Schools and Education in Mexico

If you are living in Mexico with children of school-age, you will need to choose from the various institutions where they may gain a proper education during their stay here.

This guide gives you an overview of the private school system in Mexico as well as some of the avenues open for your consideration.

Also See: Traveling in Mexico with Children

• Choice of Schools in Mexico
• School Fees
• Universities
• Learning Spanish
• Useful School Links

Choice of Schools in Mexico

People who move to Mexico with children will have to find adequate schools. There is no lack of private schools in Mexico, although the number of bilingual or bicultural schools is limited.

The choice of schools is greater in the larger cities, although the time it takes for traveling in traffic can be a limiting factor in choosing a school, reducing the options to those in reasonable proximity to home. Newcomers can choose an area to live that has convenient access to the school they want their children to attend, or conversely, pick a school among those in the area of the city where they live.

The choice of good schools narrows with the more advanced grades. Finding an adequate kindergarten or primary school is easier than finding a suitable secondary school or high school.

Most of the bicultural schools offer a combination of foreign systems (American, British, or others) with Mexican education. At higher school levels, several include the internationally recognized International Baccalaureate course. This is useful for foreign students who live temporarily in Mexico, or Mexican students who wish to pursue further education abroad.

Among the foreign schools in Mexico City offering bilingual (English/Spanish) education from pre-school through high school are:

• The American School Foundation http://www.asf.edu.mx
  (The ASF also has campuses in Guadalajara and Monterrey)
• Greengates http://www.greengates.edu.mx
• The Edron Academy http://www.edron.edu.mx
• Peterson Schools http://www.peterson.edu.mx
• Lancaster School http://www.lancaster.edu.mx

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School Fees in Mexico

Fees vary from school to school (some publish their fees online).

The foreign, bilingual, and bicultural schools tend to be expensive, certainly by Mexican standards.

Aside from monthly tuition, most schools will charge a fairly hefty first-time admission fee, as well as annual inscription fees for students returning for the next school year, plus additional charges for school transportation (which is mandatory in some cases) after-school, and other student activities.

Textbook policies also vary: Some schools loan students textbooks against a returnable deposit; others require students to purchase the books they will need each school year.

Also See: Shopping in Mexico: Buying Books

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Universities in Mexico

Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM) has a special school for foreign students who wish to improve their Spanish and knowledge of Mexican culture and history.

The Centro de Enseñanza para Extranjeros, located in the University’s main campus in the south of Mexico City, offers a series of intensive language and culture study courses. It also offers diploma courses (on-site and open learning) in art, literature and other subjects. Admission and tuition fees are more expensive for foreigners than for Mexican students, but are still very reasonable. The school also has a campus in Taxco, in Guerrero state.

Others universities in Mexico with international programs and admission for foreign students include:

• Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey http://www.itesm.mx, known popularly in Mexico as “El Tec,” has campuses all over the country.
• Universidad Iberoamericana, or “La Ibero,” http://www.uia.mx
• Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, or ITAM,  http://www.itam.mx
• Universidad de las Americas, Puebla http://www.udlap.mx/englishversion/

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Learning Spanish

If you are moving to Mexico and want to learn or improve your Spanish, you may choose from a large number of language schools in Mexico.

See: Learning Spanish section on Mexperience

Also See: Foreign Native Blogs About Language in Mexico

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Useful Mexico School Links

Here are a number of links you may find useful as you research the options to have your children schooled in Mexico:

Directory of Foreign Consulates in Mexico: Your country's local consulate will keep a list of local private schools. It may not be exhaustive and you may want to contact two or three consulates to compare lists.

US Embassy (Mexico) Schools List: The U.S. Embassy has compiled a non-exhaustive list of schools frequently attended by children of U.S. citizens in Mexico City.

The Association of American Schools in Mexico: The Association of American Schools in Mexico, or Asomex, also has member schools in other cities around the country.

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