Best International Schools in Tbilisi: 2026 Guide for Families

Quick answer: what are the best international schools in Tbilisi? It depends on curriculum. Families often shortlist New School (IB), QSI International School of Tbilisi (American-style), British International School of Tbilisi, Finnish International School Georgia and St. George's British-Georgian School. Our directory lists ten Tbilisi schools, with fees roughly GEL 15,000 to 70,000 a year.

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

Tbilisi has become one of the most talked-about relocation cities in the region, and the question we hear most often from parents is simple: which are the best international schools in Tbilisi? The honest answer is that there is no single best school. The city now offers the International Baccalaureate, American, British, Finnish and bilingual Georgian and English routes, and the right choice depends on your child's age, your next move and how long you plan to stay.

This guide explains what "best" should mean for different families, sets out the curricula available, profiles five schools with distinct approaches, gives indicative fees in Georgian lari and finishes with practical advice for choosing well. Every school mentioned has a profile on our directory, so you can go deeper before booking a visit.

Tbilisi for relocating families: where schools are and how long the commute takes

Families come to Tbilisi for many reasons: diplomatic and development postings, tech and remote work, regional business, and a cost of living that is still lower than most European capitals. Georgia is also easy to arrive in. Citizens of around 95 countries, including EU states, the UK and the US, can stay in Georgia without a visa for up to one year, which is why many relocating families arrive first and choose a school on the ground.

The city stretches along the Mtkvari river valley, and its international schools tend to sit on the green edges rather than in the old town. The Lisi Lake area in the north-west is home to British International School of Tbilisi and the Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy, and the new housing around the lake is popular with expat families. New School sits on the Tskneti highway above Vake and Bagebi, the leafy districts where many foreign families rent. QSI is out at Zurgovani in the north-east, near the Tbilisi Sea, while Finnish International School Georgia is in Saguramo, in Mtskheta municipality, north of the city.

Distances look small on a map, but traffic on the main arteries and the hilly roads make the commute the deciding factor for many parents. A school run from Saburtalo to Saguramo or Zurgovani can easily take 40 minutes at peak times. Most schools run buses, so check routes and pick-up times before signing a lease.

Curricula available in Tbilisi

International Baccalaureate: New School, International School of Georgia, and the European School both list the IB among their programmes.
American-style education: QSI International School of Tbilisi runs the Quality Schools International curriculum in English. American International School Progress offers AP subjects and a double diploma, with accreditation linked to the College Board, and the Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy teaches most subjects in English for grades 8 to 12.
British qualifications: St. George's British-Georgian School delivers Pearson Edexcel IGCSE and A Level exams locally, and British International School of Tbilisi follows a British approach in English.
Finnish model: Finnish International School Georgia teaches in English and Finnish, following the Finnish education model.
Bilingual Georgian and English: St. George's, Buckswood International School Tbilisi and Georgian-American High School teach in both languages, combining the Georgian national curriculum with international elements.

What makes a school the best fit in Tbilisi

For a family on a three-year posting, "best" usually means a school that makes the next move easy: a curriculum recognised wherever you go next, a large international student body and teachers used to children arriving mid-year. For a family settling long term, or a Georgian and foreign household, it may mean a school where children become literate in Georgian while gaining international qualifications. Academic results matter, but in a city where few schools publish detailed results, curriculum fit, location and value often decide the shortlist.

Five schools with distinct strengths

New School, International School of Georgia

New School on the Tskneti highway has almost 800 students from 37 nationalities, which makes it one of the largest international communities in the city. It teaches in English and offers the International Baccalaureate, with an emphasis on inquiry, critical thinking and student agency. In 2018 it was selected by the European Union as a pilot school for the Eastern Partnership European School programme. It fits families who want an IB pathway in a large, diverse school. Tip: with a big student body, ask about class sizes and how new arrivals are paired with buddies.

QSI International School of Tbilisi

Founded in 1995, QSI is one of the longest-established international schools in Georgia. It has approximately 250 students representing over 30 nationalities, teaches in English with certified teachers, and is based in Zurgovani village. As part of the Quality Schools International network, it suits diplomatic and development families who may move to another QSI school or to an American-system school elsewhere. The smaller size gives a family feel, but check transport times from your area, as the campus is on the edge of the city.

