Spain · Madrid
ASM is an English-medium, co-educational day school from EC3 to Grade 12. Every graduate earns its US diploma; eligible pupils may add the IB Diploma or Spanish Bachillerato.
The American School of Madrid, or ASM, is a private, non-profit day school in Pozuelo de Alarcón. It teaches in English from early childhood through Grade 12.
ASM uses an American curriculum and offers three possible graduation credentials. The US High School Diploma is the foundation for every graduate. The IB Diploma and Spanish Bachillerato are additional, conditional routes.
The school has no boarding, homestay or residential guardian service. Families must arrange a suitable home, daily travel and immigration status independently.
The school divides pupils into early childhood, Lower School, Middle School and Upper School. Its academic sequence follows American grade levels.
English is the main teaching language. Spanish is compulsory from EC3 or EC4 through Grade 10, with groups for beginner, intermediate, advanced and native speakers.
Upper School covers Grades 9–12. Its course list includes English, mathematics, science, social studies, languages, arts, technology, physical education and electives.
All ASM graduates receive the school’s US High School Diploma after meeting its course-credit requirements. This is the standard graduation route, not an optional programme.
ASM says its US programme is accredited by the Middle States Association. Families applying to a particular university should still check that institution’s subjects, grades and credential-recognition rules.
ASM is authorised for the IB Diploma Programme only. The official IB record does not list the PYP, MYP or Career-related Programme.
The Diploma Programme runs in Grades 11 and 12 alongside the US diploma. Pupils may pursue the full IB Diploma or sit examinations in individual IB courses.
Full Diploma candidates take six subjects, normally three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level. They also complete Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service.
The school reports a 92% Diploma pass rate for its 2026 cohort. This is one cohort’s result, not an admissions guarantee or a forecast for an individual pupil.
ASM says eligible graduates can convert their school grades and receive the Spanish Bachillerato. This route is not automatic for every pupil.
The school’s public pages conflict on timing. The Upper School page places its Programa Oficial in Grades 9–12. The accreditation page says pupils must have taken the programme in Grades 7–10 and meet ASM graduation requirements.
Before joining in or after Grade 7, ask for a written subject-by-subject plan. It should state whether the pupil can still obtain the Spanish credential and how grades will be converted.
ASM welcomes applications from all nationalities but describes an academically demanding, college-preparatory programme. Completing an application does not guarantee a place.
The published priority order is:
Priority does not replace academic fit, document checks or available capacity. The school reserves the right to accept or reject an application.
ASM does not publish a general annual closing date or a grade-by-grade vacancy table. Its application page accepts enquiries and applications, but that is not proof that the requested grade has space.
Ask admissions to confirm the following before paying the €250 non-refundable application fee:
Applicants submit school information through OpenApply. Teacher recommendations use ASM’s own confidential forms.
The requirements vary by stage:
| Entry stage | Main published requirements |
|---|---|
| EC3–EC5 | Age by 1 September, toilet training, teacher recommendation if applicable and available reports |
| Grades 1–5 | Three years of records in English, available standardised results, teacher recommendation and handwritten English sample for Grades 2–5 |
| Grades 6–8 | The same academic record, recommendations from mathematics, English and counselling, handwritten English sample and B2 English evidence when required |
| Grades 9–12 | Three years of records, available standardised results, three recommendations, handwritten English sample and B2 or C1 English evidence when required |
All applicants provide immunisation records. Grades 10–12 must send an official transcript before the school year starts. Younger entrants send final grades.
Families requesting learning support provide relevant psychological reports, accommodation recommendations, IEPs or 504 plans. Nondisclosure can lead to withdrawal of an offer or refusal of re-enrolment.
No fluent English is required for EC3–EC5. The formal admissions requirements state B2 for Grades 6–10 and C1 for Grades 11–12 when English is not the pupil’s first language.
The FAQ uses different wording. It says “near-native” English for Grades 6–8 and “native” English for Grades 9–12. It also requests a Cambridge or TOEFL result when the pupil is not transferring from an English-language school.
The formal B2 and C1 levels are more measurable, but families should not assume they settle the conflict. Ask which examination, score and test date the school will accept for the proposed grade.
The Learning Support team can help with English acquisition, reading, writing, mathematics and executive-function skills. Public information does not promise a fixed number of sessions or publish a separate support fee.
ASM says it does not accept Grades 6–12 pupils who need substantial academic or social-emotional support and programme modification. Current and new Middle and Upper School pupils are reviewed for support fit.
A family should obtain a written plan covering frequency, staffing, classroom adjustments, examination arrangements and cost. Ask what happens if the pupil’s needs later exceed the school’s provision.
