Bilingual Schools in Houston: A 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: Which bilingual schools in Houston suit expat families? Among Houston's international schools, The Awty International School is the clearly bilingual option, with French and Spanish immersion from PK3 and both the IB Diploma and French Baccalaureate. British International School of Houston and The Village School teach in English with IB programmes. Private tuition runs roughly USD 20,000 to 45,000 a year.

Last reviewed: October 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Houston is one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the United States, and many families arriving with an energy company, a hospital or a consulate want their children to keep or gain a second language. The phrase bilingual schools in Houston covers very different things, though: a private international school teaching half the day in French, a public elementary school running a Spanish dual-language strand, and an English-medium school that teaches a modern language for a few lessons a week are not the same offer.

This guide explains how bilingual education really works in Houston, what the law requires of public schools, and how three international schools on our directory compare on language. We are honest about the picture: among the profiles below, only one school is genuinely bilingual in the sense most European and Latin American families mean.

Houston for international families: areas and commutes

Families come to Houston for energy and engineering, the Texas Medical Center, NASA's Johnson Space Center and the port, and the large number of consulates means a steady flow of diplomatic families too. Spanish is spoken in a large share of Houston homes, and there are established French, Nigerian, Indian, Vietnamese and Chinese communities, so a child in a bilingual programme will hear the target language outside school as well.

The city is huge and car-dependent, so geography matters as much as curriculum. Most international families settle in the west: Memorial, Spring Branch, the Energy Corridor along Interstate 10, and further out in Katy. The three schools in this guide follow that pattern. The Awty International School is inside Beltway 8 near Spring Branch, The Village School sits off Westella Drive in west Houston, and British International School of Houston is in Katy, beyond the Beltway.

A 15 km drive can take 20 minutes at midday and 50 minutes at rush hour on I-10 or the Sam Houston Tollway. Most families choose the school first and then rent within 20 to 25 minutes of it. Ask each school about bus routes and carpool groups before you sign a lease.

What "bilingual" means in Houston

Before comparing schools, separate the main models you will meet:

Bilingual immersion international school: instruction is split between English and another language, often with a second national diploma. Among our profiles, The Awty International School is the example, with French and Spanish immersion in the early years and a French Baccalaureate track.
English-medium international school with languages: all core teaching is in English and other languages are taught as subjects. British International School of Houston and The Village School both list English as their language of instruction.
Public dual-language programmes: Houston ISD and several surrounding districts run dual-language programmes, mostly Spanish and English, where native speakers of each language learn together. These are free, but access depends on your address and on places in the programme.
State-required bilingual education: separate from dual language, Texas requires transitional bilingual support for English learners, explained in the fees and law section below.

To judge any programme, ask three questions: what percentage of the timetable is taught in each language at each stage, from what age the programme starts, and whether it continues into middle and high school or stops at Grade 5. Many dual-language strands in the US thin out after elementary school.

Three international schools in Houston compared on language

The Awty International School

The Awty International School, at 7455 Awty School Lane (77055), is a PK3 to Grade 12 day school with more than 1,800 students from over 50 countries. Its profile lists English and French as languages of instruction and Spanish at a high level. In Early Learning, from PK3 to 1st grade (CP in the French system), children follow French or Spanish immersion, and language study aligned to the CEFR continues across the school.

In the Upper School, students can graduate with the IB Diploma Programme, the French Baccalaureat, or both, and the Primary School is working towards IB PYP authorisation. Our observation: the French track is the strongest bilingual pathway in Houston for a family that may later move to France, a French lycée abroad or a francophone country, because the qualifications transfer. For non-French speakers, the key question is how much support the school gives a child joining immersion after the early years, so ask about entry points by grade.

British International School of Houston

British International School of Houston (BISH) is at 2203 North Westgreen Boulevard in Katy and has been operating for more than 15 years. Its student body represents over 70 nationalities, with roughly 36% British and 17% American students. The profile lists nursery to high school, English as the language of instruction, and IB programmes, with facilities including a music room, maker space, library and football pitch.

