Schools in Marbella: compare options before choosing where to live
Marbella and the surrounding areas offer international, public and semi-private schools. For relocating families, the right choice is not only about the school itself — it is also about curriculum, language, admissions, commute and the area where you plan to live.
What kind of school route are you looking for?
Before comparing every school, it helps to understand the type of education route that fits your family.
International route
Good for families who want English-led education, international exams and easier transition from abroad.
Spanish integration
Useful for families planning to stay long term and wanting stronger local language and cultural integration.
Young children
For younger children, language adaptation can be easier, but location and routine still matter a lot.
Teenagers
For older students, curriculum continuity, exams and university pathways become much more important.
How families usually choose
The best school on paper is not always the best school for your family. In Marbella, daily logistics matter.
- 1 Curriculum.
British, American, IB, French, German or Spanish curriculum. - 2 Language.
English-led, bilingual, Spanish integration or another language route. - 3 Age and stage.
Nursery, primary, secondary, sixth form or Bachillerato. - 4 Commute.
School-run traffic can change the daily quality of life. - 5 After-school life.
Sports, clubs and activities can make a big difference to family life.
Choose the school and the area together
Many relocating families first choose the school, then narrow down areas such as Nueva Andalucía, San Pedro, Guadalmina, Elviria or Marbella Centre depending on commute and lifestyle.
Nueva Andalucía
Popular with families, close to Aloha College and strong for sport and year-round living.
San Pedro
Practical family base with strong access to schools and daily services.
Elviria
Often considered by families looking toward Marbella East and nearby international options.
Guadalmina
Residential, spacious and popular with families comparing San Pedro and west Marbella.
After-school & extracurricular activities
For many families, choosing a school is only part of the decision. Marbella also has a strong range of after-school sports and activities for children, from football and tennis to swimming, martial arts, dance and cultural activities.
Football
Kids football clubs, academies and training options around Marbella.
Tennis & padel
Popular after-school sports with clubs and coaching for different ages and levels.
Swimming
Swimming lessons and water confidence classes for children.
Martial arts
Discipline, confidence, fitness and self-defence activities for kids.
Kids golf
Junior golf lessons and golf programmes in one of Europe’s best-known golf areas.
Dance
Dance classes and creative movement activities for children and teenagers.
Basketball
Training, clubs and team sport options for children in Marbella.
Rugby
Youth rugby options and community clubs for kids and teenagers.
Cultural & leisure
Creative, cultural and leisure activities outside the classroom.
Explore school pages
Open 2–4 school profiles first, then use the comparison tables and map to narrow down your options.
Compare by school type
Use the sections below to compare international schools, public schools and semi-private concertado options. On mobile, swipe left and right inside the table.
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International schools
British, American, IB and other international pathways
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Best for
Families wanting a global curriculum and smoother transition from another country.
Check carefully
Curriculum, exam pathway, languages, fees, transport and year group availability.
Admissions
Some schools may require interviews, reports, tests or early applications.
| School Name | Location | Age Range | Curriculum | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aloha College Marbella | Nueva Andalucía, Marbella | 3–18 | British + IB + Spanish | +34 952 814 133 | aloha-college.com |
| Swans International School | Sierra Blanca, Marbella | 3–18 | British + IB | +34 952 773 248 | swansschoolinternational.es |
| British International School of Marbella | Nagüeles, Marbella | 3–18 | British (IGCSE + A Levels) | +34 952 779 264 | bsm.org.es |
| English International College (EIC) | Elviria, Marbella | 3–18 | British (IGCSE + A Levels) | +34 952 831 058 | eicmarbella.org |
| Laude San Pedro International College | San Pedro de Alcántara, Marbella | 3–18 | British + Spanish + IB | +34 952 799 900 | laudesanpedro.com |
| Atlas American School of Málaga | Selwo, Estepona | 3–18 | American (K–12) | +34 951 203 203 | atlasschool.es |
| Colegio Atalaya | Benahavís Road, Estepona | 3–18 | Spanish + IB | +34 952 003 171 | colegioatalaya.es |
| Sotogrande International School | Sotogrande, Cádiz | 3–18 | Full IB (PYP, MYP, DP) | +34 956 795 902 | sis.ac |
| St. George’s School | Cortijo Blanco, San Pedro de Alcántara | 2–8 | British + Spanish | +34 952 786 606 | stgeorgesmarbella.es |
| École Française Internationale de Marbella (EFIM) | Centro, Marbella | 3–12 (expanding to 18) | French (AEFE) | +34 951 703 145 | efimarbella.com |
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Public & concertado schools
Spanish curriculum, local integration and semi-private options
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Public schools
Usually best for Spanish integration and families planning to stay long term.
Concertado
Semi-private schools with lower fees than fully private schools and Spanish curriculum.
Location matters
Admissions can depend on padrón, proximity and available places.
| School Name | Type | Age Range | Curriculum | Location | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEIP Vicente Aleixandre | Public | 3–12 | Spanish | Santa Marta, Marbella | +34 951 270 539 | N/A |
| CEIP Los Olivos | Public | 3–12 | Spanish | Mayorazgo, Marbella | +34 952 773 907 | N/A |
| CEIP Hermanos Gil Muñiz | Public | 3–12 | Spanish | San Francisco, Marbella | +34 952 823 172 | N/A |
| Colegio María Auxiliadora I | Semi-private | 3–18 | Spanish + Bilingual | Centro, Marbella | +34 952 770 352 | salesianasmarbella.com |
| Colegio Las Chapas | Semi-private | 3–18 | Spanish + Cambridge English | Las Chapas, Marbella | +34 952 831 616 | attendis.com |
| Colegio Ecos | Semi-private | 3–18 | Spanish + Cambridge English | Elviria, Marbella | +34 952 831 027 | ecos.attendis.com |
| Colegio La Latina | Semi-private | 3–18 | Spanish + Bilingual | El Mirador, Marbella | +34 952 770 352 | colegiolalatina.es |
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Secondary schools: ESO & Bachillerato
Important for teenagers, exams and university pathways
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ESO
ESO is the compulsory secondary stage in Spain, usually covering ages 12 to 16. For international families, language level and curriculum transition are especially important.
Bachillerato
Bachillerato usually covers ages 16 to 18 and prepares students for university access in Spain. Families should compare this route carefully with A-Levels, IB or American pathways.
Check school locations and commute times
Use the map below to locate schools and compare them with areas such as Nueva Andalucía, San Pedro, Guadalmina, Elviria, Marbella Centre and the Golden Mile.
Interactive Google Map where you can easily locate all international schools, public schools, and other key educational centres in and around Marbella. Slide the map tab located in the top left.