News
School enrolment in Madrid: dates, 2,000 centres and 101 state schools also offering ESO
Families in Madrid face the final hours to complete one of the year’s key processes: applying for places at state and state-subsidised schools for the 2026/27 academic year. The deadline ends this Wednesday and affects more than 150,000 pupils from early years through to baccalaureate.
The educational offer includes more than 2,000 schools, and this year it incorporates a notable new development: the increase in state schools that also provide secondary education, which now number 101. This expansion allows many pupils to continue in the same school environment during the first years of ESO.
Among the changes to admission criteria, a conceived but unborn child will be taken into account in the first early-years cycle when calculating the family unit. In the points-based assessment, having siblings at the same school continues to carry the greatest weight, with up to 30 points if two or more are enrolled.
The system retains the single school-admission zone by municipality or district, giving families greater flexibility. Factors such as income, disability, parents' place of work or large-family status in Madrid are also considered.
The next key dates have already been set: final lists of admitted pupils will be published on 27 May (and 5 June for the first early-years cycle). The enrolment period will open from 11 to 25 June for Early Years and Primary, and will run until 3 July for Secondary and Baccalaureate.
The school-admission process shapes the spring agenda of thousands of Madrid families every year, as they must make decisions that directly affect their everyday lives and the organisation of the coming years.