Valencia is Spain's open secret. Madrid has the corporate relocations, Barcelona the global brand recognition, but Valencia — Spain's third city, perched on the Mediterranean with 300 days of sunshine, a cost of living that makes the other two look extravagant, and a quality of life that routinely tops European rankings — is where a growing number of expat families are quietly choosing to land. And the international school market is catching up.
With 32 international schools spanning British, IB, American, French, German, Montessori, and Spanish curricula, Valencia's market is smaller than Madrid's 75 or Barcelona's 51. But smaller does not mean lesser. What Valencia offers is a concentrated, navigable set of genuinely good schools — many with fees that would cover barely half a year at their Madrid equivalents — in a city where families can live within cycling distance of the beach, the old town, and the school gate simultaneously.
There is one thing you need to understand before you start visiting campuses: Valencia is not just "Spain." It is the Comunitat Valenciana, with its own co-official language — Valencian (closely related to Catalan, and politically charged in its own right). This isn't a footnote. It shapes the school system, the playground conversations, and the integration calculus for your family in ways that Madrid simply doesn't present. If you've read our Barcelona guide, the bilingual dynamic will feel familiar — but Valencia handles it differently, with less political intensity and more pragmatic bilingualism.
Here's what you need to know.
Explore all 32 Valencia international schools on Scholae to filter by curriculum, fee range, and age group.
The Curriculum Landscape: British Dominance with IB Rising
Valencia's 32 schools offer 16 different curricular programmes, but the real story is straightforward: this is a British curriculum town with a strong IB undercurrent and interesting alternatives at the margins.
British Curriculum
Fourteen of Valencia's 32 schools offer some form of British curriculum — nearly half the market. This is a legacy of decades of British expat settlement along the Costa Blanca and Costa del Azahar, reinforced by the NABSS (National Association of British Schools in Spain) accreditation network that gives parents a recognisable quality benchmark.
Caxton College is the flagship. Founded in 1987 in Puqol (north of Valencia city), it enrolls 1,650 students with an average class size of 20. British National Curriculum throughout, NABSS accredited and BSO (British Schools Overseas) inspected — meaning it meets UK government education standards. The school motto is "Honeste Vivere," and the institution has the depth and scale that comes from nearly four decades of continuous operation. Instruction is in English and Spanish. For families who want a large, established British school with a proven track record, Caxton is the default first visit.
Cambridge House British International School matches Caxton in scale: 1,660 students, founded 1986, located in Rocafort (the affluent suburb west of the city). British curriculum through IGCSE and A-Levels, NABSS accredited. Languages of instruction are English and Spanish, with French, German, and Italian available as students progress. The school explicitly follows the National Curriculum of England while meeting Valencian government requirements — a dual compliance that matters if you might later transfer your child into the Spanish system. Class sizes average 28, which is larger than most competitors and worth asking about during your visit.
British School of Valencia sits in the city centre itself — Avinguda de Peris i Valero — rare for an international school in Valencia, where most campuses are in the suburban ring. Founded 1992, British curriculum through A-Levels, NABSS member. The urban location is a genuine differentiator: if you live in the Eixample or the old town, your child can walk or cycle to school instead of sitting on a bus to Paterna or Puqol.
British College La Canada deserves attention for one reason above all: transparent pricing. Founded 2008 in La Canada (Paterna), it publishes its fees clearly — EUR 5,750 for Early Years rising to EUR 7,560 for senior years (USD 6,280-8,250). British curriculum through IGCSE and A-Levels, NABSS accredited and BSO inspected. In a market where many schools make you enquire to learn the cost, British College La Canada's openness is refreshing, and the fees themselves are remarkably accessible.
Entrenaranjos International School, founded 1974 in Riba-roja de Turia, is one of Valencia's oldest international schools. British and Spanish curricula, class sizes of 18, set in green surroundings that the school emphasises as central to its educational approach. The smaller class sizes and established reputation make it a solid mid-market option for the western suburbs.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Seven schools offer IB programmes, and the standout is clear.
American School of Valencia (ASV) is the city's premier IB school. Founded 1980 in Puqol's Los Monasterios urbanisation, it enrolls 950 students with the IB and American curricula running in parallel. The 2025 IB Diploma average was 33.8 points across 40 candidates — well above the global benchmark of 30.5. Class sizes average 25. ASV prepares "globally-conscious, life-long learners" — the usual mission-statement language, but the IB results back it up. Admissions require an entrance exam, MAP test results, and three years of transcripts. Rolling admissions, but apply early for popular year groups.
