Barcelona High School - Elementary & Preschool vs ES American School
Barcelona High School - Elementary & Preschool and ES American School are both in Barcelona, about 14 km apart. Both schools offer American and Advanced Placement (AP) programmes, and ES American School also offers IB. Published annual fees are €12,510 - 21,900 at Barcelona High School - Elementary & Preschool and €11,470 - 19,355 at ES American School, which puts Barcelona High School - Elementary & Preschool roughly 12% higher. Barcelona High School - Elementary & Preschool takes pupils from 3 to 11, and ES American School from 6 to 18. Barcelona High School - Elementary & Preschool is the larger school, with around 340 pupils to ES American School's 141. Typical class sizes are 0 at Barcelona High School - Elementary & Preschool and 14 at ES American School.
American Curriculum, IB (PYP), Advanced Placement (AP)
Pupils
Pupils
340
Pupils
141
Typical class size
Typical class size
0
Typical class size
14
Instruction language
Instruction language
English, Spanish, Cantonese
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2024
Opened
1999
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Two campuses in Barcelona, Spain: Elementary & Preschool at Carrer de Montornès, 37, 08023, Barcelona; and BHS Middle School & High School at Carrer de Joan d'Àustria, 109, 08018, Barcelona.
Location
ES American School operates two campuses: Barcelona, Spain, and Naples, Florida, USA. The Barcelona campus is located on Autovía de Castelldefels (C-31), Km 191, 08820 El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain, on the Emilio Sánchez Academy campus. It is ten minutes by taxi from Barcelona International Airport (T1 or T2) and about fifteen minutes from downtown Barcelona by taxi or car. The Naples campus is ES Academy Naples, at 2035 Sánchez Casal Way, Naples, Florida, 34105, USA.
Stages
Stages
Preschool / Kindergarten; Elementary School; Middle School; High School
Stages
Elementary (grades 1–5), Middle School (grades 6–8), High School (grades 9–12).
School type
School type
International American School with a boarding program (not a dedicated boarding school)
School type
International school
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Learning Support (LS) provides targeted help in reading, math, language (including English Language Learner), social skills, and executive functions; services include personalized learning plans, accommodations, and in-class interventions; emphasizes neurodiversity and inclusive learning.
Additional learning support
English language support classes for students whose native language is not English.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Spain; affiliated with the Spanish Ministry of Education
Tuition fees by year group (billing units shown as the school publishes them) - Preschool & Kindergarten (PK3 – K5, ages 3–6): EUR 1,390 per 10-month installment (equivalent published total EUR 13,900) or EUR 12,510 if paid in a single advanced payment (discounted — described as “1 month free”). The published amount includes the school meal plan for this age group.
- Elementary (Grades 1–5, ages 6–11): EUR 1,590 per 10-month installment (equivalent published total EUR 15,900) or EUR 14,310 if paid in a single advanced payment (discounted — “1 month free”). The published amount includes the school meal plan for this age group.
- Middle School (Grades 6–8, ages 11–14): EUR 1,790 per 10-month installment (equivalent published total EUR 17,900) or EUR 16,110 if paid in a single advanced payment (discounted — “1 month free”).
- High School (Grades 9–10, ages 14–16): EUR 2,090 per 10-month installment (equivalent published total EUR 20,900) or EUR 18,810 if paid in a single advanced payment (discounted — “1 month free”).
- Pre-University / Upper High School (Grades 11–12, ages 16–18): EUR 2,190 per 10-month installment (equivalent published total EUR 21,900) or EUR 19,710 if paid in a single advanced payment (discounted — “1 month free”).
- Online Only (Grades 1–12, ages 6–18): EUR 1,390 per 10-month installment (equivalent published total EUR 13,900) or EUR 12,510 if paid in a single advanced payment (discounted — “1 month free”).
Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition may be paid in monthly installments (the school publishes amounts as per a 10-month installment) or as a single advanced payment with a discount described as one month free. Full-year, semester-only, and monthly enrolment options are accepted. Tuition is pro-rated for the actual period of enrollment. The annual matriculation fee and the one-time entrance fee are not pro-rated. There are no additional published sibling discounts due to the school's fixed-loyalty tuition policy.
Boarding and student residence fees (where applicable) - The school operates a boarding/residence programme through nearby student residences rather than on-campus dormitories; residence arrangements are offered for students aged 15–18. - Residence registration fee: EUR 1,000 (non-refundable). - Boarding deposit: 20% of the total boarding fees (non-refundable and applicable against the total boarding fees). Reservations require payment of the residence registration fee and deposit at booking. All published boarding fees for a chosen reservation period must be paid in one installment. - Boarding meal plan pricing (optional add-on as published): EUR 250 / month for breakfast only; EUR 375 / month for dinner only; EUR 650 / month for breakfast & dinner.
