How to Choose an International School in Houston: 2026 Family Guide

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

Houston is one of the most international cities in the United States, and for many relocating families the school decision shapes everything else, from which neighbourhood they rent in to how long the daily drive will be. If you are working out how to choose an international school in Houston, you will find fewer schools than in London or Singapore but a clearer set of choices: a French and IB pathway, a British-rooted school in Katy, and a globally minded school in the Energy Corridor area.

This guide gives you a decision framework built around Houston's geography and the way families here actually live. We cover where the schools sit, which curricula they offer, three school profiles from International School Advisor, realistic fee ranges in US dollars, the new Texas funding programme and the questions to ask on a visit.

Houston for international families: where people live and how far they drive

The energy industry, the Texas Medical Center, NASA's Johnson Space Center and the Port of Houston bring a steady flow of families from Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. Many arrive on postings of two to five years, which is why curriculum continuity matters so much here.

Houston is vast and almost entirely car-dependent. Most international families settle west of downtown: in Memorial and the Memorial villages, Spring Branch, Briar Forest, the Energy Corridor along Interstate 10, and further out in Katy and Cinco Ranch. Others choose West University Place or Bellaire if a parent works at the Medical Center, or The Woodlands to the north. The three schools in this guide all sit on the west side, spread along the Katy Freeway corridor.

That spread matters. A drive from Bellaire to Katy can take well over 40 minutes in morning traffic, and rush hour on I-10 and the Sam Houston Tollway is notoriously slow. A sensible rule is to choose the school or at least the corridor before you sign a lease, then look for housing within a 20 to 30 minute drive.

Curricula available at Houston's international schools

Based on the profiles listed on International School Advisor, these are the main pathways:

• IB Diploma Programme: offered at The Awty International School, the British International School of Houston and The Village School, making it the most widely available international qualification in this group.
• French Baccalaureat: Awty runs a French-accredited programme leading to the French Baccalaureat alongside the IB Diploma.
• Language immersion: Awty offers French and Spanish immersion in its early learning years, with language study aligned to the CEFR continuing through the school.
• British-rooted education: the British International School of Houston has a large British community, roughly 36% of its students according to its profile.

Three Houston schools to compare

The schools below are listed by location, from inner west to far west. None is a universal "best"; each fits a particular kind of family.

The Awty International School

Awty is on Awty School Lane in Spring Branch, inside the Beltway and close to the I-10 and 610 interchange. It serves more than 1,800 students from over 50 countries from PK3 to Grade 12, and students can graduate with the IB Diploma, the French Baccalaureat or both. Early learning offers French and Spanish immersion, and the primary school is working toward IB PYP authorisation. Tip: Awty suits French-speaking families and those who want a second or third language to be a real part of the timetable, but competition for places in popular entry years can be strong, so apply early.

The Village School

The Village School is on Westella Drive in west Houston, convenient for the Energy Corridor and Briar Forest. It is part of the Nord Anglia group, teaches in English, offers the IB and has students, faculty and staff from over 60 countries. The school also puts weight on community service with Houston charities and agencies. Tip: it is a natural fit for families with a parent working along the Energy Corridor; ask how the IB Diploma sits alongside the American diploma and what the leavers' university list looks like.

British International School of Houston

BISH is on North Westgreen Boulevard in Katy and has been teaching in the area for over 15 years. Its student body represents more than 70 nationalities, with roughly 36% British and 17% American students, and it offers the IB. Its profile lists a library, a music room, a maker space and a football pitch. Tip: online ratings are mixed and several reviews are many years old, so speak to current parents in your child's year group rather than relying on them; the location works best for families living in Katy or Cinco Ranch.

What international school costs in Houston

None of the three profiles publishes fees, so the figures below are rough and should be checked against each school's current fee schedule:

Early years (PK3 to kindergarten): roughly 20,000 to 30,000 US dollars a year (about EUR 17,000 to 26,000). Elementary grades: roughly 25,000 to 38,000 US dollars. Middle and high school, including IB and French Baccalaureat years: roughly 30,000 to 45,000 US dollars a year.

There is also a new source of help. Texas Senate Bill 2, signed in May 2025, created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts programme, an education savings account worth roughly 10,000 US dollars per student for private school costs, available from the 2026-27 school year with limited places. Eligibility rules and residency requirements apply, so newly arrived families should check whether they qualify and whether their chosen school participates.

Typical extras to plan for:

• Application fee, usually a few hundred dollars and non-refundable.
• Enrolment deposit to hold a place, often credited against the first term.
• New student or capital fee charged in the first year at some schools.
• Uniforms and sports kit.
• Bus transport, where offered, or the real cost of daily driving and fuel.
• Lunch programmes, often billed separately.
• IB and French Baccalaureat exam fees, field trips and after-school activities.
• A laptop for middle and high school.

Practical advice for choosing a Houston school

Work back from your next move. If you are likely to return to France or a French school abroad, Awty's French Baccalaureat track keeps that door open. If your next posting is unknown, the IB Diploma is the most portable choice and all three schools offer it. If you plan to stay and aim for US universities, ask each school how its diploma, college counselling and testing support work for American admissions.

Know the Texas age rules. Texas compulsory school attendance applies from age 6 to 19 (Texas Education Code 25.085). Private schools set their own entry cut-offs for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, often based on a 1 September birthday, so a child born in late summer may be placed in a different grade than at home. Bring recent reports and ask about placement early.

Visit at drop-off time. Arrange at least one visit around 7:30 in the morning so you experience the real traffic, then ask about class sizes, how new arrivals are supported mid-year, the share of students who leave each summer and how the school helps children settle. Those answers, plus a conversation with a current parent, usually make the decision obvious.

Compare more schools across Texas

If you are also considering Dallas, Austin or San Antonio, or simply want a broader view before you book visits, our ranking of the best international schools in Texas lets you compare schools across the state in one place.

More guides to schools in Houston

• Bilingual schools in Houston
• International school admissions in Houston
• International school fees in Houston
• Best international schools in Texas

Frequently asked questions

Which Houston international schools offer the IB Diploma?

The Awty International School, the British International School of Houston and The Village School all offer the IB. Awty also runs a French-accredited track, so students can graduate with the IB Diploma, the French Baccalaureat or both. Ask each school how many students take the full Diploma and which universities recent graduates went on to.

Where do expat families live in Houston for international schools?

Most settle on the west side: Memorial, Spring Branch and the Memorial villages for Awty, the Energy Corridor and Briar Forest for The Village School, and Katy or Cinco Ranch for the British International School of Houston. Morning traffic on I-10 is heavy, so aim to live within a 20 to 30 minute drive.

Can Texas Education Freedom Accounts be used at international schools?

The programme created by Senate Bill 2 provides roughly 10,000 US dollars per student for private school costs from the 2026-27 school year, with limited places. It only helps at participating accredited private schools and for eligible Texas residents, so confirm with your chosen school and check the state application window before counting on it.