Mas Camarena International School is Valencia's largest school by enrolment: 2,500 students, founded 1997 in Betera. It offers the full IB continuum — PYP, MYP, and Diploma — alongside the Spanish national curriculum, making it one of the few schools in Valencia where families can choose between IB and Spanish Bachillerato pathways at age 16. The 2024 IB Diploma average was 35.0 points across its cohort — exceptional. Class sizes of 21, instruction in English, Spanish, French, German, and Valencian. Recently designated an Apple Distinguished School (one of six in Spain), with iPads and interactive whiteboards integrated from early years. The scale is both its strength and its caveat: 2,500 students means a bustling, resource-rich campus, but families seeking intimacy should look elsewhere.
El Plantio International School, founded 1982 in La Canada (Paterna), threads a distinctive needle: British National Curriculum through secondary, then IB Diploma at pre-university level. This hybrid gives students the structured progression of the British system with the globally recognised IB credential at the finish. NABSS accredited.
Shackleton International School, founded 2012 in Burjassot, also combines British curriculum with IB. Younger and smaller than the established players, Shackleton represents the newer wave of Valencia international schools. The four-step admissions process — informational visit, entrance test, trial day, and safeguarding checks — suggests a school that takes fit seriously.
Colegio Internacional Ausias March, founded in 1972 in Picassent, is the veteran IB-Spanish hybrid. With 894 students and class sizes of 20, it offers the IB alongside the Spanish curriculum. The school is named after the medieval Valencian poet — a nice cultural anchor — and its location in Picassent, south of the city, serves families in that corridor who don't want to commute north to Puqol or west to Paterna.
Iale International School in L'Eliana, founded 1967, was the first bilingual infant and primary school in Valencia to receive national authorisation. IB and Spanish curricula, class sizes of 18, with instruction in English, Spanish, Mandarin, French, and German — an unusually broad language offering. The L'Eliana location puts it in the prosperous suburban belt northwest of the city.
Spanish and Valencian Curriculum
Several schools blend international and Spanish approaches, and here the Valencian language dimension becomes relevant. Under Valencian regional law, the co-official language (Valencian) must be part of the curriculum in locally accredited schools. International schools operating under NABSS or IB accreditation are largely exempt, but schools offering the Spanish Bachillerato within the Valencian system will include Valencian instruction.
For families staying long-term, this is an asset. Valencian opens social doors in the community, and unlike Catalan in Barcelona — where the linguistic politics can feel intense — Valencia's bilingualism tends to be more relaxed. Most Valencians switch fluidly between Valencian and Castilian Spanish, and there's less political charge around which language you speak. Your child picking up Valencian alongside Spanish and English is a bonus, not a burden.
Schools like Cumbres School Valencia (British, Catholic, Spanish, ages 1-18) and Guadalaviar School (British, Catholic, Spanish, ages 3-18) operate at this intersection of British and Spanish curricula with a faith-based ethos. Julio Verne School and La Devesa School Carlet offer British-Spanish bilingual programmes outside the city centre.
French, German, and Alternative Approaches
Lycee Francais de Valence, in Paterna, serves Valencia's French community with the French Baccalaureate. The 2024 pass rate was 99% against an AEFE network average of 96.7% — excellent results. And the fees are extraordinary: EUR 889-1,112 per year (roughly USD 970-1,210). That is not a typo. French government-supported schools are among the best-value international education options anywhere in the world, and Valencia's is no exception. If your family speaks French, or if you want your child to, this school offers an elite education at a fraction of the cost of any British or IB alternative.
Deutsche Schule Valencia, on Jaime Roig in the city centre, offers the German curriculum through Abitur. Instruction in German and Spanish. Like its Barcelona counterpart (founded 1894), it serves primarily the German-speaking community, but the Abitur is internationally recognised for university admission across Europe.
Valencia also has an unusually strong Montessori presence. Imagine Montessori School (332 students, British-Montessori hybrid, ages 2-18, Paterna), Valencia Montessori School (American-Montessori, ages 1-13, fees EUR 8,940-10,820 / USD 9,828-11,898), Mammolina Montessori International School (British-Montessori-French, ages 3-12, fees EUR 5,880-6,420 / USD 6,467-7,065), and Second Body Montessori (ages 6-14) give families pursuing alternative pedagogy more options than most Spanish cities provide.
Fees: The Valencia Advantage
This is where Valencia's proposition becomes genuinely compelling. If you've been researching international schools in Madrid, Barcelona, Dubai, or Singapore, prepare to recalibrate your expectations.
