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Chester College International School

Spain, Santiago de Compostela

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Spanish
Fees €7,740 - 34,700
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 75
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1985
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP)
Taught languages German
Typical class size 8
Strengths Languages, Outdoor Education, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, High School
Introduction

Chester College International School is a private international school in Galicia, Spain, offering an integrated American-Spanish curriculum for ages 3 to 18. The program combines the American AP pathway with the Spanish Bachiller, awarding both a U.S. High School Diploma and the Spanish Bachiller on graduation. Cognia accreditation supports an integrated curriculum with transferable credits between systems and bilingual instruction in English and Spanish from Early Learning onward, with intensive English and native-speaker language teachers. German is available as an elective from Primary years. The school also runs language-immersion summer programs with day and boarding options. Boarding is available for High School students during the term. Located on a hilltop near Santiago de Compostela, the campus sits among woodland and offers facilities including eight classrooms, a science laboratory, art and music rooms, a library, two football fields, a tennis/basketball court, and an outdoor pool. University entrance preparation (EBAU/Selectividad, SAT, AP) and bilingualism are central to the program.

Tr.ª de Montouto, 2, 15894 Teo, A Coruña, Spain

The Essentials

Chester College International School has 75 pupils, typical class sizes of 8, instruction in English, Spanish.

Location
Travesía de Montouto, 2, 15894 Teo, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain. Located on the outskirts of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. The school serves students from Early Learning to Grade 12.

Stages
From Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12. Education is delivered in a bilingual English–Spanish programme with personalised attention.

Type
Private international school with a bilingual English–Spanish programme. Boarding is available for High-School students during the school year, and language-immersion summer programs include day and boarding options.

Country affiliation
United States (dual US High School Diploma and Spanish Bachiller; Cognia-accredited)
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Boarding students may stay in Chester College's boarding residences or with carefully-selected local host families. There are two options: full boarding (Monday to Sunday) or weekly boarding (Monday to Friday or Saturday morning). The boarding houses are within walking distance of the school and have separate premises for male and female students. All meals take place in the main building and are prepared in the on-site kitchen using fresh, locally sourced ingredients; resident dorm parents accompany students at all times and full-boarders have weekend activities.

Uniform Requirement
There is a school uniform. It can be purchased locally; details are provided at registration.

Food Options
Lunch is included and meals are prepared daily onsite in the school kitchen using fresh, local ingredients. A morning snack is provided at break, and lunch menus are sent to families monthly. The school accommodates special diets prescribed by a doctor or on religious grounds.

Governance and Ownership
Private, independent school.
Fees

Annual tuition at Chester College International School ranges from EUR 7,740 to EUR 34,700 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration fees

- Day-school annual registration fee: € 450 (payable on confirmation of place for new students; continuing students pay at end of June).
- Boarding annual registration fee (international boarding): € 650 (one-off, non‑refundable).

Day‑school tuition and lunch fees (per month, and implied annual totals per academic year)

- Early Learning (Pre‑K1, Pre‑K2, K): Tuition € 595 /month; Lunch € 179 /month. Annual totals (10 monthly payments): Tuition € 5,950; Lunch € 1,790; Combined annual total € 7,740.

- Primary / Elementary (Grades 1–6): Tuition € 660 /month; Lunch € 179 /month. Annual totals (10 monthly payments): Tuition € 6,600; Lunch € 1,790; Combined annual total € 8,390.

- Middle School (Grades 7–10): Tuition € 705 /month; Lunch € 200 /month. Annual totals (10 monthly payments): Tuition € 7,050; Lunch € 2,000; Combined annual total € 9,050.

- High School / Bachillerato (Grades 11–12): Tuition € 785 /month; Lunch € 200 /month. Annual totals (10 monthly payments): Tuition € 7,850; Lunch € 2,000; Combined annual total € 9,850.

Day‑school additional recurring fees and optional programmes

- Additional Spanish as a Second Language reinforcement (3 hours/week): € 300 /month (charged monthly).
- Specific support programmes (special educational support) are arranged case‑by‑case and charged separately; price to be agreed with the family. Extracurricular activity fees vary by activity. Student personal materials and textbooks are not included in the above fees.

Family discounts (day school)

- Families with 3 children enrolled: 60% discount on the Tuition programme for the youngest child and free lunch for that child.
- Families with 4 children enrolled: full waiver of Tuition and Lunch fees for the youngest child.
- For larger sibling groups the school requests direct contact to agree arrangements.

Billing schedule and payment terms (day school)

- The school year is divided into 10 monthly payments (September–June). Monthly fees are paid in advance. A direct‑debit mandate is used and monthly payments are charged at the beginning of each month. Students enrolled at the school must satisfy all 10 monthly payments. If a pupil leaves after the school year has started, the family must pay the equivalent of two further monthly payments after the date of withdrawal. Modifications to contracted services require 10 days' notice to take effect the following month. € amounts above reflect monthly charges.

