Good to know
Good to Know
- Premium schools like ISM and BSM bill part of their fees in USD or GBP alongside PHP, so a weakening peso can raise your effective cost even if the school doesn't raise nominal rates.
- One-time entrance, matriculation, or capital development fees at top-tier schools (especially ISM and BSM) can each run into the thousands of USD — often more than a full term's tuition — so budget for the first year separately from ongoing annual tuition.
- Several well-regarded Catholic and Jesuit-run schools (e.g., Xavier School, OLVCS, Manila Japanese School) do not publish tuition fees online; you'll need to contact admissions directly for a quote.
- Foreign students generally need a Special Study Permit (SSP) from the Bureau of Immigration or a student visa, typically processed within the first two weeks of the school year — plan ahead as this can take several weeks.
- Fee schedules for the upcoming academic year are often not published until mid-year, so figures quoted by schools and directories usually reflect the prior year's rates — always confirm current numbers directly with the school before budgeting.
- For international schools, 'rolling admissions' does not mean 'apply whenever you like and get a spot' — the most in-demand grade levels genuinely form waitpools, and priority within that pool can depend on your visa/employer category, not just when you applied.
- Sort out your family's Philippine visa status early: schools like ISM cannot legally enroll a child on a tourist or short-term visitor visa, so this can become the real bottleneck even if a school seat is available.
- Waitlist policy varies a lot by school — some publish an active wait-pool (sometimes with a deposit), others say they currently have no waiting list at all — so always ask each shortlisted school directly rather than assuming.
- Homeschooling is fully legal and DepEd-regulated in the Philippines, but whether the official government program is open to non-Filipino-citizen residents is genuinely unclear from available guides — confirm directly with DepEd or an accredited provider before assuming a foreign family can use it.
- If eligible, independent 'indie' homeschooling gives more flexibility but puts the full record-keeping and eventual PEPT validation burden on the parents, whereas an accredited provider (with annual fees roughly ₱20,000–₱100,000) handles official records for you.
Schools And Curricula
- Overview
- Metro Manila has one of the largest concentrations of international and bilingual schools in the Philippines, clustered mainly in Bonifacio Global City (Taguig), Makati, Parañaque, Pasig, and Quezon City. Curricula on offer span American-style, British/IGCSE, International Baccalaureate (IB), Japanese, Catholic/Jesuit college-prep, and the Philippine DepEd K-12 curriculum (sometimes blended with international frameworks).
- Market Context
- Across roughly three dozen international schools tracked in Manila, curricula break down heavily toward IB, American, and British frameworks, with smaller numbers of Singapore, French, German, Australian, and Canadian programs, and average annual fees cited around PHP 583,876.
Schools
International School Manila (ISM)
- Curriculum
- American-style / IB World School
- Neighborhood
- Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
- Curriculum Detail
- International School Manila is one of the oldest international schools in Manila and the first school in Asia to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, and follows an American-style educational system integrating international programs and co-curricular activities.
- Curriculum Detail 2
- ISM provides a PK-12 program rooted in an American-based structure and is an IB World School, with the IB Diploma Programme offered in the upper grades and accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
- First Year All In Example
- ₱1,472,094
- Billing Note
- Fees are billed partly in USD and partly in PHP; the school asks that the USD portion be paid in US dollars and the PHP portion in Philippine pesos to avoid conversion markups.
Notable Fees
Matriculation Fee (New Students)
- Matriculation Fee (New Students)
- ₱276,750
Facilities Enhancement Fee (New Students)
- Facilities Enhancement Fee (New Students)
- ₱276,750
Application Fee
- Application Fee
- ₱43,050
Annual Tuition Range Per Year
- Low
- ₱650,000
- High
- ₱1,500,000
The British School Manila (BSM)
- Curriculum
- English National Curriculum (EYFS–KS3), IGCSE (KS4), IB Diploma Programme (KS5)
- Neighborhood
- University Park, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
- Curriculum Detail
- The curriculum is adapted from the English National Curriculum and organised into Key Stages; in KS4 students study IGCSE, and in KS5 they follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
- Billing Note
- Tuition is invoiced in a mix of GBP and PHP components each term; totals above already convert the GBP portion into PHP-equivalent figures.
