How is the Spanish and Canarian school system structured?
The state system on Tenerife follows the Spanish LOMLOE education framework. The first stage is Educación Infantil, whose second cycle usually covers ages 3 to 5.
This is followed by Educación Primaria with six school years, generally from ages 6 to 12. After that comes Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, or ESO for short, with four school years.
Anyone wishing to go to university or start further vocational training attends the two-year Bachillerato. The official directory of the Canary Islands Government shows that international schools on Tenerife can also offer these LOMLOE stages.
The specific admission age, available year groups and language of instruction must be confirmed directly with each school. The register entries name the stages, but no general admission requirements.
Which international schools are there on Tenerife?
Also in Puerto de la Cruz is the Colegio Alemán, C/ San Rafael, 3, with Infantil and Primaria. The Deutsche Schule, or CPDEM Alemán, is in Tabaiba, municipality of El Rosario, C/ Drago, s/n.
In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Lycée Français Jules Verne de Tenerife is registered at C/ Pedro Suárez Hernández, 5. It runs Infantil, Primaria, ESO and Bachillerato.
In San Cristóbal de La Laguna are the Kaleide International School, Camino Fuente Cañizares, 11, with Infantil and Primaria, as well as Green Village Montessori. The Wingate School is in Cabo Blanco, municipality of Arona, Mirador de las Cumbritas, 10, and offers Infantil to Bachillerato.
St. Andrew's School in El Sauzal and Colegio Internacional Costa Adeje in Adeje are also listed in the official education provision as foreign and international schools respectively. The register entries confirm existence and classification, but not automatically fees, available places or school bus connections.
What distinguishes international schools from bilingual Spanish schools?
Alongside fully foreign schools, there are Canarian schools with bilingual or multilingual provision.
The official education provision also lists schools on Tenerife that offer foreign languages such as English, French, German or Italian.
A foreign language offer is not, however, the same as a fully international or English-speaking school. Families should confirm the actual language of instruction for each stage and each subject.
Anyone moving between the Spanish, British, French or German education pathways may need to allow for level tests and recognition procedures. The official directory does not set out these transition rules in detail.
Which locations suit which families?
The north offers the Colegio Alemán in Puerto de la Cruz. The metropolitan area includes the Lycée Français Jules Verne in Santa Cruz de Tenerife as well as Kaleide International School and Green Village Montessori in San Cristóbal de La Laguna.
In the south-east is the Wingate School in Cabo Blanco in the municipality of Arona; Colegio Internacional Costa Adeje is listed in Adeje. In the east is the Deutsche Schule in Tabaiba in the municipality of El Rosario.
For the daily journey, place of residence, school bus provision and traffic times are decisive. The official school directory gives addresses, but no generally valid transfer times or bus routes.
According to background research, the density of provision is concentrated above all on Santa Cruz–La Laguna, the north and the tourist area in the south. Families should make their choice by municipality and education stage, not only by island.
What do families need to check for the 2026/27 school year?
The official register pages were updated for several schools in October 2026. These include the Colegio Alemán in Puerto de la Cruz, the Kaleide International School and the Wingate School.
For an application in the 2026/27 school year, families should confirm the available year group and admission capacity directly. Equally important are the language of instruction and examinations, as well as recognition of and transition between education systems.
School fees and additional costs are not stated in the official register entries. School bus, lunch, supervision times, required certificates, translations and deadlines must also be asked about at the respective school.
Compulsory state schooling is free in Spain, but there may be costs for food, transport, materials, activities and uniforms. Private and international schools set their own enrolment fees and school fees.
What costs and support are there for families?
Compulsory schooling in state centres is free, but additional costs such as school meals, transport, materials, activities and uniforms may arise.
Private and international schools set their own fees. These must be requested directly from the centre and confirmed in writing for the specific school year.
For Educación Infantil from 0 to 3 years, the Canary Islands Government provides the Bono Infantil.