Boarding (International) — fees, deposits and term schedule

- Annual Tuition & Boarding (Grades 7–12, international boarding): € 33,700 per year (this amount covers tuition plus full board and accommodation in the boarding residence).
- Deposit required on enrolment: € 1,200 (held for emergencies; extra term charges may be deducted; remaining deposit refunded after departure subject to account being settled).
- Boarding payment schedule (example termly option shown): three termly payments of € 10,633 each (Term 1, Term 2, Term 3) if paying termly; alternatively fees may be paid as a single advance payment prior to the start of the year. EU students may have the option of termly payments; non‑EU students are required to pay in advance unless an individual agreement is made.

Boarding extras and administrative charges

- Visa‑related administrative fee (when the school must assist with non‑EU student visa documentation and residency procedures): € 400 (annual; non‑refundable).
- Extra days in residence (for stays during holiday periods, if available): € 35 per day.
- Termly extras such as personal textbooks, transport to some external activities, airport transfers outside the included arrival transfer, special educational trips, external exam fees and some extracurricular or individualized learning programmes are invoiced termly as applicable.

Other standard costs

- Uniform: A school uniform is required. The fee for purchasing uniform items is not included in the tuition/lunch figures and is payable separately. Textbooks and personal materials are not included in tuition. Extracurricular activities have separate fees depending on the activity.

Refunds and deposits

- Day‑school: If a pupil leaves after the start of the school year, the family is liable for the cost of two additional monthly payments after the withdrawal date.
- Boarding: The deposit is held for emergencies and to cover extra charges; the remaining deposit balance is refunded within three months after the student's leaving date provided all payments have been settled. Some payments (registration fee, Term 1 and certain administrative fees) are non‑refundable where explicitly stated.

Fee payment options and collection methods

- Day‑school monthly fees are collected by direct debit (a mandate is completed and charges are passed at the start of each month).
- Boarding and other annual/term payments are required in advance or termly as specified; the school sets due dates for term payments. Specific public details of other payment channels such as credit‑card or bank‑transfer acceptance are not listed in the published fee materials.

Administrative notes on invoicing and extras

- Termly invoices may include extras incurred in the previous term (additional materials, transport, external exams, some extracurricular charges). Airport pick‑up on arrival in September for boarding students is listed as included in the service in the boarding information. € amounts shown above are the published charges in the school's fee schedules.
Academics

Chester College International School teaches American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
Integrated US/Spanish curriculum with credits transferable between the Spanish and US education systems year by year. Early Learning to Grade 12 are taught in a bilingual English–Spanish environment, with intensive English instruction and options to learn additional languages, including German as an optional language from Primary onwards; all language classes are taught by native speakers. The school awards dual qualifications on completion of Grade 12: the US High School Diploma and the Spanish Bachiller. Intensive preparation for university entrance examinations in Spain (EBAU/Selectividad) and in the USA (SAT, AP) is emphasized, with a track record of success in these assessments. The main working languages are English and Spanish, and the school strives for bilingualism across stages of education with personalized, small-group learning.

Student Teacher Ratio
Small groups averaging fewer than 12 students per classroom.

Exam Results
EBAU/Selectividad pass rate of 95% over the last 15 years, with excellent grades in many years; the school also has an excellent track record in SAT and AP examinations.

Higher Education Progression
A high percentage of graduates go on to university in Spain, with a significant proportion studying elsewhere; some have obtained academic excellence scholarships at renowned British and US universities.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school provides mentoring and personalized attention to each student, with small class sizes that enable individualized support. It pursues a holistic education guided by Christian humanist values, aiming to educate students who are healthy, happy, and responsible. The program includes sport, nutrition, music, and drama as core components that support well-being, teamwork, self-confidence, and communication. A bilingual English–Spanish framework and language development are integrated with academics to foster social awareness and intercultural understanding. All language development is supported by a strong emphasis on personalized guidance and language proficiency.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school offers individual learning support programs when needed to assist language fluency as part of its bilingual approach. It operates within a US–Spanish curriculum rather than describing a separate specialized SEN department or facility.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English and Spanish are working languages, with a bilingual English–Spanish programme and a teaching balance that varies by stage. Intensive English is tailored to different proficiency levels, with catch-up classes when necessary. All language classes are taught by native speakers of the language in question.

Mental Wellbeing
Healthy living is prioritized through daily outdoor physical education and meals prepared on-site with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Music, drama, and effective communication are used to reinforce self-confidence, teamwork, and enjoyment. The school aims to develop healthy, happy, and responsible students within a supportive educational environment.
Parent Experience

History
The school was founded by Juan Pías and Dolores Peleteiro in 1985. The college building dates from 1984 and was designed by architect César Portela. It is located on a hilltop whose site was probably occupied by a pre-Roman encampment, and the name Chester comes from that history (Old English ceaster). From the outset its educational project was international, and it was the first international school in the Spanish region of Galicia.