Budget Tier: EUR 900-6,000/year (USD 1,000-6,550)
The Lycee Francais at EUR 889-1,112 anchors the bottom of the market with arguably the best value-for-money in European international education. British College La Canada at EUR 5,750-7,560 and Mammolina Montessori at EUR 5,880-6,420 deliver established curricula at prices that would barely cover a term in London or a semester in Singapore. For a family with three children, the difference between Valencia and Madrid can easily reach EUR 20,000-30,000 per year — enough to fund your entire Mediterranean lifestyle upgrade.
Mid-Range: EUR 6,000-12,000/year (USD 6,550-13,100)
This is where most established British and IB schools in Valencia land. Caxton College, Entrenaranjos, El Plantio, and many of the NABSS-accredited British schools operate in this bracket. You're getting class sizes of 18-25, proper accreditation, extracurricular programmes, and enough scale for a diverse student body. In Madrid or Barcelona, this same level of school would cost EUR 12,000-20,000.
Premium: EUR 10,000-12,000/year (USD 11,000-13,100)
Valencia's "premium" tier would be solidly mid-range in any other major European city. American School of Valencia, Mas Camarena, and Valencia Montessori School (at EUR 8,940-10,820) represent the top of the market. The IB results at ASV (33.8 average) and Mas Camarena (35.0) rival schools charging two to three times as much elsewhere.
The Real Comparison
To put Valencia's fees in perspective: a family paying EUR 7,000/year for a BSO-accredited British school in Valencia would pay EUR 15,000-22,000 for an equivalent school in Madrid, EUR 14,000-20,000 in Barcelona, EUR 25,000-35,000 in Dubai, and EUR 30,000-45,000 in Singapore. Valencia is not cheap because the education is inferior — it's cheap because the city's cost structure is lower, many schools own their campuses outright after decades of operation, and the market hasn't experienced the speculative inflation that hits "destination" expat cities.
Hidden Costs
Factor in school bus transport (EUR 800-2,500/year, important if your school is in Puqol while you live in the city), uniforms for British schools, exam registration fees for IGCSE, A-Levels, and IB, and extracurricular activities. A realistic budget adds 10-15% above published tuition. Even with that adjustment, Valencia remains dramatically more affordable than Spain's two larger cities.
Schools Worth a Closer Look
Here are ten schools spanning different curricula, price points, and locations. Not a ranking — the best school is the one that fits your family.
Caxton College
British | 1,650 students | Ages 1-18 | Puqol
The establishment choice. Nearly four decades of operation, BSO-inspected, NABSS accredited, 1,650 students, class sizes of 20. The Puqol location means you're north of the city in a quieter, more suburban setting — pleasant for quality of life, but a 20-25 minute commute from central Valencia. The scale ensures breadth: more subject options at IGCSE and A-Level, more sports teams, more extracurricular clubs. If your priority is a large, proven British school with institutional depth, Caxton is the benchmark.
American School of Valencia
IB + American | 950 students | Ages 2-18 | Puqol (Los Monasterios)
Valencia's strongest IB school by results and reputation. The 2025 IB Diploma average of 33.8 (40 candidates) puts ASV well above the global mean. Located in the Los Monasterios urbanisation near Puqol — leafy, spacious, and purpose-built. Rolling admissions with entrance exams and MAP testing. The American-IB dual track gives families flexibility: American-style education through the middle years, then the globally portable IB Diploma. For families coming from the US or planning university applications there, ASV is the natural fit.
Mas Camarena International School
IB (Full Continuum) + Spanish | 2,500 students | Ages 1-18 | Betera
Valencia's largest school and its best-kept secret. The 2024 IB Diploma average of 35.0 points is outstanding — better than many premium schools in Madrid and Barcelona. Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, Diploma) plus Spanish Bachillerato, so your child can choose pathways at 16. Apple Distinguished School, five languages of instruction including Valencian. The 2,500-student enrolment means this is a small campus town, not a school. Financial aid available. If IB results matter to you and you want the option of the Spanish system alongside, Mas Camarena deserves a visit.
Cambridge House British International School
British (IGCSE + A-Levels) | 1,660 students | Ages 3-18 | Rocafort
The other big British school, matching Caxton in scale. Founded 1986 in Rocafort, west of the city — an affluent, quiet municipality popular with expat families. NABSS accredited, dual compliance with UK and Valencian education requirements. The class size of 28 is notably larger than competitors — ask about this during your tour. French, German, and Italian available alongside English and Spanish. The career and university guidance programme for final-year students signals a school that takes post-18 pathways seriously.
