Best International Schools in Phnom Penh: 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: which are the best international schools in Phnom Penh? The strongest options in 2026 are ISPP and Northbridge for the full IB continuum, the British International School of Phnom Penh for Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels, AISPP for an Australian-flavoured IB programme and Lycée René Descartes for French. Annual tuition runs from roughly US$5,000 to US$27,000 depending on school and grade.

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

Phnom Penh has quietly become one of the more interesting school markets in Southeast Asia. Two decades ago expat families had two or three realistic choices; today there are more than thirty international schools in the capital, and the top tier competes with Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City on accreditation, university destinations and facilities. This guide to the best international schools in Phnom Penh is written for families arriving in 2026 who need to shortlist quickly, understand what each school actually offers and know what they will pay in US dollars, which is the currency every school here uses for fees.

Why Phnom Penh, and where families actually live

The city sits at the meeting point of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers, and its expat geography follows the water. Boeung Keng Kang (BKK1) and Tonle Bassac are the traditional embassy and NGO districts, full of serviced apartments and cafés, and they remain the default for newcomers. Toul Kork, north of the centre, has larger villas and a growing cluster of schools. Sen Sok, further out to the northwest, is where Northbridge built its community campus. Across the Japanese Friendship Bridge, Chroy Changvar has become a riverside alternative with newer housing. South of the centre along Hun Neang Boulevard you find ISPP's purpose-built campus.

Traffic is the variable that decides more school choices than any brochure. A journey that takes fifteen minutes at seven in the morning can take forty-five at half past. Most families either pick a school close to home or accept a school bus routine of 30 to 60 minutes each way. One recent change worth knowing: since September 2025 all commercial flights use the new Techo International Airport in Kandal province, roughly 20 kilometres south of the city, which has shifted some housing interest toward the southern districts.

Curricula available in Phnom Penh

International Baccalaureate (IB): the dominant programme at the top end, with the full PYP, MYP and Diploma continuum available at ISPP, Northbridge and AISPP.
British (Cambridge): IGCSE and A Levels at the British International School of Phnom Penh and several mid-market schools.
American: US-style programmes with high school diplomas at a range of Cambodian-owned international schools, some also offering AP courses.
French: the French national curriculum at Lycée René Descartes, part of the AEFE network, leading to the Baccalauréat.
Australian and Singaporean: AISPP follows an Australian-influenced approach within the IB framework, and Singapore-linked groups such as Invictus have entered the market.

The best international schools in Phnom Penh in 2026

International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP)

Founded in 1989, ISPP is the school most long-term expats name first. It is a not-for-profit IB World School offering the PYP, MYP and Diploma Programme, accredited by CIS and WASC, on a large purpose-built campus on Hun Neang Boulevard in the south of the city. Class sizes are modest, the student body is genuinely international rather than dominated by one nationality, and IB Diploma results are consistently above the world average. It is also the most expensive school in the country, so budget accordingly.

Northbridge International School Cambodia

Northbridge is the Nord Anglia Education school in Phnom Penh and the only realistic alternative to ISPP for the full IB continuum. The campus in Sen Sok sits inside a gated residential community, which many families use to eliminate the commute entirely. Nord Anglia membership brings the group's collaborations with Juilliard and MIT and a global campus network, useful for families who expect to move again. Expect a strong Korean and Cambodian presence alongside Western expats.

The British International School of Phnom Penh (BISPP)

BISPP is the clear choice for families who want the English National Curriculum through to Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels rather than the IB. It runs from nursery to Year 13 and takes a traditional British approach to houses, uniform and pastoral care. Fees sit noticeably below the two IB flagships, which makes it a popular choice for self-funded families and for those planning a return to the UK or a UK university application.

Australian International School Phnom Penh (AISPP)

AISPP offers the IB PYP, MYP and Diploma with an Australian teaching culture and a large proportion of teachers trained in Australia. The school is smaller than ISPP or Northbridge, which parents describe as its main advantage: children are known by name across the school and transitions are handled personally. It is a sensible middle option for families who want the IB without the top-tier price tag.

Lycée Français René Descartes

The French lycée has been in Phnom Penh since 1951 and follows the French national programme from maternelle to the Baccalauréat, with AEFE homologation at every level. It is the natural home for francophone families and for Cambodian families who want a French education, and its fees are a fraction of the anglophone flagships. English is taught seriously but instruction is in French, so it only works for children who already speak the language or are young enough to acquire it quickly.

What the best schools in Phnom Penh cost in 2026

Every international school in Cambodia publishes its fees in US dollars, and payment is made in dollars too; the riel is used for small purchases only. Indicative annual tuition for 2026 looks like this: ISPP roughly US$14,000 in early years rising to US$27,000 in the Diploma years; Northbridge roughly US$12,000 to US$25,000; AISPP roughly US$9,000 to US$20,000; BISPP roughly US$8,000 to US$18,000; Lycée René Descartes roughly US$5,000 to US$8,000. Cambodian-owned international schools such as CIA First typically charge US$4,000 to US$9,000.

Tuition is only part of the bill. Budget for the following extras:

Application and registration fees: US$200 to US$600, non-refundable.
Capital or development fee: a one-off US$1,500 to US$6,000 per child at the top-tier schools, sometimes partly refundable.
Uniforms and books: US$200 to US$500 a year.
School bus: US$1,200 to US$2,500 a year depending on distance.
Exam fees: IGCSE, A Level and IB Diploma registration is usually billed separately, roughly US$500 to US$1,200 in exam years.
English language support: some schools add US$1,000 to US$3,000 a year for intensive EAL.

Most schools invoice in two or three instalments and offer a small discount for paying the year upfront. Sibling discounts of 5 to 10 percent are common from the second child.

Practical advice for choosing a school in Phnom Penh

Visit at pick-up time, not mid-morning. The school gate at 3 pm tells you more about traffic, parent community and how children are supervised than any tour. Try the actual route from the neighbourhood you are considering, on a weekday.

Ask for the nationality mix and the turnover rate. Phnom Penh has a high proportion of two- and three-year postings. A school where a third of students leave every June needs strong systems for welcoming and farewelling children; ask how they do it.

Check accreditation documents, not logos. Ask which body accredits the school, when the last visit took place and whether IB authorisation covers all three programmes. Several newer schools advertise international status while still working toward it.

See how Phnom Penh schools rank

Once you have a shortlist, compare it against the independent ranking of the best schools in Phnom Penh, which draws on verified profiles, reviews and fee data for every international school in the city.

More guides to schools in Phnom Penh

Frequently asked questions

What is the most expensive international school in Phnom Penh?

ISPP is the most expensive, with Diploma-year tuition of roughly US$27,000 plus a one-off capital fee, followed closely by Northbridge. Both justify the cost with full IB authorisation, international accreditation and large purpose-built campuses. Mid-market IB and British schools cost 30 to 50 percent less for a broadly similar curriculum.

Do Phnom Penh international schools charge in US dollars or riel?

All international schools quote and collect fees in US dollars. Cambodia's economy is heavily dollarised, so salaries for most expats, rents and school invoices are in dollars, which removes the exchange-rate risk families face in many other Asian cities. Only very small daily purchases are made in riel.

When does the school year start in Phnom Penh?

Most international schools run from mid-August to mid-June, following a northern hemisphere calendar with a long break in July. Lycée René Descartes follows the French calendar with a September start. Admissions are rolling, but places in the popular grades at ISPP and Northbridge fill by May, so apply as soon as a posting is confirmed.