International Schools in Guadalajara, Mexico

Written By Wandering Roots

40 bilingual education options from early childhood through high school for international kids

Guadalajara (GDL) is home to many bilingual daycares, preschools, and schools of various sizes for international families relocating to the city. In this post, we first “set the scene” to ground parents’ expectations for international schooling in GDL and then list out the various bilingual options in the city. We’ve included their locations (with links to Google Maps, where you can also read reviews) and grade levels, and linked to the schools’ websites so you can easily gather more information (e.g., tuition rates, admissions timeline, international accreditations). We hope this helps families find the right fit for their kids and themselves!

Have we missed some school options? Is there something about any of these schools (or the background we provide) that you think is important for incoming international expatriate families to know? Please let us know in the comments!

Important Background: Guadalajara’s International Scene & School Realities

While Guadalajara is becoming more international as overseas companies move in, it is not yet a truly international metropolis. Spanish is the only language spoken by the vast majority of residents, and the international/expat population is much smaller than one might see in a capital city (e.g., Mexico City). Because it is not Mexico’s capital city, GDL does not have major international government presences (e.g., embassies); while there are quite a few consulates (e.g., US, Canada, German, French, Italian), they are relatively small and so the number of international personnel staffing them (and their international kids attending schools) is lower.

Critical things to know:

  • Mexico does not have “international” schools, only bilingual schools. As such, all children are expected to take standard curriculum classes including Spanish for native speakers (generally starting in Grade 1) regardless of their Spanish abilities. Ask your school how they plan to accommodate your kid and their Spanish level.

  • The vast majority of students in GDL’s bilingual schools are Mexican citizens whose parents want them to learn a second language to broaden their horizons.

  • Bilingual schools are, as such, not necessarily oriented towards international families, cultures, or the needs of international children. For example, the school our children attended had no qualms about holding numerous Catholic-centered school celebrations and events and mandating Hindu and Jewish students participate in them. You must be a vocal advocate for your children’s needs and help the school staff understand things from their and your perspectives - e.g., you must request additional Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) classes.

  • Expat families should not expect there will be any other international kids in their children’s classes at any bilingual school, even the bigger ones like the American and Canadian schools. We highly recommend you specifically request that your children be placed in any class with another international kid, even if that kid speaks a different (non-Spanish) language than yours. It meant the world to our kids to not be the only “different” kid in their class.

  • No matter what the school tells you, the playground and group activity language at school is Spanish. The lower the grade/younger the kids, the more likely that, in reality, the in-class language is also mostly Spanish - these young kids simply haven’t had the time to learn the bilingual language (e.g., English). That means that if your kids are younger than say Grade 3 (aged 8/9), their experience will be closer to Spanish immersion, which is great for learning the language but definitely a departure from any comfort zone. Support them with tutors and lots of self-esteem-bolstering messaging.

List of Bilingual Schools in Guadalajara

The “Big 3”: GDL’s largest bilingual schools (all English)

American School Foundation of Guadalajara (ASFG)

  • Bilingual language: English-Spanish

  • Grades: Early Childhood (preschool), Elementary School, Middle School, and High School

  • Location (GDL neighborhood/colonia): Providencia

Instituto Thomas Jefferson (ITJ)

  • Bilingual language: English-Spanish

  • Grades: Preschool, Primary, Secondary, Preparatory

  • Locations: 2 campuses in Guadalajara - Valle Real and Palomar

Canadian School Guadalajara

  • Bilingual language: English-Spanish

  • Grades: Early Childhood (nursery, preschool), Elementary, Middle, and High School

  • Location: Providencia

Other English-Spanish Bilingual Schools in GDL (in alphabetical order)

American Academy (also see Facebook page)

  • Grades: Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School

  • Location (GDL neighborhoood/colonia): downtown Zapopan

Aprender a Ser (“Learn to Be”)

  • Grades: 1st to 6th grades

  • Location: Vallarta

Centro Educativo Juan Sebastián Bach

  • Grades: Maternal, Preschool, Primary, Secondary

Centro Educativo Koala

Clairmont School

Colegio Alan Turing Primaria

Colegio Británico de Guadalajara (British School)

