· updated monthly
The five schools Medellin parents researched most this year, chosen from the 7 international schools in the city. Ranked by how many families opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026, then the full picture on curricula, class sizes and fees.
The 2026 ranking
Ranked purely by parent interest — the number of families who opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026.
Vermont School Medellín is a private, two-campus international school serving ages 0 to 17. It sits at El Retiro (rural eastern Antioquia) and El Poblado (urban Medellín), part of the Cognita Redcol family. The curriculum centers on the IB Diploma Programme, delivered across Early Steps, Kinder, Primary, Middle School and High School. English is taught as a second language and Mandarin Chinese is introduced as a foreign language; linguistic immersion experiences link with programs in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Spain. Founded in 1997, the school evolved from a bilingual project to an IB World School in 2019 and gained Cognia School of Distinction status in 2022, the only Antioquia school to do so. Facilities include two venues designed for integrated learning, with large outdoor spaces and methodologies such as HighScope and RULER. A Kinder Headquarters at El Retiro opened in 2025, expanding facilities for early childhood.
The Columbus School is a nonprofit, multicultural international bilingual school in Envigado, Colombia, serving students from ages 4 to 18. It blends the IB Primary Years Programme with an American curriculum, with English as the primary language of instruction in most classrooms and daily Spanish. The school organizes learning across four phases: Preschool (K4 to 1st grade), Elementary (K5 to 5th), Intermediate (6th to 8th), and Senior High (9th to 12th). In Elementary, learning follows Common Core language and mathematics standards, while science aligns with NGSS and social studies with AERO standards; grades 6–12 have aligned documents outlining term-by-term learning. The campus spans 21 hectares with facilities including 70 classrooms, eight science labs, two libraries, gyms, fields for soccer and baseball, and outdoor theater. Notable programs include COSMUN, Columbus Life extracurriculars, and student governance through StuCo and National Honor Society. The school is pursuing IB authorization as a candidate school.
Colombo Británico Envigado is a nonprofit bilingual school in Envigado, Colombia, serving students from 18 months upward and following the International Baccalaureate framework through the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. The school operates as a bilingual (Spanish–English) and multicultural community with a Board of Directors and a Parents' Council (PTA). The curriculum is experience-based and student-centered, promoting active learning, thinking development, inclusion, and diversity. English exposure is woven across levels, with some subjects taught in English and others in Spanish. Primaria develops social, cognitive, physical, communicative, and spiritual capacities using technology-enabled classrooms and English as a second language. Bachillerato includes English instruction, with Portuguese offered in grades 10 and 11, and IELTS certification on completion. A Dual Diploma with Advantage School International (ASI) and international immersion programs in Canada and the United Kingdom enrich graduates' opportunities, alongside PRIMED SEL accreditation and university pathways worldwide.
Colegio Montessori is a private, co-educational day school in Medellin, Colombia, founded in 1975 with over 48 years of educational experience. The school operates two campuses: one in Medellin and one in Oriente/Rionegro, Antioquia. Following the Montessori methodology, the school emphasizes education for life through experiential learning in prepared environments aligned with developmental stages. Students progress from Day Care through to High School (Bachillerato). The school offers Cambridge English qualifications and is accredited by NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges). Colegio Montessori is designated as a Montessori Reference School and holds ISO certification. Active social responsibility programs (PAIS) and environmental management initiatives are central to school life.
Marymount School Medellín is a private, co‑educational Catholic school in Colombia serving ages 3 to 17. The curriculum combines the Cambridge IGCSE with the Chinese National Curriculum, delivered mainly in English, with French taught from grade five. The school operates a 21st‑century, student‑centered learning community where teachers act as guides and learning is enhanced by project work, gamification and technology‑enabled exploration. Students develop critical thinking, information management, communication, collaboration and creativity, with a strong emphasis on global citizenship and a mix of formative and summative assessments to guide progress. The campus features a Knowledge Center and Library, InnovaT and MaryTunes, plus language immersions and expeditions that broaden horizons. The school holds double accreditation from CIS and NEASC and integrates Cambridge Check Points, IGCSE, DELF and IELTS; graduates pursue IB and Academic Baccalaureate diplomas. Distinctive programs include Sustainable and Solidary Marymount, MSMUN, and Life Project, with extensive after‑school clubs and sports.
What’s on offer
The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 7 schools. Many offer more than one curriculum, so totals run higher than the school count.
Number of schools teaching each curriculum.
Number of schools teaching in each language.
Size & classes
School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.
Schools grouped by total enrolment.
Average school size is 1,319 students · based on the 3 schools that report enrolment.
Schools grouped by typical class size.
Average class size is 16.5 students · based on the 4 schools that report it.
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