International School Admissions in Port Harcourt: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Last reviewed: October 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Moving to Rivers State with children usually means one thing comes first: securing a school place before the term starts. This guide covers international school admissions in Port Harcourt step by step, from the first enquiry to paying the deposit, with the documents, age rules and timing that catch new families out. It is written for expatriate families arriving on oil and gas contracts as well as Nigerian families returning from abroad.

Admissions in Port Harcourt are less formal than in cities such as Dubai or Singapore. There is rarely a central deadline, few schools publish fee schedules online, and much of the process happens by phone, WhatsApp and in person at the school office. That flexibility helps if you arrive mid-year, but it also means you need to be organised and ask the right questions early.

Port Harcourt for school-age families: areas and commutes

Port Harcourt is the capital of Rivers State and one of the centres of Nigeria's oil and gas industry, which is why many international families end up here. Assignments are often tied to operators and service companies in Trans-Amadi, Onne and the surrounding area, and housing for expatriate staff tends to cluster in the Government Reservation Areas (GRA Phases 1 to 3 and Old GRA), along Peter Odili Road and in Woji.

The schools in this guide follow the same pattern. Greenoak sits in GRA Phase 3, Crestforth is off Stadium Road in Elekahia near the GRA, Cedarwood is in Rumuibekwe, and Koothill is on Okuru, off Odili Road. Brookstone splits its sites: the nursery and primary school is in the GRA, while the secondary and foundation school is at Igwuruta on the Airport Road, on the outskirts of the city.

Commute times matter more than distance. Traffic on Ikwerre Road, Aba Road and around the major junctions can turn a short drive into a long one at school run time, especially in the rainy season when some roads flood. Many families employ a driver or use the school bus where one exists. Before you accept an offer, drive the route at 7am on a weekday and ask the school about its security arrangements at drop-off and pick-up.

Curricula you will find in Port Harcourt

Most "international" schools in the city run a blend rather than a single foreign programme. Based on the school profiles, families will come across:

• Hybrid British and Nigerian curricula: the most common model, combining the Nigerian national curriculum with British content and, at some schools, American elements, as at Greenoak.
• International Primary Curriculum (IPC): a theme-based primary programme used at Greenoak and Crestforth.
• Cambridge and IEYC: Crestforth combines Cambridge Assessment International Education with the International Early Years Curriculum for its youngest pupils.
• NCUK Foundation (pre-degree): Brookstone runs a foundation year in partnership with NCUK for students heading to university.
• English as the language of instruction: every school listed here teaches in English.

When you ask about curriculum, ask specifically which exams pupils sit at 16 and 18. Many Nigerian private schools prepare students for WAEC and NECO, some also for IGCSE, and the answer shapes how easily a child can move to another country later.

Schools to shortlist and what their admissions look like

Brookstone School

Brookstone is an independent, co-educational school with a Christian ethos covering nursery, primary, secondary and a pre-degree foundation programme run with NCUK. Its nursery and primary school dates from 2003 and is in the GRA, while the secondary and foundation school is at Igwuruta, about 15 minutes' drive from Port Harcourt International Airport. The profile lists boarding as a service.

Admissions tip: because primary and secondary are on different sites, a family with children in both stages will be doing two school runs. Ask whether boarding is open to younger secondary pupils, and whether entry to the foundation year has separate academic requirements.

Greenoak International School

Greenoak, at 99 Tombia Extension in GRA Phase 3, describes itself as an international school with more than 630 pupils aged 5 to 16. It runs a hybrid of the International Primary Curriculum, British and American curricula and the Nigerian curriculum.

Admissions tip: the stated starting age is 5, so families with a three or four year old will need a separate nursery placement first. Ask how entrants from British or American systems are placed by year group, since the hybrid model does not map neatly onto either.

CrestForth International School

Crestforth is a private school at 10 Ambrose O. Ogbonna Avenue, off Stadium Road in Elekahia, near the GRA. Its description focuses on the early years and primary, from pre-toddler and toddler classes through nursery and primary, using a mix of Cambridge, IEYC and IPC.

Admissions tip: if your child is near the end of primary, ask early where pupils typically move on to for secondary, and whether the school helps with entrance exam preparation for those schools.

Koothill International School

Koothill, at 6 Koothill Drive on Okuru, off Odili Road, takes children from 2 to 16 and teaches in English. The school describes its approach as active and innovative, with an emphasis on independence and curiosity.

Admissions tip: with an intake from age 2, Koothill can be a single school from nursery to the mid-teens, which reduces the number of transitions. Ask what happens after 16, since families will need a plan for the final two years of secondary.

