Bilingual Schools in Port Harcourt: A 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: are there bilingual schools in Port Harcourt? Not in the strict sense. The international schools here, including Greenoak, CrestForth, Koothill and Brookstone, teach in English, with French as a taught subject. Families who want a second language usually add Alliance Française classes. Indicative tuition is roughly ₦900,000 to ₦4 million a term.

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

Anyone searching for bilingual schools in Port Harcourt should hear the honest answer first: the city has very few, and none of the five schools in this guide describes a dual-language programme in which half the curriculum is taught in a second language. What exists instead is English-medium international schooling, a Nigerian and British curriculum mix, and French offered as a subject. That can still give a child real second-language ability, but only if you choose and supplement carefully.

This guide explains what "bilingual" can realistically mean in Rivers State, where each school sits, which curricula are taught, what to budget, and how to judge a school's language claims before you pay a deposit.

Port Harcourt: language reality and where the schools are

Port Harcourt is the capital of Rivers State and the centre of Nigeria's oil industry, with companies such as Shell and Chevron maintaining offices there. English is the language of business and of schooling, Nigerian Pidgin is widely spoken on the street, and Ikwerre is the local indigenous language most associated with the area. That mix is why a family arriving from abroad does not need a school to teach in English and a second language: English is already the common language for almost everyone.

The schools cluster in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) and nearby neighbourhoods. Greenoak sits in GRA Phase 3 with its primary campus on Tombia Road Extension. CrestForth is on Stadium Road in Elekahia, close to the GRA. Cedarwood is in Rumuibekwe, and Koothill is off Okuru Odili Road. Brookstone is split: its nursery and primary section is in the GRA, while the secondary and foundation school is at Igwuruta, roughly 15 minutes from Port Harcourt International Airport on the school's own account. Traffic can be heavy, so commute time often decides between two otherwise similar schools.

What "bilingual" can mean here

There are three models, and only the first two exist in Port Harcourt.

English-medium international school with French taught as a subject: this is the realistic option. Private schools in Nigeria commonly offer French, and it appears in the junior secondary subject list. Greenoak's preschool page, for example, names French as its one language beyond English.
Nigerian curriculum with indigenous languages: the national curriculum includes Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo in primary, and in 2022 the then Education Minister announced a plan to teach primary lessons in local languages. Ikwerre is not on that list, so a child in Rivers State will not usually study the local language in class.
True dual-language schools: where two languages carry the core curriculum. We found no evidence of one among the schools reviewed, and families who need this should plan for French immersion elsewhere.

Curricula you will meet

Cambridge Primary and Cambridge IGCSE: CrestForth describes a Cambridge approach and a 2021 press report says it is accredited by Cambridge Assessment International Education. Brookstone lists Cambridge exams and the IGCSE for secondary.
International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and IEYC: Greenoak and CrestForth both use IPC, and CrestForth adds the International Early Years Curriculum.
Nigerian curriculum and exams: Brookstone and Greenoak combine it with a British programme, and the Nigerian leaving exams (WASSCE and NECO) appear in Brookstone's exam list.
Foundation year: Brookstone describes a pre-degree foundation in partnership with NCUK.

Five Port Harcourt schools and their language offer

Greenoak International School

Greenoak says it runs a hybrid of Nigerian, British and American curricula, and its primary school opened in 2004 with a secondary school following in 2008, according to a public encyclopaedia entry that we could not cross-check with the school. The school serves day and boarding students, with a sixth form, and the same undated encyclopaedia entry puts roughly a quarter of its pupils as expatriates, a figure we could not confirm with the school. Its preschool page names French as a taught language.

Worth asking: how many French lessons a week there are in each year, and whether the school enters pupils for a recognised French exam.

CrestForth International School

CrestForth offers a Cambridge-based hybrid with IEYC and IPC for early years and primary. A Vanguard report from July 2021 describes a visit from a Cambridge representative and lists a language lab among the facilities reviewed. The school is on Stadium Road in Elekahia.

Worth asking: what the language lab is used for, and whether any subject is ever taught in a language other than English.

