Education and Schools in Barcelona
The public school system in Barcelona is free, but classes are taught in Catalan, the official language of the city. While this can be a fantastic opportunity for younger expat children to learn the language, most older students will need instruction in their native language with slow immersion into Spanish and Catalan.This can typically be done at international schools in Barcelona. Though in many cases, space in these institutions is limited as some of the schools insist on enrolling quotas of local students and students from the country of the curricula (American's from the Benjamin Franklin School).
International schools offer pupils the benefit of continuing the curricula from overseas, while local Barcelona schools will have a difficult time accommodating or placing foreign students. Some international schools follow Spanish curricula in a foreign language although many of the students in these schools are local.
It can even be difficult to gain admission into some of the public schools due to overcrowding as well as the fact that a lottery system is often the only means of entrance. Expat parents must also be able to fill out necessary paperwork in Catalan or have access to an individual who can help with the process.