British College La Canada
British (IGCSE + A-Levels) | Ages 2-18 | La Canada (Paterna)
The value play. BSO-inspected, NABSS accredited, and fees published transparently: EUR 5,750-7,560 (USD 6,280-8,250). Founded 2008 — younger than the established players, but UK government inspection provides a quality backstop. La Canada is one of Valencia's most popular expat areas, with several international schools within a few kilometres of each other. For families watching the budget without compromising on accreditation and curriculum quality, this is the school that proves Valencia's cost advantage isn't theoretical.
El Plantio International School
British + IB | Ages 2-18 | La Canada (Paterna)
The hybrid approach. British curriculum through secondary, then IB Diploma for the final two years — giving students the structure of the English system with the university-recognised IB at the finish. Founded 1982, NABSS accredited, also in the La Canada cluster. The British-to-IB pathway is increasingly popular because it avoids the narrowing of A-Levels (three subjects) while maintaining the breadth-and-depth balance of the IB (six subjects plus core). A smart choice for families who want both.
Iale International School
IB + Spanish | Ages 1-18 | L'Eliana
Valencia's first nationally authorised bilingual school, founded 1967. IB and Spanish curricula, class sizes of 18 — among the smallest in the city. The language offering is exceptional: English, Spanish, Mandarin, French, and German. L'Eliana is a leafy, upmarket suburb northwest of Valencia, popular with both Spanish professionals and expats. The combination of small classes, deep bilingual heritage, and five-language instruction makes Iale distinctive. If languages are a family priority, start here.
Entrenaranjos International School
British + Spanish | Ages 1-18 | Riba-roja de Turia
One of Valencia's oldest international schools (founded 1974), set in green surroundings in Riba-roja de Turia, west of the city. British and Spanish curricula, class sizes of 18. The emphasis on outdoor spaces and natural environment gives it a character distinct from the larger, more urban-adjacent schools. For families in the western suburbs — Riba-roja, L'Eliana, La Canada — Entrenaranjos offers established quality without the 2,000-student scale.
Lycee Francais de Valence
French Baccalaureate | Ages 3-18 | Paterna
The value outlier. EUR 889-1,112 per year for a school with a 99% French Baccalaureate pass rate. Instruction in French and Spanish. If your family has any French-language connection — or if you want one — this is, objectively, the most extraordinary education bargain in Valencia. French government-supported schools worldwide offer subsidised fees, and this one delivers results that surpass the AEFE network average. The only barrier is the language: your child needs French, or needs to acquire it rapidly.
Imagine Montessori School
British + Montessori | 332 students | Ages 2-18 | Paterna
For families committed to Montessori pedagogy, Imagine is Valencia's most established option. Founded in Paterna, it combines the Montessori method with the British curriculum framework — child-led learning within a recognised academic structure. 332 students, English as the vehicular language, rolling admissions. The school is growing organically with its cohorts, so the secondary programme is still maturing. Class sizes of 25. For younger children especially, the Montessori approach here offers something the traditional British schools don't.
Neighbourhoods: Where Schools Cluster
Valencia's international school geography follows a clear pattern: the suburban ring to the north and west, with a handful of exceptions in the city itself.
Puqol / Los Monasterios (North)
The northern corridor, about 20 kilometres from the city centre. Caxton College and American School of Valencia are both here. Puqol is a small town with its own character — traditional market, local restaurants, beach nearby at the Albufera's northern edge. Los Monasterios is an upscale urbanisation with villas and green space. Families attending these schools often live in Puqol, El Puig, or the surrounding area. The V-21 motorway connects to central Valencia in 20-25 minutes outside rush hour. Rents are significantly lower than the city centre: EUR 700-1,200/month for a family apartment, EUR 1,200-2,000 for a villa.
La Canada / Paterna (West)
The densest school cluster. British College La Canada, El Plantio International School, Lycee Francais de Valence, and Imagine Montessori School are all within a few kilometres of each other. La Canada is Valencia's most established expat enclave — tree-lined streets, detached houses with gardens (rare in the city), international families everywhere. Paterna, the municipality that contains La Canada, is well-connected to central Valencia by metro and road (15-20 minutes). This is where first-time Valencia expats gravitate, and with good reason: the concentration of schools means you can shortlist four options within a ten-minute drive of your front door.
L'Eliana / Riba-roja de Turia (Northwest)
The leafy suburban belt beyond Paterna. Iale International School in L'Eliana and Entrenaranjos International School in Riba-roja de Turia serve this corridor. More rural than La Canada, with larger properties and a quieter pace. L'Eliana is prosperous and well-maintained; Riba-roja has a more traditional Valencian town character. The trade-off is distance: you're 25-35 minutes from the city centre, and if one parent works downtown, the commute adds up. But for families who want space, greenery, and a genuine small-town feel within reach of a major Mediterranean city, this area delivers.