- Founding Note
- The British School Manila was established in 1976, making it the oldest not-for-profit international school in Manila offering British education.
Notable Fees
Application Fee (Non-refundable)
- Application Fee (Non Refundable)
- ₱30,000
Entrance Fee (Non-refundable, on Acceptance)
- Entrance Fee (Non Refundable, On Acceptance)
- ₱340,000
Enrolment / Security Deposit
- Enrolment / Security Deposit
- ₱150,000
Capital Development Fee, Nursery–Year 11 (Annual)
- Capital Development Fee, Nursery–Year 11 (Annual)
- ₱171,630
Capital Development Fee, Year 12–13 (Annual)
- Capital Development Fee, Year 12–13 (Annual)
- ₱170,010
Annual Tuition Range Per Year 2026 27
- Low Nursery
- ₱536,040
- High Year12 13
- ₱1,414,215
Nord Anglia International School Manila (NAIS Manila)
- Curriculum
- English National Curriculum
- Neighborhood
- Aseana Business Park, Parañaque
- Curriculum Detail
- Located in Parañaque, NAIS Manila follows the English National Curriculum and offers globally recognized programs, part of the global Nord Anglia Education network.
- Tuition Note
- Published annual tuition by grade level was not itemized in available sources at the time of research; families should request the current fee schedule directly from the school.
Notable Fees
Non-refundable Enrollment Fee
- Non Refundable Enrollment Fee
- ₱231,530
Application Fee
- Application Fee
- ₱28,413
Reservation Fee (Refundable)
- Reservation Fee (Refundable)
- ₱50,000
Canadian American School
- Curriculum
- North American-style curriculum
- Neighborhood
- Makati
- Curriculum Detail
- Canadian American School offers a North American-style curriculum and emphasizes individualized learning, innovation, and global readiness.
- Tuition Note
- Specific annual tuition figures were not available in the sources reviewed; contact the school admissions office for current rates.
Reedley International School
- Curriculum
- American / project-based, whole-child philosophy
- Neighborhood
- Pasig
- Curriculum Detail
- Reedley International School is known for its learner-centered, 'whole child' approach, combining academics with life skills and character development, and has built a reputation for project-based learning.
- Tier Note
- British School Manila (BSM), International School Manila (ISM) in certain divisions, and Reedley International School are cited as mid-tier examples, roughly PHP 320,000–550,000 per year for primary grades.
Notable Fees
School Development Fund
- School Development Fund
- ₱10,000
Matriculation Fee (New Students)
- Matriculation Fee (New Students)
- ₱25,000
Everest Academy Manila
- Curriculum
- Catholic college-preparatory (Regnum Christi / RC Education licensed curriculum)
- Neighborhood
- Taguig
- Curriculum Detail
- Everest Academy Manila is a Catholic international school in Taguig affiliated with the Regnum Christi Catholic federation, offering a college preparatory curriculum designed to develop globally competitive students grounded in Catholic values.
- Tuition Note
- Base annual tuition figures beyond the capital development fee were not itemized in sources reviewed.
Notable Fees
Capital Development Fee, Kinder
- Capital Development Fee, Kinder
- ₱90,000
Capital Development Fee, Grades 1–5
- Capital Development Fee, Grades 1–5
- ₱120,000
Capital Development Fee, Grades 6–12
- Capital Development Fee, Grades 6–12
- ₱125,000
Southville International School and Colleges
- Curriculum
- Philippine DepEd curriculum blended with IB
- Neighborhood
- Parañaque
- Annual Tuition
- ₱190,000
Starting point; varies by grade level and campus, IB Diploma years are highest.
- Curriculum Detail
- Southville offers both local and IB curricula, with the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12 at the top of its fee range, and has outperformed the global average for International Baccalaureate scores.