- Published residence fee examples (by reservation period): - Premium residence (includes breakfast): EUR 25,000 for a 10-month stay; EUR 13,500 for a 5-month stay; EUR 9,000 for a 3-month stay. - Comfort residence (room only): EUR 18,000 for a 10-month stay; EUR 9,500 for a 5-month stay; EUR 6,150 for a 3-month stay.
- Student visa mobility program (service fee for non-EU citizens): EUR 2,500 service fee (published as the mobility/student visa service fee).
Other costs and optional programme fees - Meal plan for day students (where not included): EUR 215 / month; meal plan is published as free for Preschool and Elementary tuition packages where the tuition listing explicitly includes the meal plan. - English Foundation Year (intensive entry-year programme) published fee example: EUR 1,990 per 10-month installment (published programme fee and payment options shown on the English Foundation programme page). - Optional exam-preparation and short programmes (examples of published fees): SAT/college-prep course packages published with tiers such as EUR 2,500 (VIP), EUR 1,500 (Premium), and EUR 750 (Basic) for various SAT/PSAT/ACT prep offerings; summer language-camp weeks are published as EUR 250 / week or EUR 600 for a 3-week session. Tennis academy programme tiers are published with examples such as EUR 6,000 (Basic), EUR 9,000 (Premium), and EUR 12,000 (VIP). These extracurricular and supplementary programme fees are additional to standard tuition and boarding charges.
Refunds and non-refundable items (published) - The annual matriculation fee (EUR 1,000) and the one-time entrance fee (EUR 2,500) are explicitly published as non-refundable. Residence registration fees and the boarding deposit are published as non-refundable and applicable toward total boarding fees. Tuition is published as pro-rated according to the period of enrollment. The school's published materials show the non-refundable status for those specific fees; no separate tuition-refund schedule beyond pro-ration is published in the fee listings.
Fee payment options (published payment terms and discounts) - Published payment options: monthly installment plans (presented as amounts per 10-month installment), semester or full-year payment options, and a published discount for a single advanced payment (described as one month free). The school's published fee pages instruct that registration or deposit payments are required to confirm certain services (for example, boarding reservations). Specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, credit card) are not itemised in the school's published fee pages.
Summary of key fee figures (selected) - Application fee: EUR 0. Annual matriculation: EUR 1,000. One-time entrance: EUR 2,500. Preschool annual published total: EUR 13,900 (or EUR 12,510 single payment). Elementary annual published total: EUR 15,900 (or EUR 14,310 single payment). Middle School annual published total: EUR 17,900 (or EUR 16,110 single payment). High School (9–10) annual published total: EUR 20,900 (or EUR 18,810 single payment). Pre-University (11–12) annual published total: EUR 21,900 (or EUR 19,710 single payment). Online-only annual published total: EUR 13,900 (or EUR 12,510 single payment). Boarding residence examples: Premium residence EUR 25,000 (10 months) / Comfort residence EUR 18,000 (10 months). Meal plan: EUR 215 / month (with Preschool & Elementary tuition listings shown as including the meal plan).
Fee details
Application Fees
- One-time non-refundable application fee for all new applicants: EUR 250.
Legacy (Admission) Fee
- One-time non-refundable Legacy Fee for new students: EUR 4,000.
Tuition and Mandatory Academic Fees (by school level)
- Elementary School (1st–5th grade): - Tuition (annual): EUR 13,330. - Tuition (semester): EUR 6,665. - Physical Education & Enrichment Program: included in the Elementary fee. - Materials & Books (one-off, per academic year or semester): EUR 520. - Activities Fee (annual / semester): EUR 460 / EUR 230. - Library Fee (annual / semester): EUR 90 / EUR 45.
- Middle School (6th–8th grade): - Tuition (annual): EUR 11,550. - Tuition (semester): EUR 5,775. - Physical Education & Enrichment Program (annual / semester): EUR 3,320 / EUR 1,660 (mandatory except where the student is enrolled in an ES Academy tennis program that includes these services). - Materials & Books (one-off): EUR 520. - Activities Fee (annual / semester): EUR 460 / EUR 230. - Library Fee (annual / semester): EUR 90 / EUR 45.
- High School (9th–12th grade): - Tuition (annual): EUR 12,720. - Tuition (semester): EUR 6,360. - Physical Education & Enrichment Program (annual / semester): EUR 3,320 / EUR 1,660 (mandatory except where the student is enrolled in an ES Academy tennis program that includes these services). - Materials & Books (one-off): EUR 520. - Activities Fee (annual / semester): EUR 460 / EUR 230. - Library Fee (annual / semester): EUR 90 / EUR 45.