Cedarwood School

Cedarwood, at 6 Olaribigbe Street, 5th Avenue, Rumuibekwe, grew out of Kiddies Pride Creche Playgroup and Nursery School, established in 2003. The school states that all class teachers hold at least a first degree, and it is run by a board of directors with an advisory board.

Admissions tip: Cedarwood's roots are in early years and primary, so confirm which year groups currently have space and whether there is a waiting list for popular nursery classes.

Fees and payment at admission

None of the five schools publishes fees on its profile, so treat these figures as rough guidance and ask each school for its current schedule. For day places at private international schools in Port Harcourt, families should budget roughly ₦1.5 million to ₦3.5 million a year for nursery and primary, and roughly ₦3 million to ₦6 million a year for secondary. Boarding adds considerably more. At current exchange rates this is very roughly US$1,000 to US$4,000 a year, but that conversion moves often.

Context matters here. Nigeria's Universal Basic Education Act 2004 makes nine years of basic education (primary plus junior secondary) free and compulsory in public schools, so private school fees are a choice rather than a requirement. The naira was floated in June 2023, so fees quoted in naira have been revised often, and a figure from a friend last year may already be out of date.

Extras to ask about at the offer stage:

• Application or registration fee: usually paid with the form and not refundable.
• Entrance assessment fee: some schools charge separately for tests.
• Acceptance fee or deposit: often needed within days to hold the place.
• Development or building levy: sometimes a one-off charge for new pupils.
• Uniforms, books and stationery: commonly bought from the school.
• School bus and meals: billed per term where offered.
• Exam fees: WAEC, NECO or Cambridge entries in the exam years.
• Devices and ICT: some schools ask for a laptop or tablet.

Fees are usually billed per term across the three-term year, with a discount at some schools for paying the full year upfront or for siblings.

Practical advice: the admissions process step by step

Enquire, visit and check age placement first. Call or message the school office as early as possible, ideally six months ahead, and book a visit rather than walking in. Ask about class sizes, teacher turnover, power supply, security and which year groups have space; if you are still abroad, ask for a video call, the prospectus and the fee schedule. Raise year placement at this stage too. In Nigeria, children usually enter Primary 1 at around six and move to Junior Secondary 1 after six years of primary, often by entrance exam, so a child coming from England or the US may be placed a year differently. Ask the school to explain its placement, including how a September birthday is treated, before you pay anything.

Prepare documents and expect an assessment. Complete the application form and pay the fee, then supply a birth certificate or passport, recent passport photographs, the last two years of school reports, a transfer or leaving letter, immunisation records and, for expatriates, a copy of a parent's residence permit or work documents, with foreign reports translated into English. Most schools then set an entrance test in English and mathematics, sometimes with general knowledge, plus a short interview with the child and parents, usually within two weeks. Nursery children are normally seen in an informal play-based session, while entry to JSS1 and above is tested more formally.

Secure the offer in writing and plan for mid-year entry. A successful applicant receives an offer letter with fees and a deadline; pay the acceptance fee or deposit promptly, then buy uniforms and books. The academic year normally starts in September, with terms beginning again in January and around April or May. Because families arrive throughout the year on oil and gas rotations, most schools will consider a mid-year applicant if there is space, but popular year groups can be full, so apply to two or three schools at once and ask about waiting lists. Get the offer, fee schedule and refund policy by email, and if your employer is paying, check whether the school will invoice the company directly and in which currency.

Compare schools across Rivers State

Once you have a shortlist, compare it against the wider list of best international schools in Rivers State, then book visits to your top two or three before committing to a deposit.

More guides to schools in Port Harcourt

• How to choose an international school in Port Harcourt
• International school fees in Port Harcourt
• Best international schools in Rivers State

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply to an international school in Port Harcourt?

Ideally six months before your start date, and by spring for a September start. Most private schools in Port Harcourt admit all year, so later applications are possible, but popular nursery and early primary classes fill first. If you arrive mid-year on a work rotation, contact two or three schools at once and ask which year groups currently have places.

What documents do Port Harcourt schools ask for?

Expect a birth certificate or passport, passport photographs, the last two years of school reports, a transfer letter from the previous school and immunisation records. Expatriate families are often asked for a copy of a parent's residence or work permit. Reports in another language should be translated into English before you submit the application form.

Is there an entrance exam for international schools in Port Harcourt?

Most private schools set an entrance assessment, usually English and mathematics, followed by a short interview with the child and parents. Nursery children are normally observed in an informal play session instead. For entry into Junior Secondary 1 and above, tests are more formal, and some schools charge a separate fee for the assessment.