Parent
Awful. This is a school that has been in a steady state of decline, and the leadership is at the heart of that. There is one new building and the other two (lower and upper schools) are in poor condition, extremely dated facilities. The teacher turnover rate is as bad as the morale- this common for teachers to complain to their students about the school. There is a lack of proper training and credentials among administrators and the fiscal management for capital projects like a playground installation were widely ridiculed by parents and teachers, who are poorly paid. Their testing and college admissions are in serious decline, likely because the academics are lacking. The lower school reading program has been cited as deficient, the math program throughout is flawed. Culturally, there is a lot of bullying at the school and the school lacks transparency about incidences on campus that range from bullying, to fighting, to vandalism and theft. There are much better options in Madrid.
3 other reviews for American School of Madrid - (Reviews aren't verified )
Parent
A very disappointing experience. The buildings and facilities are impressive but nothing else. It is really not worth the money.
Teaching seems to be of a very poor quality. The school seems to be only concerned with pandering to some very rich parents.
Parent
We do not recommend this American School at all. We had three children there for 4 years. In all the sections, it offers a poor academic standard and a bad student experience. There is an alarming rate of high teacher turnover. The school neglects important aspects of education and, instead, projects an entirely false sense of excellence through flashy buildings; the school environment is tense and unwelcoming, and it falls far short of its claims of promoting inclusivity. Teachers are not caring at all and are not well treated either. Their IB results are not what they are claiming. Good University placements are declining, especially in terms of placement in Top Universities. College counselling at ASM is very defective. Students seeking an international educational experience in Madrid should avoid this school at all costs and explore better alternatives that prioritise the quality of education they provide.
Parent
The academic level is very low, the school should invest more in teacher training and development or curriculum improvement. Additionally, the school has had a very high turnover rate for math teachers, and as a consequence math education is a huge problem.
Furthermore, the atmosphere is very unpleasant, with lots of famous and arrogant families. The school could also consider creating a better environment for music education by hiring more experienced and talented musicians as teachers and providing more resources for music students.
The visual arts are not too bad.
Finally, the school is experiencing a decline in academics and well-being, it might be time to review the leadership structure and make changes where necessary. It's possible that the current head of school is not providing the necessary support for the academic and social growth of the students, and a new leader... read full review
