Before we left for Madrid, we hit a major obstacle: after several school interviews, we realized it would be difficult to find a place for our eldest, who was about to start senior high school (Bachillerato).
Most schools told us the same thing—Bachillerato demands a much higher level of Spanish because of subjects like physics, chemistry, and biology. Several even suggested we enroll her in an international school instead.
When we arrived in Madrid, we continued searching. Eventually, we found a school we felt good about, and we’re happy with our choice. The problem was that it was far from our apartment at the time, which meant a long commute every day. Back then, we thought it did not matter that much.
Looking back, the process didn’t have to be that stressful. We simply didn’t know two important things:
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We should have focused on apartment hunting first, and schools second.
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After securing an apartment, we should have gone straight to the Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes) and submitted our empadronamiento and the children’s birth certificates. They can help assign a suitable school close to your place of residence.
I’m grateful things worked out for us, but I also know it won’t be the same for everyone. That’s why I strongly suggest this order: find the apartment first, get your empadronamiento, then look for the school.
If you choose a school first, there’s a real chance you won’t find housing nearby—especially given the current state of Madrid’s rental market. And if your child ends up commuting more than 40 minutes each way, that’s an unnecessary daily burden on them, on top of a demanding school schedule.