Greengates School

A Unified Curriculum Pathway

Greengates School offers one of Mexico's most coherent international curriculum sequences, designed to carry students from their earliest years through to university-ready qualifications. The journey begins in the Early Years with the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC), progressing through the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) in primary school — programmes for which Greengates is the only official school in Mexico. Secondary students prepare for Cambridge IGCSE examinations in Years 10 and 11, before completing the IB Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13.

Cambridge IGCSE: Broad and Rigorous

In Years 10 and 11, students sit Cambridge IGCSE examinations in a wide range of subjects. Core compulsory subjects include English Literature and Language, Español (Spanish Literature and Language), Mathematics, and Physical Education. Students then select from a rich menu of optional subjects including Additional Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, History, Geography, Art & Design, Music, Drama, and French. This breadth ensures students enter the IB Diploma with strong foundations across disciplines.

IB Diploma: Consistently Above Global Average

The IB Diploma Programme is the academic centrepiece of Greengates' upper school. The school's IB results consistently exceed the world average: in 2022, the school average was 33.7 points compared to the global average of 31.98. Sixteen percent of Greengates students achieved 40 or more points — placing them among the world's highest scorers — and five percent achieved the maximum score of 45. The pass rate hovers between 98 and 100%. The IB subject offer at Greengates is exceptionally broad, spanning 11 language A courses (English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Italian, German, Hebrew, and more), sciences, mathematics, humanities, arts, and technology, allowing students to construct a truly personalised diploma.

University Destinations

Greengates graduates gain places at leading universities across the world, with recent cohorts progressing to institutions including Cornell University, Duke University, McGill University, the University of British Columbia, Northwestern University, and the University of Manchester, among many others. The school holds recognition from UNAM and Mexico's SEP, ensuring its diplomas are valid for university entry across multiple countries.

Teaching Philosophy

Across all stages, Greengates employs a research-based pedagogical approach that prioritises critical thinking, creativity, and intellectual curiosity. Class sizes of 20-25 students per year group enable close teacher-student relationships and personalised instruction. Two dedicated counsellors support students in Years 7-13 with academic and university guidance.

A Global Student Body in Mexico City

Greengates School prides itself on being one of the most culturally diverse international schools in Mexico. The student body of approximately 1,200 draws from over 45 nationalities, creating a rich multicultural environment that is itself an important part of the educational experience. Approximately two-thirds of students come from internationally mobile families — diplomats, corporate expats, and globally minded families — while more than one third are locally based Mexican residents who choose Greengates for its English-language, internationally accredited education.

Languages as a Community Asset

This diversity is reflected in the school's language programme. English is the primary language of instruction across all subjects, but Spanish is a compulsory subject for all students, and French is offered as a further language. In the IB Diploma, students can study their home language as a Language A subject in Japanese, Korean, Italian, German, Hebrew, Spanish, or English, ensuring that students from many linguistic backgrounds can pursue their mother tongue to the highest academic level.

Admissions Open to All

Greengates operates a rolling admissions process, welcoming applications year-round from families arriving in Mexico City at any time. This flexible approach is designed specifically for internationally mobile families who may have little advance notice of a relocation. The school's English Language Support programme ensures that students who arrive without full English proficiency can make a smooth transition into the English-medium curriculum.

A Community Beyond the Classroom

The sense of community at Greengates extends beyond academics. The school offers over 100 afternoon activities, clubs, and workshops, providing students with opportunities to connect across year groups and nationalities through shared interests in sports, arts, cooking, technology, and more. International partnerships — particularly through the Nord Anglia network — allow Greengates students to collaborate with peers at schools in over 30 countries, deepening their global awareness and friendships.

The Juilliard Partnership

One of Greengates' most distinctive features is its collaboration with the Juilliard School in New York — one of the world's most prestigious performing arts conservatories. This partnership brings Juilliard-developed curricula and methodologies to Greengates' programmes in dance, drama, and music, elevating the quality of arts education far beyond what most international schools offer. Students at Greengates benefit from Juilliard's expertise in physical and creative expression, integrated into their regular school experience.

100+ Afternoon Activities

Greengates publishes a remarkable breadth of afternoon activity offerings — over 100 in total — spanning sports, arts, academic enrichment, and personal development. The school's four main sports are volleyball, football, basketball, and swimming, all offered at both recreational and competitive levels, with inter-school competitions against other local schools. Additional sports include cross-country, climbing, rhythmic gymnastics, flag football, tennis, badminton, and the Global Games Club.

