Good to know
Good to Know
- Cayman International School (CIS) is the main IB/American option and generally the most expensive; it also runs a Caymanian Citizen Scholarship offering partial or full tuition support for Caymanian students, which is worth checking even if you don't expect to qualify for other aid.
- The British-curriculum schools (Cayman Prep and High School, St. Ignatius Catholic School) tend to run noticeably cheaper than CIS, which matters if you're budgeting for more than one child.
- Government (public) schools are free only for children who can prove Caymanian status/permanent residency; non-Caymanian residents on work permits must pay fees even at public schools, though these are still far lower than private tuition.
- Tuition is almost always billed and quoted in Cayman Islands Dollars (KYD/CI$); because the KYD is pegged to the US dollar (1 USD = 0.82 KYD), the USD cost is stable and predictable rather than something that fluctuates with currency markets.
- Popular schools, especially CIS, can have waitlists — if you're relocating with school-age kids, it's worth starting the application/inquiry process well before your move date.
- Private-school waitlists in George Town are real, not just a formality — apply around a year ahead (the October before an intended August/September start) for the best odds, especially at popular schools like CIS and Cayman Prep.
- Government (public) school seats are prioritized for Caymanians, government employees' children, and Permanent Residents first, so most foreign families should plan on private/international school or homeschooling as their realistic path.
- Homeschooling is a legitimate, DES-approved option that some families use temporarily while waiting for a private-school seat to open up, not just a niche lifestyle choice.
- A local community called Homeschool Cayman maintains an active resource site and events list for homeschooling parents, which is genuinely useful for newly arrived families navigating the DES paperwork.
Schools And Curricula
Schools
Cayman International School (CIS)
- Address
- 95 Minerva Drive, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman (adjacent to George Town, ~10 min from downtown)
- Curriculum
- American (US Common Core / Next Generation Science Standards) from Pre-K2 through Grade 10, transitioning into the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for Grades 11-12; CIS is an authorized IB World School.
- Ages Grades
- Pre-K2 (age 2) through Grade 12
- Notes
- Largest and most internationally-oriented school in the city; roughly 964 students from over 40 nationalities. Offers a partial/full-tuition Caymanian Citizen Scholarship programme.
Additional Fees
- Application Fee
- KYD 350
- Enrollment Deposit
- KYD 1,000
Tuition 2024 25
Pre-K2 (half-day)
- Pre K2 (Half Day)
- KYD 14,720
Pre-K2–Pre-K4 (full-day)
- Pre K2–Pre K4 (Full Day)
- KYD 17,390
Kindergarten–Grade 2
- Kindergarten–Grade 2
- KYD 20,850
Grades 3–5
- Grades 3–5
- KYD 24,050
Grades 6–8
- Grades 6–8
- KYD 26,980
Grades 9–12
- Grades 9–12
- KYD 28,700
Tuition 2025 26 Partial
Pre-K2 (half-day)
- Pre K2 (Half Day)
- KYD 15,240
Cayman Prep and High School (CPHS)
- Address
- 242 Smith Road, George Town
- Curriculum
- British system, primary through Sixth Form (A-Level equivalent).
- Ages Grades
- Kindergarten/Year 1 through Year 13
- Notes
- Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica; uniforms are required.
Tuition
Primary (KG–Year 6)
- Primary (KG–Year 6)
- KYD 11,630
High School (Year 7–9)
- High School (Year 7–9)
- KYD 12,620
Year 10–11
- Year 10–11
- KYD 13,365
Sixth Form (Year 12–13)
- Sixth Form (Year 12–13)
- KYD 14,760
St. Ignatius Catholic School
- Address
- Walkers Road, George Town
- Curriculum
- British curriculum (Early Years Foundation Stage through Year 13), with Cambridge International Exams (IGCSE) and/or Welsh Joint Examination Council exams for AS/A-Level.
- Ages Grades
- Nursery through Grade 12/Year 13
- Notes
- One of the oldest Catholic/international schools in the islands; religious/spiritual life is a stated part of the school's mission.
Tuition
Nursery–Primary
- Nursery–Primary
- KYD 10,510
Secondary (Year 7–11)
- Secondary (Year 7–11)
- KYD 12,159
Year 11–13
- Year 11–13
- KYD 14,215
Triple C School
- Address
- 74 Fairbanks Road, George Town
- Curriculum
- North American curriculum based on US national standards, preparing students for SAT/ACT; Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams and Advanced Placement (AP) courses (English Language, Studio Art) are also offered; Montessori framework used at the elementary/middle levels.