  • Grades: Maternal, Preschool, Primary, Secondary

  • Location: Chapalita

Colegio Guadalajara Sagrado Corazón (Sacred Heart) *Christian school

  • Grades: Maternal, Preschool, Primary, Secondary, High School

  • Location: Zapopan

Colegio Inglés de Guadalajara

Colegio La Paz

  • Grades: Maternal, Preschool, Primary, Secondary

  • Location: Providencia

Colegio Mexico Nuevo Santa Anita

Colegio Pedregal

  • Grades: Preschool, Primary, Secondary, Preparatory

  • Location: 2 campuses - Bajio (Zapopan) and Santa Anita

Colegio Teresiano Enrique de Osso (The Teresian School) *Catholic School

  • Grades: Maternal, Preschool, Primary, Secondary, Preparatory

  • Location: Colomos Providencia

Colegio Thomas Alva Edison (TAE)

  • Grades: Daycare, Preschool, Primary, Secondary, Preparatory

Colegio Winston Churchill

  • Grades: Preschool, Primary, Secondary

  • Location: Chapalita

Cumbres International School *Catholic School

  • Grades: Preschool, Primary, Secondary, Baccalaureate

  • Location: Bugambilias

Erikson School

  • Grades: Daycare, Maternal, Preschool, Primary

Hábitat Learning Community

  • Grades: Daycare, Pre-K (pre-kindergarten), Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary

  • Location: Santa Anita

Howard Gardner School (also see Facebook page)

  • Grades: Primaria/Elemenatary

Instituto Colon

Instituto Internacional SEK

Instituto Kenningar

  • Grades: Maternal, Preschool, Primary, Secondary

  • Location: Santa Anita

Instituto Miguel Ángel de Occidente *Catholic school

  • Grades: Maternal, Preschool, Primary, Secondary, Baccalaureate

Instituto Tanesque

Instituto Tepeyac Innovation School

  • Grades: Preschool, Primary, Secondary, Preparatory

  • Location: Valle Real

Jefferson School (*different from Instituto Thomas Jefferson, covered above)

  • Grades: Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary

  • Location: Providencia

Kids Valley School

  • Grades: Preschool, Primary, Secondary

Kinder Beginnings

  • Grades: Daycare, Maternal, Preschool (up to 5 years old)

Lacross Creative Schools

Lincoln School

  • Grades: Preschool, Elementary, Junior High, High School

  • Location: Las Aguilas

London School

  • Grades: Preschool, Kindergarten, Primary

Nuevo Centro de Educación Integral

  • Grades: Maternal, Kindergarten, Primary

  • Location: La Calma

Sistema Educativo Rudyard Kipling

Summit School

  • Grades: Preschool, Primary, Secondary

  • Location: Zapopan

Täleny School Reggio Emilia

  • Grades: Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School

If you’ve found that any of these are no longer in business, or our information is incorrect, please let us know in the Comments or via our Contact page! Likewise, if we’re missing some that should be listed, please holler!

Non-English Bilingual Schools (German & French)

Lycée Français de Guadalajara / Colegio Franco Mexicano

  • Bilingual language: French (Francais) - Spanish

  • Grades: Maternal (preschool), Primary, Secondary, Preparatory

  • Locations: Zapopan

Colegio Alemán de Guadalajara

  • Bilingual language: German (Deutsch) - Spanish

  • Grades: Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary, Baccalaureate

  • Location: Zapopan

Do you know of other non-English/Spanish bilingual schools! Please let us know in the comments or via the Contact page!

A few more good-to-knows…

  • Once you’re seriously considering a school, ask their administrators/admissions staff to connect you with 1-2 other families who speak your language (and preferably who are international too) so you can gather their perspectives on what the school is like, does well and not so well, etc.

  • Many schools maintain lists of well-reviewed external resources (e.g., Spanish tutors, speech therapists, occupational therapists) - feel confident asking your kids’ teachers or the school administration for their recommendations. Many of these specialists will be happy to come to your home to provide services for a small extra fee.

  • For summer break, many teachers team up and run great and affordable 1-6 week summer camps from their homes - be sure to ask your kids’ teachers as the end of the year nears!

  • Many families hire drivers to shuttle their kids to and from school and/or their extracurricular activities - ask other parents for referrals! Alternatively, if you Uber your kids to and from school, your Uber driver may hand you a business card and offer such a service. Drivers are generally super affordable and flexible according to your needs, and your kids building a relationship with their driver will help improve their Spanish quickly :)

Don’t miss our numerous other Guadalajara-focused articles including:

Check out our Post Directory tab for a full list of all of posts to date, organized by location!

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