Total Compulsory Annual School Fees (examples)
- New student (enrolled in ES Academy tennis program): - Elementary: EUR 18,650. - Middle: EUR 16,870. - High: EUR 18,040.
- New student (not an ES Academy tennis player): - Elementary: EUR 18,650 (components sum to the same level as above for Elementary). - Middle: EUR 20,190. - High: EUR 21,360.
- Returning student (enrolled in ES Academy tennis program): - Elementary: EUR 14,400. - Middle: EUR 12,620. - High: EUR 13,790.
- Returning student (not an ES Academy tennis player): - Elementary: EUR 15,940. - Middle: EUR 17,110. - High: (referenced totals are provided in the school fee schedule).
Optional Services and Ancillary Charges
- Buffet Lunch (ES Academy service): annual / fall term / spring term / daily: EUR 2,500 / EUR 1,000 / EUR 1,500 / EUR 15 per meal. - Daily Transportation (one-way): annual / fall / spring / daily: EUR 1,500 / EUR 600 / EUR 900 / EUR 10 per ride. - Daily Transportation (roundtrip): annual / fall / spring / daily: EUR 2,500 / EUR 1,000 / EUR 1,500 / EUR 20 per roundtrip. - ES Academy Energy Point: annual / fall / spring: EUR 500 / EUR 200 / EUR 300. - ES Academy tennis training: fees are set under separate ES Academy program schedules. - Private tutorials: EUR 55 per class. - Additional fees related to residence card processing, medical insurance (where applicable), NIE/EU registry, and similar administrative processes are charged separately through ES Academy services.
Learning Support Fees (where required)
- Support Plan A: Fall term EUR 900; Spring term EUR 1,300. - Support Plan B: Fall term EUR 1,300; Spring term EUR 1,900. - ELL Language Support: Fall term EUR 700; Spring term EUR 1,000.
Reservation Deposit
- Non-refundable reservation deposit: EUR 2,000 payable within two weeks after admission. This deposit is credited toward second-semester tuition and textbooks/materials and becomes a penalty (non-refundable) if the student withdraws before the second semester of the current academic year (unless enrolled for one semester only).
Billing Schedule and Payment Terms
- Standard billing: payments are made in advance each semester, due before 31 August (fall semester) and before 31 December (spring semester). A 3% reduction on tuition only applies if payment for the complete academic year is made before 31 August. - Installment payment plan (available on request in writing): requires the non-refundable EUR 2,000 reservation deposit and four scheduled payments of the balance (25% each) due prior to 31 August 2026, 1 November 2026, 31 December 2026, and 1 April 2027. An additional fee of 5% is applied to the total tuition for this payment option.
Refund Information
- Withdrawals are eligible for refunds of tuition and fees according to this schedule: - Before the first day of classes: 100% refund of tuition and applicable fees (Application Fee, Tuition Reservation Deposit, and Legacy Fee are non-refundable). - Within the first 30 calendar days of the semester: 50% refund (students dismissed for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for a refund and parents remain responsible for outstanding fees). - In the second 30 calendar days of the semester: 25% refund. - After the first 60 calendar days of the semester: no refund.
Family Reduction
- Family Reduction Plan: 5% reduction of tuition only and 5% reduction of the Physical Education Program only for the next sibling enrolled at the same time; 20% reduction of the Legacy Fee for the next sibling. The reduction applies to the tuition of lower value. Tuition reductions are not cumulative.
Graduation and Miscellaneous Fees
- Graduation fee for Grade 12 students: EUR 420.
Accepted Payment Methods and Payment Details
- All school fees are payable in euros. - Bank transfer (details provided): payments may be made by bank transfer to Banco Sabadell Atlántico (IBAN: ES11 0081 0025 21 0003225532; SWIFT: BSABESBBXXX). Include the student name on transfer and payer covers any bank charges. Proof of transfer should be emailed to admin@es-school.com. Cash deposit may be made at any Banco Sabadell branch using the same account information. - Credit card payments: accepted via a signed Credit Card Authorization (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) submitted to the school; recurring charges may be authorized via that form.
Notes on Mandatory Elements
- The Physical Education & Enrichment Program is mandatory for all Middle and High School students unless the student is enrolled in an annual or semi-annual “Tennis + School” program at ES Academy (in which case related charges are handled through ES Academy billing).
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
—
Boarding arrangements
—
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
—
Uniform requirement
—
Food options
Food options
—
Food options
—
House system
House system
—
House system
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
—
Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
US Curriculum is offered from PK3 through 12th grade, with 9th–12th in High School. The program culminates in a US High School Diploma. The High School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Barcelona Education Department, enabling admission to Spanish and international universities. AP courses are part of the program; BHS is the AP Exam Center for Europe, College Board approved, and offers a range of AP courses. The academic year runs September through June. AP courses include Biology, Calculus AB/BC, Chemistry, Computer Science A, English Language and Composition, European History, US History, World History, Physics 1, Psychology, Spanish Language, and US Government and Politics; NCAA-approved courses are available.
