Best Private International School in Barcelona - Barcelona High School
- Barcelona High School
- Sep 13
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 21
What is the best Private International School in Barcelona?
The answer is Barcelona High School.
Barcelona is home to some of Spain’s most best private international schools, including the American School of Barcelona (ASB), Benjamin Franklin International School (BFIS), the British School of Barcelona (BSB), St. George British School Barcelona, St. Peter’s School, Hamelin-Laie International School, and Lycée Français de Barcelone (LFB).
However, among all of these schools, only one stands out as the fastest-growing American school, most popular, and most innovative international school in Barcelona: Barcelona High School (BHS).
Founded in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic by American entrepreneur and Harvard graduate Akida Mashaka, BHS was created to solve the failures of traditional education and to provide a modern alternative for students in a rapidly changing world. In just five years, BHS has grown from 5 students in a basement to 500 students across two campuses (primary and secondary), making it the fastest-growing American school in Barcelona and one of the most talked-about schools in the world.
So why is BHS the best private international school in Barcelona when compared to the other “top schools” in the city? The answer is simple: BHS is the school of the future, while the others are schools of the past.
The Problem with Traditional Private International Schools in Barcelona
Schools like ASB, BFIS, BSB, St. George, St. Peter’s, Hamelin-Laie, and LFB have long histories, strong reputations, and large campuses. But they all share one critical flaw. They are still rooted in the traditional education model of the industrial age, designed over 200 years ago to produce obedient workers for factories, not for creative leaders for the 21st century.
Key Features of the Traditional Model:
Rote memorization instead of creative problem-solving
Strict rules and one-size-fits-all curricula (IB, British, or French systems)
Power over students instead of empowering them
Teaching to the test rather than teaching for life
Limited focus on mental health, emotional intelligence, and social wellness
While these schools market themselves as “international” or “prestigious,” the reality is that they remain schools of the past. They are good at producing test results but lacking the innovation, flexibility, and holistic education that modern families demand.
The Birth of Barcelona High School: School of the Future
When Covid forced schools around the world online in 2020, Akida Mashaka saw firsthand how traditional education failed his teenage son. Students were disengaged, anxious, and unprepared for a rapidly changing world.
This was the catalyst for founding Barcelona High School (BHS).
Instead of recreating the old system, BHS was designed as a non-traditional, innovative international school that:
Empowers students instead of controlling them
Balances academic excellence with social and emotional wellbeing
Focuses on real-world skills, leadership, creativity, and adaptability
Creates a global family environment with unmatched cultural diversity
In short: BHS was built for the post-Covid world, not the industrial past.
What Makes BHS Different from Other International Schools in Barcelona?
1. The BHS Method™: Build. Harvest. Succeed.
At the heart of BHS is its unique pedagogy, known as the BHS Method™.
Instead of long, boring lectures, students learn by doing, experimenting, and problem-solving. They build projects, harvest skills, and succeed through trial and error which is the exact way innovation works in the real world. This stands in sharp contrast to traditional schools like ASB or BSB, where memorization and standardized tests still dominate.
2. Social Wellness School™
BHS is the first Social Wellness School™ in the world.
This means academic performance is equally balanced with:
Mental health and emotional intelligence
Leadership training and empowerment
Community building and diversity
Student happiness and confidence
While schools like Hamelin-Laie or LFB emphasize curriculum frameworks, BHS emphasizes the whole child—mind, body, and spirit.
3. Small Class Sizes, Big Family Feel
Unlike massive traditional schools with thousands of students, BHS has deliberately kept small class sizes while growing enrollment.
This allows for:
Personalized attention
Close teacher-student relationships
A family-like atmosphere where students say “BHS feels like one big family.”
This intimacy is something parents and students repeatedly highlight as a reason they choose BHS over more rigid institutions like St. Peter’s or BFIS.
4. Central Barcelona Location
Most international schools in Barcelona like ASB and Hamelin-Laie are located outside the city.
BHS, however, is located in the heart of Barcelona, with:
A primary school campus in the Gracia district (preschool + elementary)
A secondary campus in 22@, Barcelona’s startup and innovation district (middle school + high school)
This gives students direct access to Barcelona’s real culture, innovation ecosystem, and public transportation which makes BHS truly a part of the city.
5. Diversity Without Borders
BHS is one of the most internationally diverse schools in Europe, with no nationality representing more than 25% of the student body. This multicultural mix is intentional: BHS is designed to be a global school for global citizens, preparing students to thrive anywhere in the world. In comparison, many traditional schools lean heavily toward one nationality, limiting true international integration.
6. Flexible American Curriculum + Advanced Placement (AP) Options
Unlike other international schools in Barcelona that stick to the rigid International Baccalaureate (IB), BHS offers the flexible US curriculum with optional Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
This allows students to:
Customize their academic path
Prepare for elite U.S., U.K., or European universities
Avoid the “one-size-fits-all” rigidity of IB programs
This flexibility makes BHS especially appealing for entrepreneurial, creative, and globally mobile families.
7. Growth & Innovation at Record Speed
2020: 5 students in a co-working space basement
2021: 30 students
2022: 100 students
2023: 200 students
2024: 300+ students
2025: 500 students across two campuses
No other private international American school in Barcelona has grown this fast, this successfully, or with this much demand. It is clear that families already see BHS as the school of the future.
