How much does primary school cost in Spain?

Education system in Spain

The Spanish education system is divided into 4 specific stages: early years education, primary education, secondary education, and higher education. Primary education covers from ages 6 to 12 and is compulsory. Although public education is free, there are other associated costs that families should take into account.

Types of schools

In Spain, there are different types of schools delivering primary education:

Public schools: these are funded by the government, so are effectively free for students. However, there may be some additional costs such as school materials and extracurricular activities.

Concertada schools : These are private schools which receive part of their funding from the state. Parents pay a tuition fee that varies depending on the school. They are effectively subsidised private schools so tend to be cheaper than fully private schools. They are often, though not always, religiously aligned, normally to the Catholic church.

Private Schools: Completely funded by parents through tuition and monthly fees. These schools tend to offer more personalized educational programs and often provide additional resources. There are private schools which offer education in different languages, such as English, French and German.

Costs Associated with Each Type of School

Public Schools

Although there is no tuition to pay at public schools, there are other expenses to consider:

School materials: Textbooks, notebooks, and school supplies can cost between 200 and 400 euros per year.

Extracurricular Activities: Many schools offer sports or cultural activities that may have an additional cost.

School Catering: If your child uses the school catering service, this can add up to 300 euros per month.

Concertada Schools

These schools have a different cost structure, as part of their funding is provided by the state

Monthly Fees: Monthly fees are usually between 300 & 400 euros depending on the school.

School Materials and Extracurricular Activities: Similar to public schools, these costs are normally charged as extras and will be similar to those charged in public schools.

Private Schools

Private schools tend to be more expensive:

You can expect to pay a registration fee at private schools. This is usually, though not always, only payable when you first register your child with the school. The amount varies from € 1500 to € 6000

Monthly fees: Monthly vary from 750 to 2,000 euros per month.

Other expenses: As with other types of schools, expenses for school textbooks and extracurricular activities are usually charged as extras. The public exams taken at ages 16 and 18 are also usually charged as extras. It is certainly worth checking on this

Are costs any different in Barcelona to other areas of Spain?

Barcelona is a city with a wide range of educational options that including public and private schools.

As you would expect, public schools in Barcelona are no different to those in other regions of Spain. 

Barcelona offers education in the private sector in German, French and English. You can find schools which offer a model similar to the US or to the UK, or British curriculum.

In cities like Barcelona, ​​where there is a wide variety of educational options available—from public to private schools—it is essential to evaluate not only the economic cost but also the educational quality offered by each institution.

At the end of the day, every family must make decisions based on their financial capabilities and also considering what type of educational environment is best for their children. The right choice can have a lasting impact both academically and personally during their child's development.