- Ages Grades
- Preschool through Grade 12
Tuition
Preschool (part-time)
- Preschool (Part Time)
- KYD 5,295
Preschool (full-time) / Pre-K
- Preschool (Full Time) / Pre K
- KYD 7,060
Kindergarten–Grade 3
- Kindergarten–Grade 3
- KYD 7,511
Grades 4–6
- Grades 4–6
- KYD 7,811
Grades 7–8
- Grades 7–8
- KYD 8,264
Grades 9–10
- Grades 9–10
- KYD 9,764
Grade 11
- Grade 11
- KYD 9,914
Grade 12
- Grade 12
- KYD 10,065
First Baptist Christian School (FBCS)
- Address
- George Town (KY1-1003)
- Curriculum
- North American-based Christian curriculum, English instruction; ministry of the First Baptist Church.
- Ages Grades
- Kindergarten through Grade 8
Tuition
General (elementary/middle)
- General (Elementary/Middle)
- KYD 8,664
Cayman Academy
- Address
- Walkers Road, George Town
- Curriculum
- General/local curriculum, English instruction.
- Ages Grades
- Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12
Tuition
Range across grades
- Amount USD Low
- 4129
- Currency Local
- KYD
- Amount USD High
- 6799
- Amount Local Low
- 3386
- Amount Local High
- 5575
Montessori School of Cayman
- Address
- 519 South Church Street, George Town (KY1-1202) — central George Town
- Curriculum
- Montessori method, English instruction.
- Ages Grades
- Pre-school through elementary
Tuition Per Month
- Amount USD Low
- 884
- Currency Local
- KYD
- Amount USD High
- 1067
- Amount Local Low
- 725
- Amount Local High
- 875
Montessori By the Sea
- Address
- Grand Cayman (near George Town)
- Curriculum
- Montessori framework for elementary/middle years, meeting UK Curriculum Standards and Objectives, English instruction.
- Ages Grades
- Elementary and middle years
Tuition
Annual range
- Amount USD Low
- 9821
- Currency Local
- KYD
- Amount USD High
- 11951
- Amount Local Low
- 8050
- Amount Local High
- 9800
Montessori Del Sol
- Address
- 11 Hinds Way, Grand Cayman
- Curriculum
- Montessori philosophy, Casa and Toddler programs.
- Ages Grades
- Toddler through early years
Tuition
Annual range
- Amount USD Low
- 9146
- Currency Local
- KYD
- Amount USD High
- 10488
- Amount Local Low
- 7500
- Amount Local High
- 8600
George Hicks High School
- Address
- 73 Academy Way, George Town
- Tuition
- Free for Caymanian residents; non-residents/work-permit holders pay a government-set fee — inquire directly with the Ministry of Education, not published as a standard rate.
- Curriculum
- Local government curriculum (public school); standard core curriculum for an 11–14/comprehensive intake, feeding into government secondary provision.
- Ages Grades
- Secondary
Homeschooling Legality And Community
- Legal Status
- Homeschooling is legal in the Cayman Islands under the Education Act, and is treated as an approved alternative way to satisfy compulsory education (compulsory school age is 5 to 17). Parents/guardians must ensure a child of compulsory school age receives full-time education either through school attendance or through DES-approved home schooling.
- Approval Timeline
- DES aims to review and respond to a homeschool application within about 10 days of receipt, though processing can take longer during the busy end-of-year/registration period; if approved, a homeschooling certificate is issued valid through the end of the school year (30 June).
- Ongoing Requirements
- Homeschooling parents/tutors must keep attendance records and submit an annual progress report to DES around June (the 10th month of the school year); DES conducts at least one home visit as part of registration, with a second unscheduled visit possible, and can liaise with the Office of Education Standards for assessment.
- Registration Authority
- The Department of Education Services (DES), part of the Ministry of Education, is the government body that approves and oversees homeschooling; applications are now processed online.
- Why Families Choose It
- Beyond religious or lifestyle reasons, homeschooling is explicitly recognised locally as a practical bridge option for a child who is wait-listed but has not yet been offered a private-school place, or who cannot be placed in the government system, as well as for families who travel frequently.
