Public vs private schools in Spain

Overview

Spain actually has three main school categories, not two — public, concertado (a state-subsidised hybrid), and fully private. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right option and set realistic cost expectations.

Requirements

• Applies to any family choosing a school for their child in Spain

Step-by-step process

• Public schools (centros públicos): fully state-funded and free, admission tied to your empadronamiento address zone and a regional points-based (baremo) system
• Concertado schools: privately run but state-subsidised, so tuition is typically free or low-cost, though many charge additional fees for extracurricular activities, materials or extended hours
• Private schools (centros privados): fully independent, set their own admissions and fees, often including international/bilingual curricula
• Compare admission timelines — public and concertado schools follow the regional annual admissions calendar; private schools often have more flexible, rolling admissions

Required documents

• Empadronamiento certificate (public and concertado admissions)
• Previous school records and, for private schools, sometimes an entrance assessment

Common mistakes

• Assuming concertado schools are entirely free — many charge for materials, extracurriculars or extended hours, even though core tuition is subsidised
• Missing the regional admissions window for public/concertado schools, not realising private schools often have more year-round flexibility

Practical tips

• International and bilingual private schools are common in areas with larger expat communities, useful if you want continuity from an international curriculum
• Ask directly about a specific concertado school's actual additional fees before assuming it's cost-free

How Tuchati can help

If you're weighing up public, concertado and private options for your family, Tuchati can help you compare what's realistically available near you.