In the arts, students can participate in drama, theatre, music (band, orchestra, choir), dance, art club, photography, and film-making. Academic and language clubs include the Global Issues Network, Spanish Conversation Club, Octavio Paz Workshop, English and Maths Boosters, and subject-specific IGCSE and IB workshops in Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Physics, and Mathematics. More unusual offerings include Knitting Club, International Cooking Club, STEAM Club, and Videogame Development Club — reflecting the school's commitment to nurturing the full range of student interests.

STEAM and Technology

Greengates' campus features a dedicated STEAM Maker Space alongside nine science laboratories and a computer and media centre. This infrastructure supports a strong emphasis on technology and inquiry-based learning, aligned with Nord Anglia Education's global STEM initiatives and partnerships with institutions such as MIT.

Only IEYC/IPC School in Mexico

Greengates holds the distinction of being the only school in Mexico officially delivering both the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) — globally recognised frameworks developed by Fieldwork Education. This exclusive recognition underscores the school's commitment to internationally benchmarked early and primary education.

Organic Learning Garden

The campus includes an organic learning garden, used for experiential science and sustainability education — a practical expression of the school's core value of environmental sustainability.

A School Born from Expatriate Need

Greengates School traces its origins to 1951, when Edward Fawkes and Frank Whitborn established a small school in the Lomas de Chapultepec neighbourhood of Mexico City to serve the children of British diplomats and expatriates. From its earliest days, the school's founding philosophy was clear: education should not merely transmit knowledge but form character — nurturing discipline, service, creativity, and the capacity to live meaningfully in the world.

Growth and Relocation

As Mexico City expanded and the school's reputation grew, Greengates outgrew its original premises. The school acquired its current site in Naucalpan, State of Mexico, in 1964, and construction of the main campus buildings was completed in 1971. Over the following decades, the campus continued to develop, adding specialist facilities for science, arts, technology, and sports. A significant architectural milestone came in 1997 with the completion of 'The Dome', a distinctive atrium space at the heart of the campus.

IB World School Since 1986

Greengates became an IB World School in 1986, one of the earliest such designations in Latin America. This longstanding commitment to the IB Diploma Programme has shaped the school's academic culture, with consistent results above the global average. The school is also recognised by Mexico's Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) and by UNAM, ensuring graduates hold qualifications valid for university entry in Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Joining Nord Anglia Education

In 2022, Greengates took a significant strategic step by joining Nord Anglia Education, one of the world's largest premium international school networks. This partnership brought access to global collaborative learning programmes, digital infrastructure investment, and high-profile partnerships — including with the Juilliard School in New York for performing arts education and with leading STEM institutions. The Nord Anglia connection has accelerated Greengates' technological transformation while preserving its distinctive British curriculum heritage and multicultural character.

Today

Today, Greengates serves approximately 1,200 students from over 45 nationalities, from Nursery through Year 13, on its 20,000+ m² campus in Naucalpan. It remains one of the most recognised international schools in greater Mexico City, combining seven decades of educational tradition with a forward-looking, globally connected approach.

A Rolling Admissions Model

Unlike many selective schools that operate fixed annual application cycles with single deadlines, Greengates School runs a rolling admissions process throughout the academic year. This model is deliberately designed to accommodate internationally mobile families who may receive relocation assignments with little advance notice. Families planning a move to Mexico City are encouraged to apply as early as possible before their planned arrival, but applications are considered at any time.

Who Applies?

Greengates attracts students from over 45 nationalities. The school is particularly well-suited to families of diplomats, multinational corporate employees, and internationally mobile professionals, as well as local Mexican families seeking an English-medium, internationally accredited education. More than one-third of the student body consists of locally based Mexican students, reflecting the school's strong reputation within the country.

Application Requirements

The admissions process requires families to submit standard documentation including a birth certificate, passport, vaccination records, recent school transcripts, and teacher references. An application fee of approximately 170 EUR and a deposit of approximately 1,000 EUR are required to secure a place. The school describes itself as selective, though specific acceptance rates are not published.

English Language Support

For students arriving without full English proficiency, Greengates offers a dedicated English Language Support programme to ensure a smooth and successful transition into the English-medium curriculum. This makes the school accessible to a wider range of internationally mobile students whose previous schooling may have been in another language.

SEN and Learning Support

The school has a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and provides learning support services for students with additional needs. Families should discuss specific requirements with the admissions team during the application process.

Starting Points

The school admits students at all year levels from Nursery (age 3) through to Year 13 (age 18), subject to space availability. The small class sizes of 20-25 students mean that some year groups may have limited places, and early application is recommended for families with a confirmed move date.