Koothill International School

Koothill says it teaches children from 2 to 16 and uses active, innovative teaching methods. It lists English as its language of instruction. We could not find a published curriculum or language policy, so treat any bilingual claim as unconfirmed until the school puts it in writing.

Worth asking: for the timetable showing language hours, and for the qualification pupils sit at 16.

Brookstone School

Brookstone is a Christian co-educational school. The school says its nursery and primary section was founded in 2003, while an encyclopaedia entry on the secondary school gives 2006 and notes occasional field trips to France. It teaches British and Nigerian curricula, and boarding exists at the Igwuruta campus.

Worth asking: whether the France trips are regular and whether French is examined at IGCSE.

Cedarwood School

Cedarwood is a nursery and primary school in Rumuibekwe that grew out of a playgroup established in 2003, and it says its class teachers hold at least a first degree. It teaches in English.

Worth asking: whether it prepares children for a school with a French or Cambridge pathway at 11.

Fees in Port Harcourt

None of these five schools publishes a full fee schedule that we could verify, so the figures here are broad, indicative market ranges per child per term, in naira, tuition only: nursery and reception roughly ₦600,000 to ₦2 million, primary roughly ₦900,000 to ₦2.5 million, junior secondary roughly ₦1.2 million to ₦3.5 million, and senior secondary and IGCSE years roughly ₦1.5 million to ₦4 million or more. At an assumed rate of roughly ₦1,500 to the US dollar, which moves often and should be checked against the current rate, that is about US$400 to US$2,700 a term. Boarding is extra, often roughly ₦1 million to ₦2.5 million a term.

Registration and entrance assessment: usually charged once.
Development levy or deposit: ask if it is refundable.
Uniform, books and devices: often billed separately.
Transport and meals: optional at most schools.
Exam entry: Cambridge IGCSE, WASSCE or NECO fees are paid in addition.
French or language tutoring: Alliance Française classes are a separate cost.

Because naira fees can change between terms, ask whether the school invoices in naira or dollars and when it can revise its prices.

Practical advice for a second-language plan

Ask for the language policy in writing. A genuine bilingual claim should say how many lessons a week are taught in the second language, in which subjects, and who teaches them. "French is offered" is not a bilingual programme. Compare the answers across schools and be wary of any school that cannot give numbers.

Use Alliance Française as the second layer. The Alliance Française de Port Harcourt operates in Old GRA, in Amadi Flats, and began in 1983. It is supported by the Rivers State Government and has taught more than 18,000 students, according to its public profile. For a child in an English-medium school, weekly classes there are the most practical route to a recognised French level.

Plan for the language you actually need. If you are moving on to France, Switzerland or a francophone country, French immersion may matter more than any local language. If you are staying long term, keep your home language alive with tutors or online classes. A sensible compromise is an English-medium school with strong French plus one home language outside school hours.

See the wider shortlist

For a broader view of schools across the state, see our list of the best schools in Rivers State, Nigeria.

More guides to schools in Port Harcourt

Frequently asked questions

Is there a truly bilingual school in Port Harcourt?

We found no school among those reviewed that describes a dual-language programme. Greenoak, CrestForth, Koothill, Brookstone and Cedarwood list English as the language of instruction. Greenoak's preschool page names French as a taught language, and Brookstone mentions field trips to France, but neither is a bilingual curriculum. Ask each school for lesson hours in writing.

Can my child learn French in Port Harcourt?

Yes, mostly through school subject lessons and outside classes. Private schools in Nigeria commonly teach French, and the Alliance Française de Port Harcourt, in Amadi Flats in Old GRA, has run French courses since 1983. A child in an English-medium school can add weekly classes there to reach a recognised level.

How much do international schools in Port Harcourt cost?

None of the five schools publishes a verified fee schedule, so figures are indicative. Expect roughly ₦900,000 to ₦2.5 million a term for primary and roughly ₦1.5 million to ₦4 million or more for senior secondary, before exam fees. Boarding is extra. Confirm the current price and currency with each school.