- Estimated Homeschooled Population
- Estimates of the number of homeschooled children across the Cayman Islands vary by source and year - one figure cites roughly 136 children for the 2024/25 school year, while another more general figure cites around 118 - indicating this is a small but non-trivial and apparently growing group, partly driven by long private-school waitlists.
Process And Documents
- Submit written notice of intent to homeschool to the Director of DES, annually, by August 1 for the upcoming school year
- Families arriving or deciding to homeschool after the school year has started must give written notice within 10 to 14 days of that decision (sources vary slightly on exact number of days)
- Create an Individualised Home School Plan (IHSP) per child, listing curriculum/syllabi, textbooks or instructional plan, and a weekly timetable covering core subjects
- Curriculum must cover reading, writing, mathematics, sciences, arts, physical education, social studies, and the history and culture of the Cayman Islands; it does not have to be an accredited program, though accreditation is encouraged
- Include a statement confirming the child will meet the compulsory education requirements of the Education Act
- A new application must be filed for each child, each year
Local Homeschool Community
- Name
- Homeschool Cayman
- How Families Use It
- Foreign families new to Cayman commonly use Homeschool Cayman as their first stop to understand the DES process step-by-step and to connect with other homeschooling parents for meetups, rather than relying solely on the government's own paperwork.
- Description
- A genuine, dedicated local homeschooling community and resource website exists, run by homeschooling parents, offering the application procedures and forms, a curriculum list, resources for tutoring/educational assessment/therapy, guidance on writing DES progress reports, an FAQ, and an email list for homeschool events and in-person gatherings.
International Bilingual School Enrollment
- Typical Timing
- At Cayman International School (CIS), the largest IB/American-curriculum option in Camana Bay near George Town, applications for the next school year typically open around October 1 of the prior year, with families able to apply for PreK2 through Grade 11 as early as October, though final enrollment decisions may not be confirmed until the following spring once class sizes are set. Re-enrollment for current students happens in February/March. Cayman Prep and High School, a long-established British-curriculum school, also reports high demand and advises submitting applications well in advance.
- General Pattern
- Space at George Town's private/international schools is limited and waiting lists are common, so early application is strongly advised for foreign families rather than assuming a seat will be available on arrival.
- Realistic Lead Time
- Foreign families should plan to apply at least 10-12 months before their intended start date (i.e., the October before an August/September start) for the best chance at a seat, especially at popular grade levels; applying only a few months out is common but carries real risk of landing on a waitlist rather than getting an immediate offer.
- Practical Note
- Admission requirements, fees, and waitlist behavior vary meaningfully school to school - a video tour or in-person visit plus a direct email to the admissions office to ask about current seat availability in the specific grade is the realistic first step, since public seat-availability information is not always current online.
- Government School Context
- Government (public) school placements in Grand Cayman are allocated by a strict priority order rather than open enrollment: Caymanian children are guaranteed a place first, followed by children of government employees, then dependents of Permanent Residents, with remaining spaces (subject to availability and tuition fees) offered to other applicants such as work-permit holders. This means most foreign/expat families in George Town end up relying on private or international schools, or homeschooling, rather than the government system.
Waitlist Mechanics
- How It Works
- At CIS, a child must first be formally accepted for their grade level before being placed into that grade's wait-pool if no seat is immediately open; simply submitting an inquiry does not put a family on a waitlist. If an accepted family does not pay the required seat deposit within 10 days of the offer, the seat is released and offered to the next family on the waitlist.
- Deposit To Hold A Seat
- KYD 1,000
Non-refundable, non-transferable seat deposit due within 10 days of an offer at CIS; applied toward the following year's tuition.
- Application Fee Example
- KYD 350
Per-child, non-refundable application fee at CIS; other private/international schools set their own comparable fees.
Required Documents Typical
- Completed online application form
- Non-refundable application fee (varies per school; CIS charges 350 KYD per child)
- Recent photograph of the child (not older than six months, at CIS)
- Most recent and final report cards/progress reports from the child's previous school
- Official transcripts and report cards for every year of prior schooling (secondary level)
- A confidential student reference/recommendation form completed by the previous school and sent directly school-to-school
- Entrance assessment and/or interview, depending on the school
- Proof of residency, work permit, or immigration status where applicable
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.