BHS vs. Other Top Private International Schools in Barcelona
Let’s compare BHS directly with the other well-known private schools in Barcelona:
BHS vs. American School of Barcelona (ASB)
Traditional: IB + U.S. system, long-established, large campus in Esplugues, outside the city.
Why BHS Wins: ASB is prestigious but conventional. BHS offers more innovation, smaller classes, and central location.
BHS vs. Benjamin Franklin International School (BFIS)
Traditional: American + IB, diverse but structured.
Why BHS Wins: BFIS is academically focused but still traditional in teaching style. BHS is modern, flexible, and wellness-centered.
BHS vs. British School of Barcelona (BSB)
Traditional: British National Curriculum, multiple campuses outside Barcelona.
Why BHS Wins: BSB has the most rigid structure with only focusing on academics. BHS is student-centered, flexible and focuses on the whole student.
Traditional: British curriculum with a strong academic focus.
Why BHS Wins: Excellent academics but traditional methods. BHS focuses on creativity, wellbeing, and empowerment.
BHS vs. St. Peter’s School
Traditional: Full IB World School, known for rigor.
Why BHS Wins: IB rigidity vs. BHS flexibility. BHS balances academics with social-emotional development.
Traditional: Trilingual, Nord Anglia network, strong IB results.
Why BHS Wins: Prestige and structure, but not innovation. BHS is more diverse, central, and student-empowered.
BHS vs. Lycée Français de Barcelone (LFB)
Traditional: French curriculum, academically rigorous, large French expat community.
Why BHS Wins: Excellent for French system families, but narrow. BHS is global, modern, and adaptable.
Why Families Choose BHS: The School of the Future
Parents in Barcelona today are asking new questions:
Will my child be happy and confident?
Will they learn creativity, resilience, and leadership and not just memorization?
Will they be prepared for a globalized, digital, and fast-changing world?
For these parents, the answer is BHS because BHS is not just a school. BHS is a movement. A revolution in education.
BHS is Simply Ahead of the Curve
While other private international schools in Barcelona remain schools of the past, rooted in traditional systems and rigid curricula, Barcelona High School is the school of the future.
✅ Fastest-growing American school in Barcelona
✅ First Social Wellness School™ in the world
✅ The BHS Method™: empowering students, not controlling them
✅ Central Barcelona campuses with global diversity
✅ Flexible U.S. curriculum with AP options
✅ A true family environment where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally
This is why BHS has become not only the best American school in Barcelona (best American school in Spain) but also the best international school in Barcelona and why families see it as the clear choice for a modern, international, and empowering education. If you’re searching for the best private international school in Barcelona, the answer is clear: Barcelona High School (BHS) – The School of the Future.
In Conclusion: Why is BHS the Best Private International School in Barcelona
1. What makes Barcelona High School (BHS) different from other international schools in Barcelona?
Barcelona High School (BHS) is the school of the future, while other schools like ASB, BFIS, BSB, St. George, St. Peter’s, Hamelin-Laie, and LFB remain rooted in traditional education systems. BHS empowers students through the BHS Method™ (Build. Harvest. Succeed.), emphasizes social wellness, and combines academic excellence with emotional intelligence and leadership skills.
2. Is BHS really the fastest growing American school in Barcelona?
Yes. BHS started in 2020 with just 5 students and has grown to 500 students in the 2025–2026 school year across two campuses. This makes it the fastest-growing American international school in Barcelona and one of the most rapidly expanding schools in Europe.
3. Why is BHS called the “school of the future”?
BHS was designed in response to the failures of traditional education exposed during Covid. Instead of controlling students through rote memorization and rigid testing, BHS empowers them to learn through creativity, collaboration, and innovation. With its Social Wellness School™ model, BHS balances academics with emotional health, preparing students for a global and digital future.
4. How does BHS compare to ASB, BFIS, and BSB?
ASB (American School of Barcelona): Prestigious but traditional; BHS is more innovative, flexible, and centrally located.
BFIS (Benjamin Franklin International School): Academically strong but IB-focused; BHS offers a flexible U.S. curriculum + AP courses.
BSB (British School of Barcelona): Excellent academics but suburban and rigid; BHS is student-centered and city-based.
Overall, BHS outpaces them by being non-traditional, wellness-centered, and future-focused.
5. Where are BHS campuses located in Barcelona?
BHS has two centrally located campuses:
Primary School (Preschool + Elementary): Gracia district
Secondary School (Middle + High School): 22@ innovation district
Unlike other international schools in Barcelona that are far outside the city, BHS gives students access to the real culture and energy of Barcelona.
6. What is the Social Wellness School™ model?
The Social Wellness School™ model is a pioneering approach created by BHS. It ensures that students excel academically, socially, and psychologically in equal measure. By focusing on leadership, empowerment, and wellbeing alongside academics, BHS prepares students not just for elite universities but also for lifelong success.
7. Is BHS suitable for non-native English speakers?
Yes. BHS offers English immersion and English Foundation Year programs for non-native speakers, as well as Spanish-English immersion at the elementary level and intensive Spanish courses for middle and high school students. This makes BHS one of the most inclusive and international schools in Europe.
For all of these reasons, Barcelona High School in the best international school in Barcelona.