BISH is not a bilingual school, but it can suit families from the UK, Europe and the Commonwealth who want an English-medium British-style education and a smooth return home, with languages taught as subjects. Family reviews on its profile are mixed, with some parents raising concerns about pastoral care, so ask specific questions on a visit about how progress is tracked and communicated.

The Village School

The Village School, at 13077 Westella Drive (77077) in west Houston, teaches in English from nursery to high school and lists IB programmes. It describes a community of students, faculty and staff from over 60 countries, and places weight on community service and partnerships with Houston charities.

For language, treat it as an English-medium international school rather than a bilingual one. It is a practical choice for families living in the Energy Corridor who want an IB pathway close to home. If keeping a home language matters, ask which modern languages are offered at each stage and whether native-speaker classes exist.

Fees, extras and the Texas bilingual law

None of the three schools publishes full fees on its profile, so use these as rough ranges. At Houston's private international schools, annual tuition typically runs roughly USD 20,000 to 30,000 for pre-kindergarten and the early years, roughly USD 25,000 to 38,000 for primary and middle school, and roughly USD 30,000 to 45,000 for high school and IB or French Baccalaureate years. That is around EUR 18,500 to 41,500 at recent exchange rates. Immersion programmes do not usually cost more than the English-medium stream at the same school, but the schools themselves sit at the upper end of the market.

Application fee: commonly a few hundred dollars and non-refundable.
Enrolment deposit: often a share of the first year's tuition, credited later.
New-student or capital fee: a one-off charge at some schools.
Uniforms, books and devices: including a laptop in the upper years.
Transport and lunches: usually billed separately.
Exams and trips: IB and French Baccalaureate entries and residential trips.

Public options cost nothing in tuition, and the law gives English learners real protection. Texas Education Code Chapter 29 requires a school district to offer a bilingual education programme when it has 20 or more English learners in the same grade level who share a home language. In Houston that usually means Spanish, and the programme is designed to move children into English rather than to keep two languages equally strong. If your child already speaks good English, a dual-language strand, not the required bilingual programme, is what you are looking for.

Practical advice for choosing a bilingual school in Houston

Match the language to your next move. If you expect to return to France, Belgium, Switzerland or Quebec, or might move on to a French school elsewhere, the Awty French track protects continuity. If Spanish is the goal, compare Awty's Spanish immersion with public dual-language strands near your home, and check whether the public option continues into middle school. If the language goal is modest, an English-medium IB school with strong modern language teaching may be enough.

Ask about entry points, not just the programme. Immersion works best from PK3 or kindergarten. Children arriving in Grade 4 or later with no French or Spanish may not be placed in the immersion stream at all, or may need extra lessons. Ask each school what level is expected at each grade, and whether a placement test is in the target language.

Plan admissions and housing together. Popular entry years at Houston private schools fill well before the August start, and many schools assess in the winter for the following year. Secure a school offer before you commit to a lease, because a bilingual place in the wrong part of town can mean two hours a day in the car.

See the best international schools in Texas

For a wider view of international schools across the state, see our ranking of the best international schools in Texas.

More guides to schools in Houston

Frequently asked questions

Are there French-English bilingual schools in Houston?

Yes. The Awty International School teaches in English and French, with French immersion from PK3 and a French Baccalaureat track alongside the IB Diploma in the Upper School. It is the main private option for families who want French continuity. Entry is easiest in the early years, so families arriving with older children should ask how non-French speakers are placed.

Does Houston ISD offer free dual-language programmes?

Houston ISD runs dual-language programmes, mainly in Spanish and English, at a number of its schools, and some neighbouring districts do the same. They are tuition-free, but places depend on your home address, the programme's capacity and sometimes an application window in the winter. Check whether the strand continues beyond elementary school before you choose where to live.

Do bilingual private schools in Houston cost more?

Not usually within the same school: immersion classes are typically priced like the English-medium stream. The difference is that bilingual international schools sit at the upper end of Houston's private market, with tuition roughly USD 20,000 to 45,000 a year by stage, plus deposits, capital fees, transport, lunches and exam entries.