Betera (Northwest)
Mas Camarena International School dominates Betera, a town north of Paterna. The school's 2,500 students essentially create their own community. Betera has a metro connection to central Valencia (Line 1, about 35 minutes), local amenities, and affordable housing. Families attending Mas Camarena typically live in Betera or the surrounding areas.
Central Valencia (City Centre)
British School of Valencia and Deutsche Schule Valencia are the rare city-centre options. Living in Valencia's Eixample, Ruzafa, or El Carmen and walking your child to school is a genuine possibility — something almost impossible in Madrid or Barcelona's international school markets, where the good schools are invariably suburban. Central Valencia rents range from EUR 900-1,800/month for a family apartment, and the quality of life — the Turia gardens, the Central Market, the beach at Malvarrosa a bike ride away — is exceptional.
Admissions: What to Know
Timing
Valencia follows the Spanish academic year: September to June. The main admissions window runs January through March for the following September. Most international schools accept rolling admissions throughout the year — Valencia's expat population shifts with corporate relocations, and schools accommodate mid-year arrivals more readily than in Madrid or Barcelona, where waiting lists for top schools can be genuinely long.
Entrance Assessments
Nearly every school requires some evaluation. Younger children (ages 2-5) typically do a classroom observation or play-based assessment. From age 6-7, expect written assessments in English and Mathematics. British schools may use CAT4 cognitive testing. American School of Valencia requires MAP test results and standardised assessments from upper primary onward. Shackleton International School runs a distinctive four-step process: informational visit, entrance test, trial day in the classroom, and safeguarding checks. Secondary applicants universally face interviews.
The Valencian Language Factor
Unlike Barcelona, where the Catalan language question is politically supercharged, Valencia's bilingualism is more relaxed in daily life but still present in the education system. Schools operating within the Valencian government framework must include Valencian (Catalan's close cousin) in the curriculum. Purely international schools under NABSS or IB accreditation have more flexibility, but many — including Mas Camarena — teach Valencian regardless, recognising that their students live in a bilingual community.
If you're staying in Valencia long-term, a school that teaches Valencian gives your child a social advantage that's hard to acquire outside the classroom. If you're on a short posting and will move on, it's a bonus rather than a necessity. Either way, the dynamic is warmer and less fraught than in Barcelona.
Coming from Madrid or Barcelona?
If you're relocating within Spain, the school market dynamics shift significantly. Valencia's international schools are fewer but more accessible — shorter waiting lists, more willingness to accommodate mid-year entries, and fees that feel liberating after Madrid or Barcelona prices. The curriculum options are broadly similar (British dominates in all three cities), but Valencia's IB choices are more concentrated in a handful of strong schools rather than spread across dozens. See our Madrid guide and Barcelona guide for the full comparison.
Making the Decision
Valencia rewards families who value substance over prestige. There are no schools here with 40-year waiting lists or EUR 30,000 annual fees. What there is: a set of well-run, accredited schools delivering British, IB, and alternative curricula to a genuinely international student body, in a city where the total cost of family life — school fees, rent, food, healthcare, beach days — is half what you'd pay in Barcelona and a third of London or Singapore.
Visit three schools, not ten. Narrow by curriculum first, then geography. If you want British, the north (Caxton in Puqol) and west (Cambridge House in Rocafort, British College in La Canada) corridors give you three strong options within 15 minutes of each other. If you want IB, ASV and Mas Camarena are the conversation. If you want value, the Lycee Francais is in a class of its own.
Then visit during a normal school day. Watch the children at break time. In Valencia, the playground will be louder and more physical than you might expect from Northern European schools — this is Spain, after all. But watch the language: are the children switching between English and Spanish naturally? Are the teachers engaging, or supervising from a distance? The break-time dynamic tells you more than any prospectus.
One final thought: Valencia is a city that keeps surprising people. Families who arrive expecting a "cheaper alternative to Barcelona" discover a city with its own fierce identity — the Fallas festival, the paella (don't call it that in front of locals; it's simply "arroz"), the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the Turia riverbed gardens that run through the city like a green spine. Your children will grow up speaking English at school, Spanish on the street, and possibly Valencian with their friends from the local football club. They'll eat horchata and fartons after school, ride their bikes along the old river, and complain that the beach is "too close" for a proper weekend outing.
There are worse problems to have.
Explore all 32 Valencia schools on Scholae to filter by curriculum, fees, and age group. Use the compare tool to put your shortlist side by side.
Bona sort amb la mudanca. You've picked a great city.
