I would definitely live near the school in Aravaca, an american style school or La Moraleja, an IB school.  My kids go to an IB school here in Beijing, but the International School of Spain is quite small compared to their school here, 268 vs 1500.  Also, I need to ask them if they do a half IB and half certificate diploma, which would be best for my son.  How close are these two towns to the US Embassy? 

Do these areas consist primarily of single homes or apartments?

What other schools would you recommend? 

thanks so much,

Ingy

ingy - 17 October 2007 01:58 AM

I would definitely live near the school in Aravaca, an american style school or La Moraleja, an IB school.  My kids go to an IB school here in Beijing, but the International School of Spain is quite small compared to their school here, 268 vs 1500.  Also, I need to ask them if they do a half IB and half certificate diploma, which would be best for my son.  How close are these two towns to the US Embassy? 

Do these areas consist primarily of single homes or apartments?

What other schools would you recommend? 

thanks so much,

Ingy

A few things to consider.  The tuition for the American School is pretty high compared to other schools here, about $21,000 per year per student, depending on the level.  Also an enrollment fee of about $4500.  Pozuelo and Aravaca are nice, Pozuelo a bit nicer in my opinion.  Mostly apartments and row houses.  Prices are between 3500 and 4500€ per meter.  You could buy a detached home but that will run you anywhere between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000€ and up.  You dont get a lot of bang for your buck in Madrid.  If you are here for a short time (a few years) you may consider renting.  2500 to 3000€ per month will get you a nice big place 250 m2 for example.  You will absolutely need a car, if not two cars.

The US embassy is located in Madrid.  There is a brand new train that connects Pozuelo to Moncloa in Madrid, which is a major bus, metro hub.  Driving into Madrid is INSANITY.  The “international schools” here are in reality, full of Spaniards and Spanish is what is spoken, so ask about this up front if your kids are not fluent in Spanish.  As far as I know, the American School is the only one that is accredited in the US.  There are a lot of British schools here as well where English is the primary language.

Good Luck

Im quite sure all INternational Schools are credited for US Colleges (I went to the INternational School Manila and it was filled with US students).

What is very sad (and a waste to say the least) is that if you have kids that live for a few years in a country and leave without learning the local language. If my kids spoke english and would move to spain I would defenitly want them to learn the local language, and mingle with the local kids and absorb its culture.  If an american family moves to spain and sends the kids to the american (or english) schools, and leave without learning spanish, this is really a pitty IMO. Send them to local schools, have them grow up bilingual, and for sure they will be one step ahead of their peers when they get back home. As far as school curriculae, I cannot immagine pubblic spanish schools being underated compared to pubblic US or UK schools.

My 2 pence worth

claudio - 24 October 2007 10:58 AM

Im quite sure all INternational Schools are credited for US Colleges (I went to the INternational School Manila and it was filled with US students).

What is very sad (and a waste to say the least) is that if you have kids that live for a few years in a country and leave without learning the local language. If my kids spoke english and would move to spain I would defenitly want them to learn the local language, and mingle with the local kids and absorb its culture.  If an american family moves to spain and sends the kids to the american (or english) schools, and leave without learning spanish, this is really a pitty IMO. Send them to local schools, have them grow up bilingual, and for sure they will be one step ahead of their peers when they get back home. As far as school curriculae, I cannot immagine pubblic spanish schools being underated compared to pubblic US or UK schools.

My 2 pence worth

I agree in principal but if the kids are older it would be really tough to start learning Spanish and keep up.  My kids go to a French school starting last year, my 4 year old was at the limit for being accepted and they monitered him pretty closely to see how he was doing with the language...he’s only just turning 6 now and they are moving pretty quickly with the curriculum.