Quick answer: which are the best bilingual schools in Buenos Aires for expat families? St George's College North, Northlands, St Andrew's Scots School and Asociaci贸n Escuelas Lincoln lead for English-Spanish, and Goethe Schule for German. Most run a full Spanish curriculum plus English with IGCSE or IB, and in 2026 fees run roughly ARS 1.2 to 2.8 million a month.
Last reviewed: October 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Buenos Aires has one of the oldest traditions of bilingual education in Latin America. British, Scottish, German and American communities founded schools here long ago. For families relocating in 2026, bilingual schools in Buenos Aires are usually the most practical choice: children study the official Argentine programme in Spanish and a second language at a level that lets them move on to universities in Europe, the United States or back home.
"Bilingual" means something quite specific in Argentina, and it is not the same as an international school that teaches everything in English. This guide explains how the model works, who regulates it, where the strongest schools are and what they cost.
How bilingual schooling works in Buenos Aires
Most bilingual schools follow what Argentines call doble escolaridad, or double schooling. The day runs roughly 8:00 to 16:00 in two halves. One half covers the official curriculum in Spanish, including Argentine history and civics. The other half is taught in English (or German, at German schools) and usually leads to Cambridge IGCSE, the IB Diploma or both.
Who regulates the school depends on which side of the city limit it sits. Schools inside the Ciudad Aut贸noma de Buenos Aires (CABA) answer to the city's Direcci贸n General de Educaci贸n de Gesti贸n Privada, often shortened to DGEGP. Schools in the suburbs, which is where most of the large bilingual campuses are, fall under the Province of Buenos Aires and its Direcci贸n Provincial de Educaci贸n de Gesti贸n Privada, known as DIPREGEP. The two systems are similar, but the recognition of foreign school records is handled separately, so ask which office will validate your child's previous grades.
Where families live and where the schools are
Many expat families rent in Palermo, Belgrano, N煤帽ez or Recoleta. Yet most of the big bilingual schools sit north of the city, in the Zona Norte suburbs along the Panamericana motorway and the river: Olivos, La Lucila, Mart铆nez, San Isidro, Boulogne, San Fernando and, further out, Pilar and Los Polvorines.
That is why a lot of relocating families choose the school first and then look for a house nearby. A school run from Belgrano to San Fernando can take 20 minutes at 7:00 and over an hour at 17:00. Olivos, Vicente L贸pez and San Isidro offer gardens and short commutes to most of the schools below.
Bilingual models and curricula on offer
- English-Spanish with Cambridge IGCSE: the most common model, with IGCSE exams around age 15 or 16 and often A Levels or the IB afterwards.
- English-Spanish with the IB Diploma: offered alongside the Argentine diploma by several traditional Anglo-Argentine schools.
- American curriculum with IB: mainly in English, suited to short postings.
- German-Spanish: German schools abroad teach in German and Spanish and add English from primary.
- Argentine Bachillerato: the national secondary diploma, which every registered bilingual school delivers alongside its international track.
Leading bilingual schools in Buenos Aires
St George's College North
Founded in 1990 in Los Polvorines, in the north-west of Greater Buenos Aires, St George's College North is a co-educational day school set on a large campus with purpose-built buildings and extensive playing fields. Its integrated curriculum meets the Argentine requirements and adds the rigour of IGCSE, which all pupils sit at 16, followed by the IB Diploma before graduation. Contract teachers from abroad work alongside Argentine staff, and while most pupils are Argentine, the college takes international students from nursery to the end of secondary. Sport, music and outdoor pursuits carry real weight.
Northlands School
Northlands, in Olivos, recently celebrated its centenary and describes itself as a co-educational, bilingual IB World School. Teaching is in Spanish and English, and the school values its Anglo-Argentine roots while welcoming families of all cultures and religions. It suits families who want the IB philosophy running through the whole school, and Olivos is convenient for Vicente L贸pez and San Isidro.
St Andrew's Scots School
St Andrew's Scots School in San Fernando is one of the oldest bilingual schools in the country, with a Presbyterian heritage that still shapes its values. It teaches in Spanish and English with the aim of a well-balanced bilingual education that meets international standards, and it offers the IB. Expect high standards of discipline and a strong pastoral side.
