BHS: Barcelona High School
For students ages 3 to 18, BHS is a one-of-a-kind international American School in Barcelona Spain with a mission to solve the failures of traditional education, so all students in the post-Covid era not only excel academically to attend the world's top universities if desired, but also excel socially and psychologically as well in equal measure, in order for students to truly find their superpower.
Barcelona High School (BHS) was founded in 2020 during Covid by American entrepreneur and Harvard graduate Akida Mashaka who wanted a better education model for his teenage son. BHS initially started as only an American high school, hence its name, and then added a middle school in 2023. Now in 2025, BHS has created a new preschool & elementary to serve as the #1 international school in Barcelona.
BHS uses its own teaching methodology known as the BHS Method™, which asserts that students learn better by doing versus long lectures and memorization as the best way to obtain the skills they will need for the world they will be in.
In the BHS Method, BHS stands for "Build. Harvest. Succeed.", a revolutionary educational model to provide the most engaging school experience based on empowering curiosity and hands on problem solving through fearless trial and error and continual iteration to achieve executive functioning excellence, instead of the outdated traditional rote memorization methodology developed in the industrial age over 200 years ago that fails to prepare students for the world that exists today.
In short, BHS is about empowering and inspiring students, instead of controlling them like in traditional education.
Primary Language(s)
English, Catalan, Spanish
Curriculum
American, Catalan / Spanish
Qualifications
American High School Diploma, AP Courses
Age Range
3 - 18 years old
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Welcome Note
Barcelona High School is a vibrant, inclusive international school where students are at the heart of everything we do. Through the BHS Method which stands for Build, Harvest and Succeed, we focus on learning that can be used in the real world. When you leave BHS we want you to feel confident, creative and embody the 10 Core Values of BHS.
To learn more about our Core Values, please see our website here: https://www.barcelonahighschool.com/post/barcelona-high-school-student-10-core-values.
Located in the heart of Barcelona, our campus connects students with the cultural richness of Barcelona, while our diverse student body ensures a truly global perspective. At BHS, education goes beyond academics. With our Social Wellness School philosophy, we support students emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Our goal is to prepare you not just for university (if that is the path you choose to take), but for life.
School Ethos
BHS started in September 2020 during Covid with only 5 students in the basement of a co-working space and in less than 5 years has an enrollment of 340 students.
In this upcoming school year (2025-2026), BHS is opening a new preschool and primary school campus, in addition to moving into a new middle and high school campus, to be the #1 international American school in Barcelona for global citizens to accomplish its goal of transforming education as we know it.
BHS is a welcoming and dynamic new-age school for the post-Covid era that focuses on student-centered learning through a revolutionary education approach called the BHS Method™, rather than using the old-fashioned "one-size-fits-all" teaching methodology that unbelievably still exists today in schools.
BHS is revolutionizing education by teaching students that the path to success is by finding their true strengths and continually learning from failure to find solutions to problems. Unlike traditional schools that still believe in the out-dated teaching model designed for children in the industrial age over 200 years ago that defines success simply by how well students can memorize answers to tests versus trial and error and continual iteration.
To accomplish this vision, Barcelona High School lives by the promise and original mission, as a Social Wellness School™, to help students excel not only academically, but socially and psychologically as well. Accordingly, besides academics (including AP courses for students who wish to enter elite universities), other areas such as student social life and mental health and emotional confidence are eqally important to the school. BHS also provides leadership and empowerment skills, international speakers, and career and life counseling. Naturally, students increase their emotional intelligence while expanding their opportunities and finding their life passions.
Languages
Primary Language
English
Additional languages offered
Our Elementary School offers the option of a bilingual (English & Spanish) or Trilingual (English, Spanish & Catalan) language path.
Our Preschool, Middle School and High School classes are dispensed in English.
Language support available
We have an ELL (English Language Learning) department to support students with English, and also an SLL (Spanish Language Learning) department to support students just starting to learn Spanish.
Curriculum
Our Preschool is the only American Montessori-inspired preschool in Barcelona PK3 - Kindergarten (3 - 5 years old)
Our Elementary School provides international students the opportunity to choose a bilingual or trilingual language path.
Our Middle School is the only STEAM American middle school in Barcelona
Barcelona High School: The BHS Method™ is an educational methodology that empowers students to independently initiate learning, refine their understanding through guided instruction and trial-and-error, and achieve academic success by applying knowledge to real-world challenges.
Qualifications
We offer the American High School Diploma and AP (Advanced Placement).