Community
The school is an educational community made up of teachers, students, and their families, with a firm commitment to accompany every student throughout development and learning, grounding their academic futures, their careers, and their lives as human beings in today's world. The school emphasizes personalized education with ample time for each student, an integrated US/Spanish curriculum, and a focus on languages with intensive English and opportunities to learn additional languages; it also upholds Christian-Catholic, humanistic values and aims to keep students healthy and happy. Chester College hosts language immersion summer camps each July for ages 8–18, and its culture includes musical and theatre activities that have become part of its community identity.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The college building dates from 1984 and sits on spacious grounds surrounded by woodland, on a hilltop with views of Pico Sacro and the start of the Ulla Valley, 4km from Santiago de Compostela's city centre. It has eight classrooms and a central hall. It includes a science laboratory, an art room, a music room, and a library. The facilities include two football fields, a tennis/basketball court, and an outdoor pool.

Sports Facilities
Two football fields are on campus. A tennis/basketball court is available for court-based activities. An outdoor pool is on site. Outdoor Physical Education classes occur almost daily.

Academic Facilities
It has eight classrooms and a central hall. It includes a science laboratory, an art room, a music room, and a library. The college building dates from 1984 and sits on spacious grounds surrounded by woodland on a hilltop with views of Pico Sacro and the Ulla Valley, 4km from the city centre. The facilities support a broad range of academic activities across sciences and arts.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Music, drama, and effective communication are used regularly to reinforce oral expression, teamwork, and self-confidence. The school strives for bilingualism in Spanish and English and provides catch-up classes when necessary. The campus is set in woodland with green spaces that support outdoor learning. Outdoor Physical Education classes are held almost daily.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Chester College International School offers an integrated U.S.–Spanish curriculum from Early Learning to Grade 12, with dual qualifications: the U.S. High School Diploma and the Spanish Bachiller. The school is Cognia-accredited and acts as an official examination center for AP and SAT with The College Board, and for Trinity College London, as part of its MAIS membership. Hallmarks include a language-focused program and an integrated U.S.–Spanish curriculum, with intensive English and the option to learn additional languages, alongside a holistic approach to education. Preparation for university entrance exams in Spain (EBAU) and in the U.S. (SAT, AP) is emphasized, with a 95% EBAU pass rate reported over the last 15 years and strong SAT/AP results.

Cultural & Language
The main working languages are English and Spanish, with teaching varying by stage and student fluency. The school aims for bilingualism in Spanish and English and provides catch-up classes when necessary. German is offered as an optional language from Primary, and other languages can be offered as extracurricular activities. All language classes are taught by native speakers.

Social & Hobbies
Extracurricular activities may stretch up to 17:40. The school day runs from 09:20 to 16:40, with meals provided on site.

Community & Service
Within the Ecoescuelas program for 2024-25, students identify and label the trees and plants around the school. The activity includes observing flora and applying techniques such as frottage, species mapping and plant sketches, with a planned second phase focused on labeling.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school emphasizes holistic education inspired by Christian humanism, aiming to develop healthy, happy, and responsible students. Lunch is prepared on site with fresh, local ingredients, and lunch menus are shared monthly. The school day runs from 09:20 to 16:40, with extracurricular activities potentially extending to 17:40.
Languages

Language Provision
English and Spanish are the main working languages. The school offers a bilingual English–Spanish programme (50:50) and encourages bilingualism from Early Learning onwards, with proportions varying by stage. German is an optional foreign language from Primary onwards, and other languages can be offered as extracurricular activities; all language classes are taught by native speakers.

Bilingual Teaching
The school has a bilingual English–Spanish programme and aims for a bilingual 50:50 curriculum. Bilingualism is encouraged from the Early Learning stage, with language proportions varying by stage and individualized support if needed. Intensive English is tailored to different proficiency levels, with the option to learn additional languages. German is offered as an optional foreign language from Primary onwards.

Immersion Programs
Language immersion summer programs are offered. Language immersion in July is intensive learning for ages 3 to 18, with day or boarding options. The Chester International English Summer Camp provides a full English immersion experience for ages 8 to 18.
Reputation

Accreditations
The school is accredited by Cognia and is an official examination center for The College Board SAT and AP exams, and a Trinity College London examination center since 1991; it is a member of MAIS (Mediterranean Association of International Schools).
Admissions

Admissions
1. Complete the contact form: You can do this via the Contact section or by clicking here. 2. We will contact you by email or phone to answer your queries and so that you can tell us a little bit more about the prospective student or student's. 3. Come and see the school: If you like, we can set up a face-to-face, telephone or online meeting with the Admissions Department. Prior to this meeting, a scanned copy of the student's latest final school transcript as well as the most recent termly school report should be provided. Non-English native speakers should ideally provide an English-level certificate (a B2 would be the minimum required for High School). If the student does not have a language certificate, language level will be assessed via a brief interview and through internal tests, if required. 4. Offer of a place: Within 2 weeks we will contact you to let you know whether we can offer the place(s) requested. 5. Confirmation & reservation of places: Families then have 2 weeks formally to confirm their acceptance of the place(s) offered. Formal acceptance entails completing the registration form (which will be sent to you) and paying the deposit to reserve a place for the year. The school reserves the right to withdraw its offer if these steps are not completed in due time. A number of academic and personal files will be finally requested to open the student's personal school file: these may be submitted at any point during the student's first term at school.
School Events
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