Xavier School
- Curriculum
- Philippine K-12 + IB Diploma Programme
- Neighborhood
- San Juan / Greenhills area, Quezon City border
- Curriculum Detail
- Founded and managed by the Society of Jesus, Xavier School is a K-12 school and an IB World School authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
- Tuition Note
- Xavier School does not make its fees public.
Manila Japanese School (MJS)
- Curriculum
- Japanese national curriculum (with an international stream)
- Neighborhood
- Taguig
- Curriculum Detail
- Manila Japanese School (MJS) is a Japanese school located in Taguig City, aiming to nurture children who are internationally conscious and able to adapt to global society.
- Tuition Note
- MJS does not make its fees public.
Aguinaldo International School Manila
- Curriculum
- Blended Philippine National Standards + American Core Standards + IB elements
- Neighborhood
- San Marcelino Street, Manila (Ermita/Malate area)
- Curriculum Detail
- The curriculum blends the Philippines' National Standards with American Core Standards and international indicators from McRel and the International Baccalaureate Programme, guided by Understanding by Design. English is the language of instruction in core subjects, with Filipino and Mandarin taught as non-core languages.
- Tuition Note
- Specific tuition figures were not published in sources reviewed.
GCF International Christian School
- Curriculum
- Philippine DepEd K-12 Basic Education Curriculum with Christian integration
- Neighborhood
- Ortigas Center, Pasig
- Curriculum Detail
- GCF International Christian School serves Preschool through Senior High following the DepEd K-12 Basic Education Curriculum, with Senior High offering ABM, HUMSS, and STEM strands.
- Tuition Note
- Specific tuition figures were not published in sources reviewed.
Our Lady of Victory Catholic School (OLVCS)
- Curriculum
- IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP)
- Neighborhood
- Quezon City
- Curriculum Detail
- OLVCS is an authorized IB provider for the PYP and MYP, and is a Catholic school administered by the Priestly Society of St. Pius X (SSPX).
- Tuition Note
- OLVCS does not make its fees public.
Multiple Intelligence International School (MIIS)
- Curriculum
- Locally developed, based on Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences framework (not IB/American/British)
- Neighborhood
- Metro Manila (specific district not confirmed in sources reviewed)
- Curriculum Detail
- MIIS was founded in 1996 and is the first educational institution in the Philippines to base its approach on the multiple intelligence framework of psychologist Howard Gardner.
- Tuition Note
- Tuition figures were not found in sources reviewed.
Local Homeschooling Community
- Manila Specificity Caveat
- These are national-level Philippine organizations rather than confirmed Manila-only chapters; since Metro Manila is the country's largest population center, families there are the most likely to have active local participation, but no Manila-specific in-person co-op or chapter distinct from these national groups was independently verified.
National Organizations Found
- Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands (HAPI) — described as connecting families with homeschooling resources and community
- Philippine Homeschoolers Association (PHA) — described as focusing on supporting local and OFW (overseas Filipino worker) homeschooling families
- Homeschoolers of the Philippines — an active Facebook group used for sharing ideas and peer support
- Homeschool Global — a DepEd-partnered accredited provider offering structured homeschool support
Homeschooling Legality In Philippines
- Summary
- Homeschooling is legal in the Philippines and is recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) as an Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) of formal basic education, not an unregulated gray area.
- Legal Basis
- The current framework rests on DepEd Order No. 001, s. 2022, which strengthened the Homeschooling Program that was originally introduced under a 1997 DepEd memorandum, alongside the 1987 Philippine Constitution's recognition of parents' right to rear and educate their children and the state's complementary regulatory role over education institutions.
- How It Works
- The program is offered as an ADM by both public and private schools rather than as a purely independent parent-run arrangement outside the system: private schools must first secure a DepEd Permit to Offer the program, while public schools need authorization from their Regional Office, and each enrolled learner is assigned a school-based Homeschool Coordinator responsible for enrollment and progress monitoring, with parents acting as the primary day-to-day teaching agents.
- Legal Status
- Fully legal and regulated
- Assessment For Recognition
- Homeschooled learners are expected to take the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) and National Achievement Test (NAT) to gauge academic level, and a child transferring from home education into a conventional school must first be accredited by DepEd.
