Academica Spain

What Academica Spain does

Academica Spain (legal entity ACADEMICA SPAIN, S.L.) is the Madrid-based Spanish operating subsidiary of U.S.-headquartered Academica Corporation, established in 2009 to commercialize the Diploma Dual® program across Spain and Portugal. The company delivers an international dual-diploma validation program that enables secondary school students (2º ESO through 2º Bachillerato, ages 13-18) to earn both their national diploma and the American High School Diploma simultaneously by completing six subjects: four mandatory U.S. curriculum courses (English, U.S. History, U.S. Government, Economics) and two electives not available in the European curriculum (such as Digital Photography, Criminology, Psychology, Tourism, and Life Management Skills). The platform combines an asynchronous digital curriculum with live sessions taught by American teachers, achieving 75% credit validation against the 24 credits required for the American diploma through international convalidation agreements.

The business model is B2B2C and subscription-based: schools pay partnership fees to offer the program to their enrolled students, while students and families access the curriculum through their schools. Academica Spain operates as the distribution and operations layer for the Iberian market, with over 1,000 affiliated schools in Spain and Portugal. The company supplements the core diploma program with Academica University (a videoconference-based university orientation program connecting students with U.S. and Spanish universities), Talent & Heart (alumni and graduation programming), and Editorial Educativa (educational publishing). Accreditations come from the Florida Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education, National Blue Ribbon Schools, AdvancED, and SACS, with the program recognized in all U.S. states and universities worldwide. The Spanish entity runs with a lean 22-person headcount, while the broader Academica organization reports 100,000+ students, 5,000 teachers, and 200+ schools across 10+ U.S. states.

Name

Academica Spain

Legal name

ACADEMICA SPAIN, S.L.

Website

https://academica.school

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Articulation & Credit Transfer Partnerships (EDAIABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Diploma-to-Degree / Articulation & Credit-Transfer Pathways (EDAIAJAG)

Keywords

• International dual diploma
• High school convalidation
• Secondary education programs
• Bilingual academic credentials
• University pathway services

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. School Partnership Fees: Schools pay partnership fees to offer the Diploma Dual program to their students. The program is marketed directly to families through schools.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Academica Spain sells and distributes the Diploma Dual®, an official international convalidation program through which secondary school students in Spain and Portugal obtain both their national diploma and the American High School Diploma simultaneously. Schools affiliate as partners and pay recurring fees, students complete 6 subjects (4 mandatory + 2 electives) covering 75% of the 24 credits required for the American diploma, and supplementary services include Academica University orientation and the Talent & Heart alumni/graduation program.

Product overview

Academica Spain operates a unified educational program portfolio centered on the Diploma Dual®, an international dual-diploma validation program. The core offering allows students from 2º ESO through 1º Bachillerato to simultaneously earn both their national secondary education diploma and the American High School Diploma. The company also provides supplementary services including Academica University (university orientation and connections) and Talent & Heart (alumni support). The organization maintains partnerships with over 1,000 schools across Spain and Portugal, serving more than 100,000 students under accreditation from Florida's educational authorities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Diploma Dual: Official international validation program for high school diplomas that allows students to obtain two simultaneous degrees: their home country diploma and the American High School Diploma.
• Academica University
• Talent & Heart
• Editorial Educativa

Products and services

• Diploma Dual® The official international dual-diploma validation program that allows secondary school students in Spain and Portugal (2º ESO through 2º Bachillerato) to simultaneously earn their national diploma and the American High School Diploma. Students complete 6 subjects (4 mandatory curriculum + 2 electives) yielding 75% of the 24 credits required for the American diploma. Sold to schools as a partnership; delivered to students through their affiliated schools with live online sessions taught by American teachers.
• Academica University University orientation and pathway program connecting Diploma Dual graduates with universities in Spain, Portugal, and the United States through videoconferences featuring university representatives. Used by partner universities to recruit internationally prepared, English-proficient students and by students to explore higher education options.
• Talent & Heart

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of the 24 required credits for American High School Diploma through only 6 subjects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Miami Dade CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Miami Dade College, led by President Madeline Pumariega, signed a partnership with Academica to open US public university access to Spanish students. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to hope, opportunity, and international connections, providing accessible pathways for Spanish students to US higher education.
• State University System of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple Florida state universities participate in Academica University Around The World program, including Florida A&M University, Florida International University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, and many more community colleges. These partnerships provide pathways for Diploma Dual graduates to continue their studies in US public universities.
• Florida Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademica's educational services are accredited under the highest standards of the American education system including Florida State and its Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education, National Blue Ribbon Schools, AdvancED, and Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
• Florida State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSU is one of the Florida state universities participating in the Academica University Around The World program, offering Spanish students pathways to US higher education through the Diploma Dual program.
• University of Central FloridamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCF participates in Academica University program, providing videoconferences and information sessions for Spanish students interested in studying in the US.
• Whatcom Community CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhatcom Community College participates in Academica University Around The World sessions, presenting their programs, degrees, and certificates to 1º de Bachillerato students in the Diploma Dual program.
• Universidad VillanuevamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish private university partnering with Academica to provide university guidance and pathways for Diploma Dual graduates.
• Universidad CEUmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Spain's leading university groups participating in Academica University Around The World to connect with internationally-prepared students.
• European UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean University (EURUNI) participates in Academica University Around The World program offering international education pathways.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EF Education First: Global education company offering language immersion, international exchange programs, and academic pathways for non-English-speaking students — comparable in serving Spanish/Portuguese students seeking English-language credentials and international education experiences.
• Pearson Edexcel: Delivers international GCSEs and A-Levels through a global network of partner schools, providing alternative internationally-recognized secondary credentials. Comparable in operating a school-partner model for international qualifications at the secondary level.
• OxfordAQA: Joint venture offering international GCSEs and A-levels to schools worldwide, including in Spain and Portugal. Closely comparable business model of delivering British international secondary qualifications through partner schools.
• International Baccalaureate Organization: Offers the IB Diploma Programme, the leading international secondary school credential recognized globally by universities — comparable as a globally-recognized alternative international diploma for secondary students, including in Spain and Portugal where IB is expanding.
• Cambridge International Education: Provides internationally-recognized secondary credentials (IGCSE, A-Levels) that allow students to complement national curricula and gain admission to universities worldwide — directly comparable in offering internationally-validated credentials to Spanish/Portuguese secondary students.

Others

• British Council: UK international organization promoting British education and qualifications abroad, including in Spain. Comparable as an enabling/credential-recognition intermediary for international education partnerships, though not a direct commercial competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Cognita Schools: International schools group operating in Europe, Asia, and the Americas with private and bilingual campuses. Comparable in operating internationally-oriented secondary education, particularly across European markets including Spain.
• College Board: US-based organization administering AP courses, SAT, and college admissions infrastructure that underpins US-bound international students. Comparable in serving as a gateway credential for international students seeking admission to US universities, including via partnerships referenced in the Academica University program.
• GEMS Education: Largest international K-12 schools operator with global footprint including premium bilingual campuses. Comparable as a scaled operator in international secondary education serving globally-mobile families, though GEMS runs schools directly rather than through a partner-network model.
• Nord Anglia Education: Premium international schools group operating across multiple continents with a focus on globally-recognized curricula. Comparable in serving families seeking international credentials at the secondary level, though operating owned-and-operated schools rather than a partner-channel model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZqT5Jk5ZlZJZZjN5V9W0YQ
• Instagraminstagram.com/academicaspain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/academicaspain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Academica Spain