Curriculum details
The school offers three academic levels: Elementary (grades 1–5), Middle School (grades 6–8), and High School (grades 9–12). The Elementary Program is an IB World School offering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). The curriculum is within the framework of the American educational system. The Middle School program emphasizes creativity, inquiry, and teamwork to prepare students for high school. The High School program is university-preparatory and leads to an American High School Diploma, with students able to homologate to the Spanish system for university access. The school also offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses as part of its program.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
—
Student teacher ratio
—
Exam results
Exam results
—
Exam results
—
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
University and Futures Counseling is a four-year program for Grades 9–12 that provides personalized university advising. Students use Unifrog to explore universities, prepare applications, and plan career paths; visits from international university representatives and campus tours are organized. Students apply to universities globally, including Spain, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic, the UK, the US, and Canada; the BHS Profile lists universities where graduates have been admitted.
Higher education progression
Graduates attend universities around the world. Notable destinations include New York University, UCLA, Columbia University, Cornell University, Emory University, ESADE, University of Miami, University of Florida, and others. The university placement program includes college counseling, SAT preparation, and the school functions as an official SAT Test Center. The NCAA, NJCAA, and NAIA guidelines are observed to assist student-athletes in college admissions.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
Learning Support (LS) embraces neurodiversity and provides resources and strategies to support a range of needs; support is highly individualized and may include personalized learning plans, accommodations, and small-group interventions. LS also works to challenge high-achieving students and to foster academic, social, and emotional growth in collaboration with other wellbeing and ELL teams.
Gifted and talented
—
Academic calendar
Academic calendar
—
Academic calendar
—
Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
—
Social & emotional learning
—
Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
—
Special educational needs (SEN)
—
English as an additional language
English as an additional language
—
English as an additional language
—
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
—
Mental wellbeing
—
Safeguarding
Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
—
Safeguarding policy
—
Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
—
Facilities overview
—
Sports facilities
Sports facilities
—
Sports facilities
—
Academic facilities
Academic facilities
—
Academic facilities
—
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
—
Extra curricular facilities
—
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
—
History
—
Community
Community
—
Community
—
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
—
Parent teacher association
—
Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
—
Academic & intellectual
—
Arts & creative
Arts & creative
—
Arts & creative
—
Cultural & language
Cultural & language
—
Cultural & language
—
Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
—
Social & hobbies
—
Community & service
Community & service
—
Community & service
—
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
—
Leadership & professional
—
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
—
Lifestyle & wellbeing
—
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
—
Language provision
—
Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
—
Bilingual teaching
—
Immersion programs
Immersion programs
—
Immersion programs
—
Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
—
Awards
—
Accreditations
Accreditations
—
Accreditations
—
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admission is open year-round. In-person or online meeting with BHS Admissions; enrollment documentation (official school transcripts and translations if required, passport/identification, etc.); payment of a one-time entrance fee; payment of the annual matriculation fee; if applicable, start your student visa process with a BHS matriculation letter; and first month's tuition payment or one total payment for a discount.
Admissions
1. Submit a completed Application for Admission and all required materials. The application requires official transcripts for the last three academic years in the original language with an official certified English translation when applicable, and the transcripts must be uploaded in PDF format. An application fee of 250 euros is required. The school processes the Application for Admission only after all requirements are received and originals may need to be mailed by post or courier. 2. The language of instruction is English. New students whose native language is not English take the English Placement Test during the first week of attendance; students whose test results indicate insufficient English proficiency will be required to take English-language support classes suitable to their abilities. 3. Admissions: Students may join in fall or spring; full-year applicants have priority in the admission process. Twelfth grade students, in order to fulfill graduation requirements, must attend the full academic year. No admission decision is made until all application requirements have been submitted. 4. After admission, an official acceptance letter is issued. Please pay the €2,000 non-refundable reservation deposit. The visa process may take 1-2 months and is handled through the nearest Spanish Consulate; EU citizens do not need a visa. If visa is denied or attendance is canceled, tuition and accommodation fees are refunded with the exception of the reservation deposit. Upon arrival in Barcelona, the student must obtain a Spanish Student Residence Card and provide the required documents (passport, visa stamp, immigration entry date, health insurance, etc.).
Scholarships
Scholarships
Financial aid scholarships are available for Catalan and Spanish students living in Barcelona who cannot afford to attend BHS. Financial aid is available to Spanish passport students who do not have the means to pay all tuition.
