🇵🇭 The Philippines · city school guide
International schools in Manila
Metro Manila's school choice is spread across Taguig, Pasig, Makati and Parañaque rather than one compact centre. BGC is important, but it is not the whole market. Compare the curriculum, support and actual campus location before deciding where the family should live.
Last verified 12 September 2026
The short answer
What should families know first?
Manila offers established American, British, IB, Cambridge and blended pathways. Published pricing is less consistent than in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, so a useful shortlist should separate schools with complete public schedules from those that require a personalised fee quotation.
School comparison
Compare the curriculum, complete bill and location
We use current school-published fees where they are available and clearly label schools that require a personalised quotation. Every figure is for shortlisting, not a substitute for a written invoice for your child's exact year and support needs.
| School and area | Curriculum and ages | Published tuition | Joining costs | First-year benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International School ManilaBGC, Taguig | American curriculum; IB Diploma in Grades 11-12Ages 3-18 | $9,720 + PHP 306,400 to $19,660 + PHP 623,800K-Grade 4: $15,160 + PHP 479,600 | Application $700 from Aug 2026; matriculation $4,500; facilities enhancement $4,500 | About $24,860 + PHP 479,600about £24,000 in your selected planning currency |
| Chinese International School ManilaMcKinley Hill, Taguig | American-core pathway with Mandarin; IB DiplomaAges 3-18 | PHP 684,700-1,124,300Grades 1-5: PHP 874,700 | The school says other applicable fees are discussed during admissions; the published tuition includes PHP 150,000 refundable subject to terms | At least PHP 874,700about £10,300 in your selected planning currency |
| Domuschola International SchoolUgong, Pasig | IB Primary Years, Cambridge secondary and IB DiplomaAges 3-18 | From PHP 62,000 per quarter in early years; primary from PHP 91,400 per quarterPrimary: from PHP 365,600 a year | The complete catalogue and foreign-student fees are supplied by admissions | At least PHP 365,600about £4,300 in your selected planning currency |
| Nord Anglia International School ManilaAseana, Parañaque | English curriculum; IGCSE, A levels and BTECAges 2-18 | Published from $12,369 a yearPrimary fee supplied through the school's fee schedule | Non-refundable enrolment fee applies; current full schedule is provided through admissions | At least $12,369about £9,100 in your selected planning currency |
International School Manila
BGC, Taguig
- Curriculum
- American curriculum; IB Diploma in Grades 11-12 · ages 3-18
- Published tuition
- $9,720 + PHP 306,400 to $19,660 + PHP 623,800K-Grade 4: $15,160 + PHP 479,600
- Joining costs
- Application $700 from Aug 2026; matriculation $4,500; facilities enhancement $4,500
- First-year benchmark
- About $24,860 + PHP 479,600about £24,000 in your selected planning currency
Chinese International School Manila
McKinley Hill, Taguig
- Curriculum
- American-core pathway with Mandarin; IB Diploma · ages 3-18
- Published tuition
- PHP 684,700-1,124,300Grades 1-5: PHP 874,700
- Joining costs
- The school says other applicable fees are discussed during admissions; the published tuition includes PHP 150,000 refundable subject to terms
- First-year benchmark
- At least PHP 874,700about £10,300 in your selected planning currency
Domuschola International School
Ugong, Pasig
- Curriculum
- IB Primary Years, Cambridge secondary and IB Diploma · ages 3-18
- Published tuition
- From PHP 62,000 per quarter in early years; primary from PHP 91,400 per quarterPrimary: from PHP 365,600 a year
- Joining costs
- The complete catalogue and foreign-student fees are supplied by admissions
- First-year benchmark
- At least PHP 365,600about £4,300 in your selected planning currency
Nord Anglia International School Manila
Aseana, Parañaque
- Curriculum
- English curriculum; IGCSE, A levels and BTEC · ages 2-18
- Published tuition
- Published from $12,369 a yearPrimary fee supplied through the school's fee schedule
- Joining costs
- Non-refundable enrolment fee applies; current full schedule is provided through admissions
- First-year benchmark
- At least $12,369about £9,100 in your selected planning currency
How we calculated the first-year figure
We used a new nine-year-old entering the closest published Year 5 or Grade 4 equivalent in the latest verified schedule, chose the annual tuition option where available, and added identifiable compulsory joining and development charges. When a current total is not public, we say that a quote is needed. Refundable deposits are explained in each note; optional transport, meals, uniform, devices, trips and individual support are excluded unless stated.
What sits behind the total
Read the small print before comparing two prices
A lower tuition figure is not necessarily a lower first-year bill. Open the current schedule and mark each amount as one-off, refundable, recurring or child-specific.
International School Manila
About $24,860 + PHP 479,600
Uses the published Grade 4 fee and listed initial charges; excludes bus and optional support.
Open the school pageChinese International School Manila
At least PHP 874,700
A floor, not a complete quote, because other 2026/27 fees are not itemised publicly.
Open the school pageDomuschola International School
At least PHP 365,600
Minimum published primary tuition; application, enrolment and foreign-student charges require a current quotation.
Open the school pageNord Anglia International School Manila
At least $12,369
Published starting tuition only; obtain the exact 2026/27 year-group invoice before comparing.
Open the school pageLocal-currency figures preserve the school's published billing basis. Selected-currency equivalents are rounded planning estimates, not transaction quotes.
