Admisión en colegios públicos (Infantil, Primaria y ESO)

What you need to have ready

1. Cl@ve, certificado digital or DNIe to sign the online application.
2. The escolarización calendar for your comunidad (application dates, baremo, lists, matrícula).
3. Know what you actually want: catchment area, siblings, schedules, comedor, etc.
4. Legible PDFs of your documents (under 5 MB; use B&W if the sede is picky).

Documentation

• Identity: DNI/NIE of the father/mother/guardian and of the child if they have one.
• Family link: libro de familia or certificado de nacimiento.
• Address: certificado de empadronamiento reciente of the child and parents (used for points by zone/municipio).
• Health: cartilla de vacunación (Infantil/Primaria) or reports if there are allergies/conditions.
• Extra baremo (if applicable): título de familia numerosa/monoparental, certificado de discapacidad/dependencia, certificado de empresa or contract + vida laboral for workplace proximity.
• Custody: if shared custody or dispute, signatures of both parents or a judicial resolution.

Step by step

1. Check your regional portal and the calendar. Examples: Madrid (https://www.comunidad.madrid/servicios/educacion/admision-alumnos), Cataluña (https://preinscripcio.gencat.cat/ca/estudis/infantil-primaria-eso/), Andalucía (https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/educacion/portals/web/escolarizacion), C. Valenciana (https://portal.edu.gva.es/telematricula/es/).
2. Fill the online form with Cl@ve/certificado: child’s data, address and schools in order of preference (add several — don’t gamble on one).
3. Authorise data queries for renta/domicilio if offered. If not, upload PDFs of empadronamiento, familia numerosa, discapacidad, certificado de empresa, etc.
4. Sign and submit. Download the justificante de registro (PDF with expediente number). Without it, it’s like you never applied.
5. Provisional baremo and lists: when published, check your points. If wrong, file alegaciones within the deadline via your CCAA sede or the Registro Electrónico General: https://rec.redsara.es/registro/action/are/acceso.do (attach proof).
6. Final lists and allocation: if assigned a place, matriculate at the school on the dates given (they usually ask for an appointment and original documents). If not, activate waiting lists from the portal.

Time‑saving tips

1. Apply on day one or two: you’ll avoid sede crashes and have time to fix docs.
2. Authorise queries whenever possible: you avoid uploading renta and padrón and still get the points.
3. Workplace proximity: if you want a school near your job, ask your employer for a certificado de empresa with the workplace address and, if required by your CCAA, add vida laboral.
4. Order schools sensibly: first pick the one you really want, then realistic nearby options. Don’t be shy about listing many.
5. Both parents sign when requested. Missing signatures can void the application or cost points.
6. Clear PDFs: no crooked photos. Scan flat and give files logical names ("empadronamiento_abril.pdf").

Typical mistakes that will mess you up

1. Submitting two applications in the same CCAA: they’ll cancel them. One per student.
2. Missing the deadline: you become late applicant or go to the waiting list and lose options.
3. Not matriculating after allocation: you lose the place and drop to the bottom.
4. Not authorising nor providing baremo documents: you lose points you should have had.
5. Outdated empadronamiento or lacking antigüedad: you lose zone points.
6. Uploading unreadable photos or not signing electronically: the application can be invalid.
7. Not checking the provisional baremo: if you don’t appeal in time, you live with the mistake until next year.