British International School of Tbilisi

BIST is in the Lisi Lake area and teaches in English, with a multicultural student and staff body drawn from families around the world. It places weight on a warm welcome for newcomers, which matters for children arriving mid-year. It fits families following a British pathway, or those likely to return to the UK. Ask which exam boards it uses at IGCSE and sixth form level and how pupils are supported with university applications.

Finnish International School Georgia

FIS is in Saguramo, in Mtskheta municipality, and was launched after an initiative in 2018 by Alliance Group Holding. It teaches in English and Finnish and follows the Finnish education model, with a focus on creativity, critical thinking, cooperation and global citizenship, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It suits families drawn to a less exam-driven, project-based approach and to a semi-rural setting. The location means a longer commute from central districts, so ask about school bus routes.

St. George's British-Georgian School

Established in 2003 as British Connection and renamed in 2013, St. George's teaches in English and Georgian across primary, key stages 3 and 4, and sixth form. It is a registered Pearson Edexcel International Examination Centre and delivers IGCSE and A Level exams to its students locally. Its Office of International Relations helps students apply to universities abroad. It suits Georgian and mixed families who want British qualifications without giving up Georgian, and expat families staying long enough to value the local language.

International school fees in Tbilisi

Fees vary widely between the large international schools, which often quote in US dollars or euros, and bilingual Georgian schools, which usually quote in lari. None of the schools above publishes fees on its profile, so treat these indicative annual tuition ranges for 2026 to 2027 as a guide only.

Early years: roughly GEL 15,000 to 40,000 a year, around USD 5,500 to 15,000.
Primary: roughly GEL 20,000 to 55,000 a year, around USD 7,500 to 20,000.
Secondary, IB Diploma and A Level: roughly GEL 30,000 to 70,000 a year, around USD 11,000 to 26,000.
Bilingual Georgian and English schools: roughly GEL 8,000 to 25,000 a year, often much lower than the large international schools.

Extras to budget for:

application and assessment fee
registration fee or capital levy, sometimes charged once per family
refundable deposit
school bus, important for campuses outside the centre
lunches, uniforms and sports kit
IB, IGCSE, A Level or AP exam fees
a personal laptop in upper grades and residential trips

If your employer pays fees in dollars or euros while your rent is in lari, keep an eye on exchange rates; the lari has moved noticeably against both currencies in recent years.

Practical advice for choosing the best school for your family

Use the visa-free year to visit in person. Because many nationalities can stay in Georgia for up to a year without a visa, you do not need to commit from abroad. Rent short term in the area you like, visit two or three schools in the same week and compare how each one answers the same questions about class sizes, teacher turnover and support for new arrivals.

Match the curriculum to your exit plan. If you are likely to move on within three years, an IB or American-style school with a large international community will make the next transition easier. If you are staying longer or have a Georgian parent, a bilingual school with Georgian and British qualifications may serve your children better. Ask each school which universities recent graduates have gone to.

Ask about English support and Georgian lessons. Many children arriving in Tbilisi speak Russian, Ukrainian, Hebrew or another language at home. Ask how English language support works, whether it costs extra, and whether Georgian lessons are offered to foreign pupils as a beginner course.

See the full ranking

For side-by-side profiles, parent reviews and more options beyond these five, see our ranking of the best international schools in Tbilisi.

More guides to schools in Tbilisi

Frequently asked questions

Which international schools in Tbilisi offer the IB?

New School, International School of Georgia, on the Tskneti highway, and the European School both list the International Baccalaureate among their programmes. New School has almost 800 students from 37 nationalities. If the IB Diploma is your priority, ask each school which subjects run at higher level each year and how many students sit the full diploma.

How much do international schools in Tbilisi cost?

Indicative tuition runs from roughly GEL 15,000 a year in early years to around GEL 70,000 for the final secondary years at the larger international schools. Bilingual Georgian and English schools are often much cheaper, at roughly GEL 8,000 to 25,000. Add registration fees, buses, meals and exam fees, which can add several thousand lari a year.

Can my child start school in Tbilisi in the middle of the year?

Most international schools in Tbilisi accept mid-year entry when places are available, as many families arrive on postings throughout the year. Expect to provide recent school reports, a passport copy and vaccination records, and your child may sit an English or maths assessment. Popular year groups at the larger schools can have waiting lists, so apply early.