Facilities
Discover our new campus for middle school and high school in the heart of the @22 district: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HU-SdDGbAY
Our Elementary and Preschool campus is located at Carrer de Montornès, 37, Gràcia, 08023 Barcelona
First Year Joining Fee
One-Time Entrance Fee: 2500€
Annual Matriculation Fee: 1000€
Annual Tuition
Preschool & Kinder: 13,900€ for monthly payments / 12,510€ for one off yearly payment (Tuition includes Meal Plan)
Elementary School: 14,900€ for monthly payments / 13,410€ for one off yearly payment (Tuition includes Meal Plan)
Middle School: 15,900€ for monthly payments / 14,310€ for one off payment
High School: 17,900€ for monthly payment / 16,110€ for one off payment
Additional Fees
Meal Plan
215€ / month (included in Preschool and Elementary)
Student Visa - School Guardianship (If Applicable)
250€
Application Fee
Free
Discounts
"Loyalty Fixed Tuition"
The beginning Tuition rate for students from their initial enrolment is guaranteed throughout all school years regardless of future Tuition increases and higher grade levels. For example, the initial Tuition rate in Preschool and Elementary School remains the same amount every year (with no increases) all the way through the completion of High School.
Fees
School in Numbers
School size
500
Classes per grade / age
Class sizes
Preschool: 15 students per class
Elementary, middle school and high school: 18 students per class
Nationalities
We have 42 different nationalities represented in our school 7.95% of which are Spanish students.
Student Support
What learning needs the school can support
What is a Social Wellness School?
Unlike a traditional school, a Social Wellness School™ places equal emphasis on academics, social life, and psychological well-being. This approach recognizes that true learning goes beyond test scores and rote memorization. A social wellness school cultivates critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills while fostering student social life, emotional resilience, and an eagerness for learning.
Moving Beyond Industrial-Age Education
Traditional schooling employs rigid structures, standardized testing, and a one-dimensional focus on academics. This approach fails to address the diverse needs and learning styles of students. A social wellness school breaks this mold by embracing the following concepts:
Flexibility: Learning environments cater to individual needs, offering project-based learning, experiential education, online learning options, and personalized learning plans.
Student-Centered Learning: Students are active participants in their education, taking ownership of their learning journey.
Holistic Development: All aspects of a student's well-being – academic, social, and emotional – are nurtured.
The 3 Pillars of a Social Wellness School
Academic Fearlessness: While social wellness schools value academic achievement, they recognize that true learning goes beyond rote memorization. They offer a curriculum that fosters critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving skills, and learning through failure, to prepare students for success in a dynamic and ever-changing world.
Vibrant Social Life: Social connection is essential for student development. Social wellness schools cultivate vibrant and inclusive environments where students can build meaningful friendships, collaborate on projects, and participate in extracurricular activities that ignite their passions.
Psychological Well-Being: Social wellness schools prioritize mental health and emotional well-being. Comprehensive support services, counseling resources, and mindfulness programs help students navigate stress, anxiety, and other challenges, fostering a sense of emotional security and overall well-being.
Benefits of a Social Wellness School
Holistic Development: This school model nurtures the whole child by focusing on academics, social life, and psychological well-being equally. Students develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally, becoming well-rounded individuals prepared for the complexities of life.
Flexible Learning Environments: Catering to diverse needs and learning styles, a social wellness school embraces flexible learning environments. Students can thrive through project-based learning, experiential education, hybrid models, or independent online learning, all tailored to their individual strengths and preferences.
Enhanced Student Engagement: By integrating social activities, hands-on experiences, and mindfulness practices into the curriculum, a social wellness school fosters a culture of engagement and enthusiasm for learning.
What support staff are available
Admissions
Details of entry criteria
Open Admissions all year!
1. In-person or Online Meeting with BHS Admissions
2. Enrollment Documentation (Official School Transcripts and Translations if required, Passport/Identification, etc.)
3. Payment of One-Time Entrance Fee
4. Payment of Annual Matriculation Fee
5. Only if applicable, start your Student Visa process with BHS Matriculation Letter
6. 1st month Payment of Tuition or 1 total payment for discount
Details of entry tests
Further Information
Extra Curriculars
Sports:
Football (Soccer)
Basketball
Run Club
Beach Volleyball
Skateboarding
BHS will be starting new sports teams in the future, however, for now students can also train and compete, outside of BHS, in the following sports in competitive clubs and academies with a flexible school schedule specifically designed for highly competitive athletes if required:
Football (Soccer)
Tennis
Girls Basketball
Volleyball
Waterpolo
Swimming
Baseball
American Football
Rugby
Lacrosse
Extracurricular activities:
Model UN
STEM
Art
Music
Film
Chess
Entrepreneurship
Make-Up
Yearbook
Field Trips
Additional Info
Accreditations and Memberships
Contact Details
Address
Early Childhood & Elementary School:
Carrer Montornés 37
Barcelona 08023
Middle & High School:
Carrer Joan d'Asturia 109 Barcelona 08018
Phone
+34 618 27 02 32
Social Media
What Parents Say
Contact the Admissions Team
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