Private bilingual and international schools in Tijuana, Ensenada, La Paz, and Los Cabos all accept expat children. Tuition ranges from $150 to $600 USD per month depending on school and grade level.
How Does the Mexican School System Work?
Mexico’s education system runs on a different calendar than the US. The school year begins in late August and ends in early July. Classes run Monday through Friday. The structure breaks into primaria (grades 1 through 6), secundaria (grades 7 through 9), and preparatoria (grades 10 through 12).
Public schools (escuelas publicas) are free and open to any child living in Mexico, including children of foreign residents. Instruction is entirely in Spanish. There is no ESL support. If your child does not speak Spanish, a public school will be a full immersion experience from day one.
Private schools (colegios) are where most expat families land. These range from small neighborhood schools with some English instruction to fully accredited international schools offering IB or US-aligned curricula. Tuition varies enormously, but even the most expensive schools in Baja cost a fraction of comparable US private school tuition.
What Documents Do You Need to Enroll?
Every school requires a birth certificate (apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator), immunization records, and previous school transcripts or report cards. Private schools often handle transcript evaluation internally. Public schools may require validation through SEP (Secretaria de Educacion Publica), which can take weeks.
Your child does not need Mexican residency to enroll in a private school. Most colegios accept children on tourist visas or in-process residency applications. Public schools technically require a CURP, but many will enroll children while the paperwork is pending.
Schools in Tijuana
Tijuana has the widest selection of bilingual and international schools on the peninsula. Its proximity to San Diego and a large cross-border population drive that.
Colegio Interamericano de Tijuana
This is Tijuana’s most established international school. It is accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), the same body that accredits schools in California. The curriculum follows a US-aligned model from pre-K through 12th grade. Graduates earn diplomas recognized by US universities. Instruction is bilingual. Most expat families in Tijuana start their search here.
CETYS International High School
CETYS Universidad runs a bilingual high school program at its Tijuana campus on Calzada CETYS. Half the classes are taught in English by international teachers. The program is designed for students planning to attend university in the US or Canada. CETYS also has a campus in Ensenada offering the same bilingual high school track.
Southwestern Academy
A private bilingual school offering the International Baccalaureate curriculum. IB programs are recognized worldwide and valued by international universities. The school combines rigorous academics in English and Spanish with sports and extracurricular activities.
Cumbres International School Tijuana
Part of the Cumbres network (Legionaries of Christ affiliated), this school offers bilingual education from preschool through preparatoria. The curriculum blends Mexican SEP requirements with English-language instruction. Campuses are well-equipped with labs, sports facilities, and arts programs.
Tuition at Tijuana’s international schools ranges from 3,000 to 8,000 pesos per month ($150 to $400 USD) for primaria. Preparatoria runs higher: 5,000 to 12,000 pesos per month ($250 to $600 USD). Enrollment fees (inscripcion) add roughly one month’s tuition. Uniforms and textbooks run an additional 3,000 to 6,000 pesos per year.
Schools in Ensenada
Ensenada has fewer international options than Tijuana but still serves the expat community well.
CETYS Ensenada Bilingual High School
The same CETYS bilingual program available in Tijuana, offered at the Ensenada campus on Calzada CETYS in Zona Playitas. Half instruction in English, international teachers, and a pathway to US or Canadian university admissions.
Colegio Hussongs and Instituto Bilingue Ensenada
Smaller private bilingual schools serving primaria and secundaria. English instruction varies from 30 to 50 percent of the school day depending on grade level. These schools cost less than the international schools in Tijuana, typically 2,000 to 4,000 pesos per month ($100 to $200 USD).
Schools in Los Cabos
Los Cabos has seen the fastest growth in international school options, driven by the growing expat and digital nomad community.
Colegio El Camino
The flagship international school in Baja California Sur. El Camino is the only IB World School in the state, offering the International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma programmes. It is accredited by Cognia (formerly AdvancED). The school is nonsectarian and nonprofit, serving pre-K through 12th grade. Located in the Tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
El Camino is where most English-speaking expat families in Los Cabos send their children. Instruction is bilingual. The IB Diploma is recognized by universities worldwide.
Delmar International School
A bilingual school in Cabo San Lucas with modern facilities including smart classrooms, a robotics workshop, and an Olympic-size pool. The school emphasizes academic excellence alongside Christian values. Programs run from preschool through preparatoria.
Colegio Amaranto
Founded in 1996, Amaranto is a bilingual international school in Los Cabos focused on developing individual talents alongside language skills. It serves students from preschool through secundaria.
Tuition in Los Cabos ranges from 3,500 to 7,000 pesos per month ($175 to $350 USD) for primaria. El Camino’s IB program runs higher, typically 6,000 to 10,000 pesos per month ($300 to $500 USD) for upper grades. Enrollment fees and materials add 5,000 to 10,000 pesos per year.
Schools in La Paz
Colegio Bilingue La Paz
One of the most established bilingual schools in the BCS capital. Offers primaria and secundaria with a mix of Spanish and English instruction. Popular with both Mexican professionals and the smaller expat community in La Paz.
Centro Educativo Montessori La Paz
A Montessori-method school serving younger children through primaria. Tuition runs approximately 3,600 pesos per month (about $180 USD). The Montessori approach appeals to expat families who want a child-centered learning environment with some English exposure.
Guaycura High School
A bilingual preparatoria in La Paz offering courses in English and Spanish designed to prepare students for university. The school emphasizes academic rigor and language development.
La Paz tuition is generally the most affordable in Baja for private bilingual education. Expect 2,000 to 5,000 pesos per month ($100 to $250 USD) for most schools.
What About Homeschooling?
Mexico does not regulate homeschooling for foreign residents. Many expat families in Baja homeschool using US-based online programs like Connections Academy, K12, or Oak Meadow. Others use a hybrid approach: Mexican school part-time for Spanish immersion and social integration, supplemented with English-language homeschool curriculum.
If you plan to return to the US, keep your child enrolled in a US-accredited program. Even an online one maintains a transcript that American schools accept without question.
How Do You Choose?
Visit schools in person before committing. Ask about the percentage of instruction in English versus Spanish. Ask about class sizes. Meet the English-language teachers and find out where they are from and how long they have been there. Teacher turnover at bilingual schools in smaller cities can be high.
If your child speaks no Spanish, an IB or WASC-accredited school with strong English instruction is the safest bet. If your child already has some Spanish, a mid-range bilingual colegio offers better immersion at lower cost.
Budget for the extras. Uniforms, textbooks, school supplies, and activity fees add 5,000 to 10,000 pesos per year on top of tuition. Transportation is separate. Some schools offer bus service for an additional 1,000 to 2,000 pesos per month.
Regulations and government processes change. This article reflects information current as of March 2026. For advice specific to your situation, consult the school directly or contact the Secretaria de Educacion Publica in your state.