Our family’s journey through the Barcelona school registration process has faced two cycles so far, each offering distinct perspectives on the process.
Two Completely Different Registration Experiences
The first year, applying for public daycare, proceeded smoothly as applicant numbers matched available spots so the school did not need to evaluate complementary points nor use the tie-breaker lottery number. This was a very welcome surprise, as daycare spots usually have a higher demand as less spots are available!
However, our second year proved more challenging when we attempted to secure a place outside our designated area (meaning we would have had only 10 points). We did so as the school indicated that they did not foresee any issues as there were many spots available.
Late in the pre-enrollment period, we received the disappointing news that our points wouldn’t secure a spot at our chosen school, forcing us to quickly revise our preferences and resubmit our school list to a school in our educational zone to ensure 30 points. We had no other point allocations, neither priority nor complementary. Our assigned lottery number (approximately 79,000) became critical when we learned that 82,000 was the tie-breaking number – effectively placing us last in line for any school choice. This resulted in an anxiety-filled month awaiting final placement lists and of looking at private pre-schools for last-minute alternatives.
We spent one month of uncertainty which no one could provide answers. None of the schools nor the Catalan Department of Education could confirm when we would receive news if we got into any of the other schools on our list or if we would have to select a second list of schools with remaining spots available.
Fortunately, our story had a happy ending – we secured a spot at our second-choice school on our second, revised list, avoiding potential logistical nightmares.
We immediately completed the registration at the school to guarantee our spot.
Adaptation and Reality
The subsequent adaptation period when the school year began presented its own challenges, with communication from the school administrators and teachers sometimes falling short of our expectations. However, watching our daughter thrive in her new environment, forming strong bonds with teachers and classmates, has validated our choice. You can read more about our specific adaptation periods for both daycare and pre-school on my post “Embracing New Beginnings: Your Family’s School Adaptation Journey in Spain.”
One of the most tangible benefits of choosing public education has been financial. The monthly savings of over €300 compared to semi-private options has allowed us to maintain stronger connections with family abroad through making regular visits a reality. This practical advantage, combined with the quality education and care our daughter receives, has made the complex enrollment process worthwhile.
Our daughter’s joy in her current school environment serves as a daily reminder that beyond the complex systems and initial challenges, Barcelona’s public education can offer excellent opportunities for children’s academic and personal development. Perhaps we will only be at her current school for the pre-school years and will once again look at other options for elementary school, but we know that she is happy, exploring, and learning and we wouldn’t take it any other way.
Everyone has different enrollment experiences, but it always has helped me hearing from parents who had already gone through it themselves and I hope that this helps you! Leave a comment below ⬇️ or contact me directly for any questions!
