Schools in Lanzarote — Public, Private & International — Living in Lanzarote

The School System — public, concertado & private

Spain has three tiers of schooling. Colegios públicos are state-run, free, and teach in Spanish (though many now offer bilingual Spanish-English programmes). Colegios concertados are privately run but publicly subsidised — they charge modest fees (typically €50-150/month) for materials, extracurriculars and uniform, and offer a middle ground between public and private. Colegios privados are fully private, charge full tuition, and often follow an international curriculum.

Education is compulsory from ages 6 to 16 and free in public and concertado schools (excluding materials/uniform). The academic year runs September to June. School hours are typically 9am to 2pm with an optional afternoon session until 4:30pm that includes lunch and activities (comedor). Enrolment happens in spring (March-April) for the following September. You'll need your padron certificate (proving you live in the catchment area), your child's birth certificate or passport, your NIE, and vaccination records.

Public: Free (Spanish + some bilingual) · Concertado: ~€50-150/month · Private: €300-800+/month for international · Enrolment: March-April via local education office

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International Schools — Arenas & Hispano Británico

Lanzarote has two main international schools, both highly regarded. Colegio Arenas Internacional (Costa Teguise) is an IB World School offering bilingual Spanish-English education from preschool (6 months) through secondary. It has modern facilities, Cambridge exam preparation (A1-C2), and an international residence programme. Admissions for 2026-2027 are open. The environment is modern, structured, and popular with expat families.

Colegio Hispano Británico (Puerto del Carmen) has been operating since 1976 and follows the British curriculum. It's smaller than Arenas and has a long-established reputation — particularly strong for families who want a British-style education with Spanish language immersion. Both schools teach in English and Spanish. Fees range from approximately €300-800 per month depending on age and programme. Apply early — spaces fill up months before September.

Arenas Internacional: Costa Teguise, IB World School, 6 months-16 years · Hispano Británico: Puerto del Carmen, British curriculum, since 1976 · Fees: ~€300-800/month · Apply: Before summer for September start

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Nurseries & Early Years (0-6)

For children under 6, there are guarderías (nurseries) and the infant cycle of primary schools (Educación Infantil, ages 3-6). Guarderías are typically private and cost €200-400/month for full-time care. The public system offers free preschool from age 3 at most colegios públicos, though hours are school-hours (9am-2pm) so working parents often need a private option with extended care.

Both Arenas Internacional and several smaller private nurseries offer bilingual environments from infancy — a major advantage if you want your child to grow up speaking both Spanish and English naturally. Many working families combine a morning guardería with an afternoon pick-up by a family member or au pair, which is a common arrangement on the island.

Guardería (private): €200-400/month · Public preschool (age 3+): Free, school hours · Bilingual nurseries: Arenas (from 6 months) + smaller independents · Documents needed: Padron + child's passport/birth certificate + vaccination record

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