- Two Routes Families Describe
- Families generally describe two practical routes: enrolling through a DepEd-accredited homeschool provider (which issues official report cards/records and can smoothly transition a child back into conventional school), or pursuing independent/"indie" homeschooling where the family designs its own curriculum but must keep detailed records and rely on the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) to have the child's learning formally validated.
- Foreign Family Eligibility Caveat
- Sources disagree on whether foreign (non-citizen) families residing in Manila can actually access the official DepEd Homeschooling Program: some guides state the government-recognized program is limited to Filipino citizens residing in the Philippines, while others describe it more loosely as limited to "residents in the Philippines" without a citizenship test. This is an important open question for a digital-nomad family and should be confirmed directly with DepEd or a specific accredited provider before assuming eligibility either way.
Typical Provider Cost Range
- Amount Local Low
- ₱20,000
- Amount Local High
- ₱100,000
- Note
- Cost applies to accredited homeschool providers (private, fee-charging), which sit within the fully legal and regulated DepEd framework — figures are annual enrollment fees, not per-month.
International Bilingual School Admissions
- Overall Pattern
- International School Manila (ISM) in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) — the flagship, most-documented international school for expat/nomad families in Manila's nomad-relevant core — runs a rolling admissions system rather than a single once-a-year cutoff, but capacity at competitive grade levels still fills and produces real waitlists.
- Visa Dependency
- Schools cannot enroll a child who lacks an appropriate legal visa to reside temporarily in the Philippines with their parents — this is a hard gate, not a paperwork formality, so nomad families should sort out their own visa/residency status before or in parallel with the school application, not after.
- Waitlist Reality
- When a grade level or program is at capacity, ISM's Admissions Office maintains a formal Waitpool, and candidates on it are considered for admission only as openings become available — there is no guaranteed timeline for a wait-pooled child to get an offer.
- Mid Year Entry Reality
- New students can, in principle, be admitted and enrolled at any time during the school year if a space in the child's grade/program is open and all admission requirements are met, but realistically it is best to enroll within the first 15 days of a semester and not in the final month, especially for high schoolers who need attendance and credit minimums for graduation.
- How Far In Advance To Apply
- At ISM, applications are accepted a maximum of nine months in advance of the school year for which a student is expected to start, and the school explicitly describes itself as following a Rolling Admissions Policy that allows it to accept students throughout the academic calendar. Independent expat-family guides covering Philippine international schools generally recommend starting the process 6 to 12 months before the intended move, since spaces in competitive programs and grade levels can fill quickly and popular schools maintain waiting lists.
- Priority Tiers That Affect Waitlist Odds
- ISM runs an Admissions Priority Policy reflecting its founding mission to educate expatriate students temporarily residing in Manila: top priority goes to dependents of diplomatic/consular mission staff and accredited international-organization staff, with lower-tier priority extending down to dependents of permanent foreign residents and SRRV/SIRV visa holders. This means two foreign families can face very different real-world waitlist odds for the same grade level depending on their visa/employer category, not just application date.
- Other Schools Note
- Other established international and bilingual schools elsewhere in Metro Manila publish broadly similar sequences (online enquiry, document submission, placement assessment, interview, offer), and at least one major school currently reports no formal published waitlist, admitting purely against seat availability rather than a queue — waitlist policy genuinely varies school to school, so it must be checked directly with each shortlisted school rather than assumed.
Required Documents And Process Steps
- Completed online application file (most Manila international schools have moved to fully online applications)
- Copies of the child's and parents' passports and valid Philippine visa documentation — tourist and short-term visitor visas are explicitly not accepted for study purposes at ISM
- Previous school records/transcripts and, often, teacher recommendation forms
- Entrance assessment in English language skills and Mathematics; older candidates who have studied a foreign/modern language may also be tested in that language
- A required parent-and-candidate interview/meeting with a School Counselor before a placement decision is made
- For guardianship cases (child not living with parents), a Letter of Appointment for Local Guardian and a Guardianship Agreement Form requiring approval before the admission process can even begin
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
This section has no cited sources.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.