school’s teaching staff, facilities, educational projects and methodologies, extracurricular activities and additional services such as transport and catering. Open days are held before the start of the admissions period.
Many schools offer both group and individual visits adapted to the needs of each family.
We would like to remind you that our team will be happy to help you choose a school in Spain for your children and organise the enrolment process.
