Choosing a school in Mexico City: test the journey, language support and full-year costs

A conversation with Alexandra Demou of Welcome Home Mexico.

Choosing a school and choosing a home affect each other. Alexandra shares questions about the school journey, language, admissions and the expenses families should clarify directly with each school. These are her professional observations, not a comparison or endorsement of individual schools.

Interview by Ken Gardner.

1. Please introduce yourself and your work.

My name is Alexandra Demou. I have a master’s degree in elementary education from Bank Street in New York City and 20 years of experience teaching and working as a school director in New York and Mexico.

For the past 10 years, I have worked in relocation. I founded and now run Welcome Home Mexico, helping families choose schools, find housing and arrange immigration and other services needed when moving to another country.

2. How should a family test the school journey before choosing a neighbourhood?

A relocation professional can help families investigate distances and traffic in Mexico City. You can also test the journey to and from the school during regular school hours. If your child takes the school bus, ask about the actual route: stops can make the journey longer than a direct trip. Protests and road closures can also affect travel times.

3. What should parents ask about curriculum, language and support?

Ask which academic programme the school offers. Some Mexico City schools offer the International Baccalaureate, while others do not. Ask what proportion of the day is taught in Spanish and English.

In my experience, additional one-to-one support can differ from what families knew in the United States; I cannot speak as confidently about comparisons with Europe. Be open with the school about the support your child needs and your concerns. Ask what that particular school can provide before deciding whether it is a fit.

4. Which admissions questions should be settled directly with the school?

Start with the school’s website for its application process and required documents. Speak with someone in admissions to find out whether anything additional is needed for your family.

5. What costs beyond tuition should families ask to itemize?

Ask about an annual enrolment or registration fee, sometimes called an inscripción fee, rather than assuming it is paid only when first applying. Check whether books, uniforms, transport and after-school activities such as sports are included in tuition or charged separately. These details should be confirmed with each school.

6. What can help families look beyond the brochure during a school visit?

Observe the atmosphere among students while school is in session. We also try to connect relocating families with other expat families at the school so they can ask more specific questions. Ask the school whether any international families would be willing to speak with you. If your child has an opportunity to meet another student, take it.

Editorial planning: ask about placement before committing

Ask each school who decides grade placement, which previous school records or assessments they need, and how they support a child still learning Spanish. Request the application deadline, decision date, wait-list process and any payment due before a place is confirmed. Ask which payments are refundable and under what written conditions. Do not assume that arriving from abroad automatically means repeating a year. These are additional questions from MexPat Guide, separate from Alexandra’s approved answers.

About the contributor

Alexandra Demou is Founder/CEO of Welcome Home Mexico.

Read the Mexico City relocation guide.