International School Fees in Lagos: 2026 Cost Guide for Families

Quick answer: How much do international schools in Lagos cost in 2026? International schools in Lagos charge roughly NGN 4 million to 15 million a year at established Nigerian-owned British curriculum schools and the equivalent of USD 15,000 to 30,000 at the fully international schools on Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki, several of which now index fees to the dollar. Add development levies, deposits, bus and exam fees.

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

Budgeting for international school fees in Lagos has become harder since 2023, not because schools have changed but because the currency has. Nigeria's commercial capital has one of the largest private education sectors in Africa, with a dozen or so schools that serve diplomatic, oil and gas, banking and returning Nigerian families, and their fees now span an enormous range in naira terms. This guide sets out what the main international schools charge for 2026, how dollar indexing works, which extras appear on the invoice and how to negotiate schooling into a Lagos package.

Why Lagos fees look the way they do

The single biggest factor in Lagos school costs is the exchange rate. In June 2023 the Central Bank of Nigeria unified the official and parallel exchange rates and allowed the naira to float, and the currency lost more than half its dollar value over the following eighteen months. Schools with expatriate teachers paid in foreign currency responded by indexing fees to the dollar, invoicing in naira at a stated rate or, at a few schools, invoicing in dollars outright for families able to pay from abroad. Nigerian-owned schools that pay staff in naira have raised fees more slowly, which has widened the gap between the two groups.

The second factor is geography. Lagos's international schools are concentrated on the islands: Victoria Island, Ikoyi and the Lekki Peninsula along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, with a smaller group on the mainland in Ikeja, Gbagada and Maryland. Traffic between the mainland and the islands is severe, so families almost always school where they live, and Lekki families in particular pay for long bus routes.

Private schools in Lagos are approved by the Lagos State Ministry of Education and educational services are exempt from Nigeria's 7.5% VAT, so tuition is not taxed. Many schools, however, add a separate development or infrastructure levy that funds generators, water treatment and security, costs that a Lagos school cannot avoid.

Curricula available in Lagos

British curriculum: the dominant model, from EYFS through IGCSE and A Levels, offered by both fully international schools and long-established Nigerian-owned schools.
International Baccalaureate: the IB Diploma is offered at a small number of schools, sometimes alongside A Levels.
American curriculum: one or two US-style schools with a high school diploma and AP courses.
Nigerian curriculum with British elements: many private schools prepare for both the West African Senior School Certificate and IGCSEs, giving students a dual pathway.
French curriculum: a French school serves the francophone and West African diplomatic community.

International schools in Lagos and what they charge

British International School Lagos

Located on Victoria Island, BIS is a British curriculum secondary school with IGCSE and A Levels and a boarding house, serving both expatriate and Nigerian families. It sits in the upper fee band, roughly USD 15,000 to 25,000 equivalent a year for day places, with boarding on top, and it has a strong record of university placement in the UK.

Grange School

One of the oldest private schools in Lagos, in Ikeja on the mainland, following the English National Curriculum through IGCSE and A Levels. Fees are quoted in naira, roughly NGN 6 million to 12 million a year depending on section, and its long history gives it a large alumni network among Lagos professional families.

Lekki British School

A British curriculum day and boarding school on the Lekki Peninsula offering IGCSE and A Levels, popular with families living in Lekki Phase 1, Chevron and Ajah who want to avoid the daily drive to Victoria Island. Fees are roughly NGN 5 million to 10 million a year, with boarding available for older students.

Meadow Hall School

A well-regarded Nigerian-owned school in Lekki running the British curriculum alongside Nigerian requirements from nursery through secondary, known for strong pastoral care and modern facilities. Fees are roughly NGN 4 million to 9 million a year, making it one of the more accessible options on the peninsula.

Children's International School

Known as CIS, this Lekki school offers a British curriculum primary and secondary with IGCSE and the IB Diploma and has a diverse intake of Nigerian and international families. Fees are roughly NGN 6 million to 14 million a year, with the IB Diploma years at the top of the range.

Fee ranges and extras in 2026

As a rough guide for the 2026-27 year, expect roughly NGN 3 million to 6 million a year for early years and primary at established Nigerian-owned British curriculum schools, NGN 5 million to 10 million for lower secondary and NGN 8 million to 15 million for IGCSE, A Level and IB Diploma years. The fully international schools on Victoria Island and Ikoyi charge the equivalent of roughly USD 12,000 to 20,000 for primary and USD 18,000 to 30,000 for secondary, either in dollars or in naira at an indexed rate that is revised each term.

Application or assessment fee: roughly NGN 50,000 to 250,000, non-refundable.
Admission, acceptance or development levy: roughly NGN 500,000 to 3 million, or USD 2,000 to 5,000 at the international schools, usually one-off and non-refundable.
Refundable deposit: often one term's fees, particularly at schools with a large expatriate intake.
School bus: roughly NGN 400,000 to 1.2 million a year; Lekki-Epe Expressway routes are the most expensive.
Uniforms: roughly NGN 150,000 to 400,000 for a full set.
Books, technology and lunches: often billed as a fixed annual sum; ask for last year's figure.
Exam fees: Cambridge and IB registrations are charged in foreign currency and passed on to parents, often NGN 500,000 to 1.5 million in the final year.

Almost every school bills termly, and a growing number offer a discount of 3 to 5 percent for annual payment in advance, which also protects families from mid-year rate changes at indexed schools.

Practical advice on paying for school in Lagos

Ask how the school sets its exchange rate. At dollar-indexed schools, find out which rate is used, how often it is revised and whether you can pay in dollars from abroad. A fee that is fixed in naira for the year can be worth a great deal if the currency moves.

Negotiate the levy as well as the tuition. Employers often agree to cover tuition without realising that a development levy or acceptance fee equal to a term of tuition is due at entry. Get the school's full fee schedule in writing and attach it to your relocation agreement.

Check what the fee actually buys. Lagos schools vary widely in what is included. Some cover lunch, books and after-school clubs; others charge for each. Power, water and security are expensive here, and a school that invests in them properly is worth a higher levy.

Compare Lagos school fees in one place

Each school above has a verified profile on International School Advisor with current fee bands, curricula, reviews and contact details. Use the ranking of the best schools in Lagos to compare the island and mainland schools side by side before you commit.

More guides to schools in Lagos

Frequently asked questions

How much does an international school in Lagos cost per year?

Established Nigerian-owned British curriculum schools in Lagos charge roughly NGN 4 million to 15 million a year depending on age, while the fully international schools on Victoria Island and Ikoyi charge the equivalent of USD 15,000 to 30,000, often indexed to the dollar. Add a development levy, deposit, bus, uniforms and exam fees to reach the real annual total.

Why do some Lagos schools charge in US dollars?

Since the naira was floated in June 2023 and lost more than half its value, schools that pay expatriate teachers in foreign currency have indexed fees to the dollar to keep budgets stable. Some invoice in naira at a stated rate revised each term; a few invoice directly in dollars for families able to pay from abroad. Nigerian-owned schools paying staff in naira generally still quote in naira.

Are there hidden costs at international schools in Lagos?

The main extras are a one-off admission or development levy of roughly NGN 500,000 to 3 million, a refundable deposit of about one term, school bus of NGN 400,000 to 1.2 million, uniforms and Cambridge or IB exam fees billed in foreign currency. Ask for the complete fee schedule from last year and confirm what tuition includes, since lunches and books vary by school.