Asociaci贸n Escuelas Lincoln
Lincoln, in La Lucila, is the American option. It follows an American curriculum with the IB, teaches in English and Spanish, and is popular with diplomatic and corporate families on postings of two or three years because transfers to and from other American schools abroad are straightforward. Its ISA profile lists monthly costs of roughly USD 2,000 to 4,000.
Goethe Schule
For German-speaking families, or anyone who wants three languages, Goethe Schule in Boulogne (La Horqueta), about 20 km north of the city, is the obvious reference. It holds the Excellent German School Abroad seal. More than 1,500 pupils aged 2 to 18, from over 20 nations, study in German and Spanish, with English added from the fourth year of primary. It takes both native German speakers and Spanish speakers.
Fees at bilingual schools in 2026
Fees at the leading English-Spanish schools run roughly ARS 1.2 to 2.8 million a month in 2026, depending on the school and the stage, with secondary costing more than kindergarten. Most schools bill in pesos over ten or eleven monthly instalments, and many families mentally convert to dollars, which puts the range at roughly USD 900 to 2,000 a month. American-curriculum schools that bill in US dollars sit above that. Schools usually adjust fees several times a year, so ask how increases are calculated.
One fact worth knowing before you budget: in April 2025 the government lifted most foreign-exchange restrictions (the "cepo") for individuals, which sharply narrowed the gap between the official and parallel dollar rates. Budgeting in dollars is far more predictable than it was a few years ago.
- Enrolment fee (matr铆cula), charged every year and often equal to one monthly fee.
- Admission or building contribution, a one-off payment at some traditional schools, sometimes in dollars.
- School bus, which matters a lot in Zona Norte.
- Lunch and snacks, usually compulsory with the long doble escolaridad day.
- Uniforms and sports kit, including house colours at British-style schools.
- Exam fees for IGCSE, IB or German language certificates.
Practical tips for choosing a bilingual school
Check the Spanish side as carefully as the English side. Your child will be assessed on Argentine history, literature and civics in Spanish. If they arrive with little Spanish, ask what support exists in the first year.
Mind the calendar. The Argentine school year runs from early March to mid December, with winter holidays in July. Arriving in August means joining mid year. Get the equivalence confirmed in writing, since DIPREGEP or DGEGP will need to validate foreign records.
Apply early and visit in person. Places at the most popular schools, especially in the entry years of kindergarten and first grade, fill a year or more ahead. Visit on a normal school day and try the commute at rush hour.
Compare the best schools in Buenos Aires
To see how these and other schools compare on reviews, results and fees, take a look at our ranking of the best schools in Buenos Aires and shortlist three or four to visit.
More guides to schools in Buenos Aires
- International School Fees in Buenos Aires: 2026 Cost Guide for Expat Families
- International School Admissions in Buenos Aires: A 2026 Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Choose an International School in Buenos Aires: 2026 Expat Family Guide
- Best International Schools in Buenos Aires | 2026 Expat Family Guide
- Ranking of the best schools in Buenos Aires
Frequently asked questions
What does bilingual mean in an Argentine school?
In Argentina a bilingual school usually runs doble escolaridad: a Spanish-language programme set by the provincial or city authorities in one half of the day, and a second language, most often English, in the other. Strong schools add IGCSE or IB exams, so pupils graduate with an Argentine diploma and an international qualification recognised by universities abroad.
Can my child join a bilingual school in Buenos Aires without speaking Spanish?
Yes, especially in primary, where most bilingual schools accept non-Spanish speakers and offer some language support. From secondary onwards it is harder, because the Spanish half of the timetable follows the official curriculum and is examined. Families arriving with teenagers should ask directly about Spanish support, exemptions and how many foreign pupils each year group has.
How much does a bilingual school in Buenos Aires cost in 2026?
Leading bilingual schools charge roughly ARS 1.2 to 2.8 million a month in 2026, usually over ten or eleven instalments, which families often read as roughly USD 900 to 2,000. American-curriculum schools that bill in dollars sit higher. Add an enrolment fee, a one-off admission or building contribution, transport, meals, uniforms and exam fees.