American School of Bilbao

"The American School of Bilbao is a private international school located in Madrid, Spain, offering a comprehensive American-aligned education to students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12."

Serving a diverse community of families — including the many expatriate and internationally mobile professionals who call Madrid home — the school provides a rigorous, English-language learning environment designed to prepare young people for success in an interconnected world. Founded in 2013, the school is a relatively young institution that has established itself as a meaningful option for families seeking an internationally recognized academic framework in the heart of Spain. As a US State Department assisted school, it holds a notable connection to the broader network of American-affiliated schools abroad, a designation that often provides reassurance to American diplomatic and professional families relocating overseas. Academically, the school offers a dual framework that combines an American curriculum with the internationally respected International Baccalaureate programme. Students in the early and primary years engage with the IB Primary Years Programme, which emphasizes inquiry-based learning and the development of the whole child. As students advance into middle school, they transition into the IB Middle Years Programme, a challenging and holistic course of study that encourages critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and meaningful connections between academic disciplines. At the senior level, students may pursue the IB Diploma Programme, one of the most widely recognized pre-university qualifications in the world, accepted by universities across the United States, Europe, and beyond. This combination of American educational values and IB rigour gives graduates a strong and flexible foundation as they pursue higher education globally. English serves as the primary language of instruction throughout the school, making it a natural fit for Anglophone families as well as for international families who prioritize English fluency as part of their children's education. The Madrid setting also ensures that students are immersed in the rich cultural and linguistic context of Spain, offering meaningful opportunities to develop Spanish language skills and an appreciation for European culture alongside their core academic studies. Madrid itself is one of Europe's most vibrant capital cities, offering an exceptional quality of life, excellent transport links, and a welcoming international community. Families relocating to Madrid will find the city an engaging and stimulating backdrop for both professional life and family living, and a school like the American School of Bilbao provides the kind of familiar academic structure that can ease the transition for children moving from American or internationally educated backgrounds. For families evaluating their options in Madrid, the American School of Bilbao represents a school that blends the familiarity of an American educational approach with the global credibility of IB programming. Its State Department affiliation, broad grade range from pre-kindergarten through the final years of secondary school, and commitment to English-medium instruction make it a compelling choice for internationally mobile families seeking continuity, academic excellence, and a supportive community in which their children can thrive.