Admissions and waiting lists
Start early, but ask about a real place before paying
“Applications open” and “places available” are not the same thing. Ask the admissions team to explain the position for the exact year group, start date and support profile.
Expect rolling admissions with priorities
A school may accept applications throughout the year while still applying nationality, sibling, employer or returning-family priorities. Ask how your child would be placed today.
Request one complete invoice
Manila fee pages vary in detail. Ask for tuition, initial charges, capital fees, local and foreign-student differences, transport, meals, devices and support in writing.
Keep more than one geographic option
A BGC school, a Pasig school and an Aseana school lead to different home and work corridors. Shortlist by route as well as curriculum.
- Ask whether the year is open, at capacity, using a wait pool or only accepting priority applicants.
- Confirm what assessment is required, whether it can be completed remotely and when a decision is normally made.
- Request the offer deadline, deposit treatment, deferral rules and refund position if employment or immigration changes.
- Ask whether siblings receive priority and whether each child is assessed independently for a place and support.
Accreditation checks
Verify the exact claim, campus and programme
“International”, “British”, “American”, “IB” and “Cambridge” do not all describe the same kind of approval. Check each claim with the body responsible for it.
International School Manila
Verify CIS/WASC status and the IB Diploma authorisation for the campus.
Chinese International School Manila
Verify the exact IB programme in the IB directory and any separate accreditation claimed by the school.
Domuschola International School
Verify IB PYP/DP authorisation and Cambridge registration for the named campus and programmes.
Nord Anglia International School Manila
Verify COBIS membership/accreditation and the exam boards behind IGCSE, A levels and BTEC.
Useful distinction: IB candidacy is not authorisation; membership of an association is not always accreditation; and an exam-centre relationship does not prove that every year follows that provider's full curriculum.
Learning and language support
Questions to ask the support lead, not only admissions
A school can be a strong general choice and still be unable to meet one child's needs in one particular year. Ask for a conversation with the person responsible for provision.
- 1
Is learning-support capacity available in the child's grade, not simply offered somewhere in the school?
- 2
Which assessments are accepted and will the school speak to the current SENCO, psychologist or therapist?
- 3
Are EAL, speech, occupational therapy, counselling or one-to-one support available in-house and separately charged?
- 4
Can the school support the child across the next transition into middle, high school or the IB Diploma?
- 5
What transport supervision and handover arrangements apply to younger or vulnerable pupils?
School transport and neighbourhoods
Let the confirmed campus shape the home search
Compare the door-to-door journey in school-week traffic, including rain, bus collection, sibling campuses and after-school pickup.
BGC and McKinley
ISM, British School Manila and CISM make Taguig a major school cluster, but BGC and McKinley are not identical journeys at peak time.
Pasig and Ortigas
Domuschola and other schools widen the choice east of the central business districts. Test C5 and Ortigas traffic at school times.
Makati
Makati can balance work and several school directions, but a central address does not guarantee a simple cross-city school run.
Aseana and the south
NAIS Manila and other southern campuses may suit Parañaque, Pasay and airport-side work better than a Taguig-first search.
Ask the transport team: Is the route door-to-door or stop-based? Who supervises younger pupils? What is the earliest pickup, latest drop-off and after-activity option? Can routes change, and is a seat guaranteed for the intended address?
Printable school shortlisting sheet
Keep every answer in one place
Use the city-labelled worksheet to compare up to six schools, build the full first-year bill and record the accreditation, support and transport questions that still need an answer.
Download the Metro Manila sheetContinue your research
Put the school inside the wider family move
Common questions
Questions about international schools in Metro Manila
How early should we apply to international schools in Manila?
Start serious enquiries six to twelve months before the intended start, and earlier for a popular year group or specialist support. Many schools use rolling admissions, but that means applications are considered as places arise - not that every grade always has space.
Does paying an application fee guarantee a place?
No. Application and assessment fees are normally non-refundable and pay for the admissions process. Ask whether the school has a likely place in the correct year and can support your child before paying.
What does the first-year estimate include?
Our benchmark uses one new primary-age pupil and the school's published annual-payment tuition plus compulsory application, registration, entrance, capital or development charges that could be identified. We show refundable deposits separately or explain when they are included. Transport, meals, uniforms, devices, trips and individual support remain outside the total unless stated.
Can we rely on a school's accreditation logo?
Do not rely on the logo alone. Search the accreditor or programme provider's current directory, match the exact campus and programme, and check whether the status is membership, candidacy, authorisation or full accreditation.
How should we compare learning support?
Send recent reports and professional assessments before applying. Ask what is delivered in class, what requires extra staffing or fees, the current caseload, whether places are limited, and what would happen if your child's needs change.
Should we choose a home before choosing a school in Manila?
Usually no. Confirm a realistic school place first, then test the journey at the actual drop-off and collection times. A short map distance can still create a difficult weekday routine.
Are the schools in this guide ranked or sponsored?
No. This is an independent research comparison, not a league table. Schools are included because their curriculum, location and published information help families understand the Manila market. Sponsored directory visibility does not affect this guide.
Do international-school fees in the Philippines stay the same after the first year?
No. Fees are normally reviewed annually and often rise as a child moves through the school. Model at least three years, including a move into secondary or senior qualifications, and read withdrawal and refund rules before paying.
Are all the main international schools in BGC?
No. BGC and nearby McKinley Hill contain several established schools, but useful options also sit in Pasig, Makati, Parañaque, Muntinlupa and elsewhere. The best geographic shortlist depends on both school and work locations.