Selecting a school in Buenos Aires for our 7 and 9 year-old children

Hi Lauren and John!

Welcome to Expat.com.

Hope that you'll soon be enlightened.

Good Luck,
Harmonie.

Hi Lauren and John.

I'm from NJ and live in Buenos Aires with my wife (who's from Portland) and 2 kids, 5 and 7. We even know another expat couple here from Seatlle. We've been living here for the past 9 months and my kids both attend bilingual schools at which they are the only foreigners in their respective classes. They both spoke no Spanish and both are highly conversant now. We live in Belgrano which, for your situation, I HIGHLY recommend. If you have questions or would like to discuss in any further detail, my email is g_rabner@hotmail.com. Good luck!

Guy

Hi
We are a family with two boys ages 10 and 7 and moving there this Aug.  My kids have been accepted to Lincoln. This is the only school I can find on the North American calendar. My husband is worried that they will fall behind when we return because they will lose a semester when transferring back in a few years if they go to a school on the South American calendar.  We are from California.   
Question - if we attend Lincoln can we live in the city? Or what is the closest part of the city could we live in? I don't want to live in a gated suburb.
Also, does anyone know any other schools on the North American calendar?

Hi smillerhornbeek,

Lincoln is the only school in Buenos Aires on the northern hemisphere calendar. We're from New Jersey. We arrives here last August and have placed our kids in bilingual school in the city. We chose not to send our kids, 5 and 7, there because it is far more expensive than any school in the area, its not in the city and we wanted our kids to have a more authentic experience here. Both our kids are the only non-Argentines in their classes and while the transition wasn't always smooth our choice is paying dividends now. You can live in the city and go to Lincoln in the suburbs but it's certainly a hike to get there. People do it as we have met expats who send their kids there and love the school. Neither of our kids will "lose" a semester but will return in the same grade as though they never left... not sure how exactly your kids will lose anything unless you view their starting the next grade earlier in Argentina and then going back to rebegin that grade as a loss, which it really isn't. In any case, we live in Belgrano, a great neighborhood for families, with tons of excellent schools, convenient to transport to most anything youd want in the city, and are thrilled with our decision. Feel free and contact me if you have any questions: g_rabner@hotmail.com. Good luck!

Hola,
We are from Portland, OR. arrived here four years ago. Have a seven year old daughter who now is bilingual. Would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Our daughter would enjoy having  some new English speaking friends. Her other English speaking pals are sadly leaving in June!  PM us with any questions & perhaps we can arrange to have you over for dinner once you arrive.

Hi Lauren,
Bear in mind the billingual school it doesn`t mean they will be taught in both languages. Main courses will be in Spanish, while the afternoon shift will theach some subjects in English for argentinians to learn english.
I also agree that you should live near Belgrano.
Take care,
Juampi

We just arrived in Buenos Aires, coming from the Northwest as well: Vancouver, Canada. We know Seattle very well! We are originally from Buenos Aires, but we lived 10 years in BC, and our kids were born there.

Would like to know which schools did you find, as we are in the process of choosing a school for our kids (7 and 5). Looking forward to hearing from you all!

Cheers from Melina and Pablo

Slightly break your back money wise if you have to, go to a bi-lingual school without question, find a school that offers parents benefits such as family classes in castellano or work shops. Be very, very picky, it is allowed, call a dozen schools and arrange prelim interviews and/or chats, you will find one that has "a feel" and is right for your family. All the best!