The live fee page does not label its table with an academic year. These are the figures displayed on 4 September 2026, not confirmed 2026/27 or 2027/28 fees.
| Stage | Published annual tuition |
|---|---|
| EC3–EC4 | €12,173 |
| EC5 | €12,653 |
| Grades 1–2 | €17,081 |
| Grades 3–5 | €19,177 |
| Grades 6–8 | €23,245 |
| Grades 9–12 | €25,072 |
| Stage | Published annual tuition |
|---|---|
| EC3–EC4 | €17,563 |
| EC5 | €17,906 |
| Grades 1–2 | €24,267 |
| Grades 3–4 | €27,257 |
| Grades 6–8 | €32,468 |
| Grades 9–12 | €33,176 |
The corporate table omits Grade 5. It also does not explain whether the rate depends on who pays, an employer benefit or another test. Obtain the applicable rate in writing.
| Charge | Published amount and treatment |
|---|---|
| Application | €250 per child; one-time and non-refundable |
| Registration | €2,000 per child; one-time, non-refundable and credited to tuition |
| Capital fee | €8,100 for EC5–Grade 12; one-time and non-refundable |
| Matriculation | €950 each spring; non-refundable and secures the next school year |
| Bus | €2,404 annually for regular and late-bus service |
| Cafeteria | €9.85 per day, invoiced from actual meals and snacks |
The registration payment changes when cash is due but does not add €2,000 to annual tuition. It is credited against the tuition invoice.
For example, the initial published core cost for a family-rate Grade 6 place is €31,595 before bus and meals. This is €23,245 tuition, €8,100 capital fee and €250 application fee.
The €950 matriculation payment may also fall during that school year, but it secures the following year. Treat it as a separate re-enrolment cash flow, not as current-year tuition.
The page gives a 10% reduction for the third child and 20% for later children. It says the reduction covers tuition and the “one-time enrollment fee,” although the fee section uses the term “Registration Fee.” Confirm the exact discounted item.
Registration, capital and matriculation charges are expressly non-refundable. The public pages do not state the cancellation liability before a semester starts or publish a complete parent contract.
The scholarship programme is for external pupils seeking entry to Grade 9. It assesses academic record, recommendations, a personal statement, other achievements, English and financial need.
The live page says an award can cover up to 75% of tuition and fees, excluding personal costs such as trips. Two awards were offered for September 2026.
An award is reviewed each year and can continue through Grade 12. Renewal depends on academic standing, contribution to school life, continued financial need and payment of the family’s balance.
The 2026/27 deadline was 23 February 2026 and has passed. The page had not published a 2027/28 round when checked, despite still saying applications were open.
The English scholarship terms refer to Grades 9–12, while their Spanish section says Grades 8–12. The live FAQ says new recipients enter Grade 9, which is the safer planning assumption until the school confirms otherwise.
Separate financial aid is limited, needs-based and temporary. It is intended mainly for current ASM families facing sudden hardship, not as a guaranteed multi-year admission award.
ASM is in Pozuelo rather than central Madrid. Lower School ends at 15:45, Middle School at 15:50 and Upper School at 15:50, according to the current FAQ.
The optional bus network currently has 13 routes serving central Madrid, Pozuelo, Aravaca, Boadilla del Monte and Majadahonda. The service is not door to door.
Every bus has a monitor and location tracking. The annual fee includes the late bus for after-school activities. A published route does not guarantee a convenient stop or available seat.
Admission to ASM does not grant a child or parent a right to live in Spain. The school does not advertise visa sponsorship, boarding, homestay or a residential guardianship service.
Many international pupils will attend as dependants of a parent who already has a lawful residence route. A pupil arriving primarily for school may face different rules based on age, study level and programme type.
Current Spanish immigration information distinguishes post-compulsory secondary study from school-mobility programmes. Requirements for minors can include parental authorisation and details of the adult responsible in Spain.
ASM is a strong fit for families seeking an established American curriculum in Madrid, with the option to add the IB Diploma. The Spanish credential can also be valuable when its programme requirements are met.
Families entering after Grade 7 should also resolve Spanish-credential eligibility. Those needing substantial support in Grades 6–12 should not proceed without a written capacity decision.
See our Madrid school guide and Spain education guide for the wider local context.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
Day provision from 16 weeks and boarding from age 11, with A-levels or IB in Sixth Form. The detailed fee tables here are historical 2024/25 figures; request a current quotation.
MadridA French day school with two Madrid-area sites. Apply to one campus, check the daily journey and obtain current tuition figures in addition to the published registration charge.
La Moraleja, AlcobendasAn independent British day school for ages 2–18, leading to A-levels rather than IB. Check entry-year restrictions, English readiness and costs beyond tuition.
MadridThe British School is a bilingual day school in Pozuelo. It follows the English curriculum alongside Spanish Language and Culture, then offers BiBac and International A Levels. The IB Diploma remains a candidate programme planned for 2027, not a current qualification.
Madrid's British, American and French schools sit in distinct corridors. Compare qualification and boarding first, then test La Moraleja, Tres Cantos and Pozuelo.
5 minAn American-style school may offer a familiar curriculum, but its diploma, courses, language support, and admissions rules need individual checks. Start with the child’s next educational step.
7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.