How to Choose an International School in Koh Samui: 2026 Family Guide

Quick answer: How do you choose an international school in Koh Samui? Shortlist by curriculum first: two British-curriculum schools with IGCSE and A Level or IB routes, a French school and several bilingual Thai-English schools. Then check the commute on the island's ring road, compare annual fees of roughly THB 180,000 to 550,000, ask about secondary provision and teacher turnover, and visit in person. Most schools welcome trial days.

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

Deciding how to choose an international school in Koh Samui is a different exercise from choosing one in Bangkok. The island has a small but growing set of schools, most of them young, catering to a community of long-stay families, digital nomads, hospitality professionals and Thai-foreign households. The choice often comes down to two questions: does the school go all the way to a recognised school-leaving qualification, and can you realistically get there every morning on an island with one ring road and monsoon season traffic.

This guide covers the seven schools in our directory with verified profiles, explains how their curricula and fees compare, and sets out the practical tests we suggest applying before you commit. All figures are indicative for the 2026 academic year and should be confirmed with each school.

Living on Koh Samui and how geography shapes your shortlist

Koh Samui is roughly 25 kilometres across, with most families living on the north and east coasts around Bophut, Maenam, Bang Rak, Chaweng and Lamai, or in the quieter south-west near Nathon and Taling Ngam. The island's schools are spread around the ring road, and a journey that takes 20 minutes in the dry season can take twice that during the rains from October to December. Choosing a school in the same coastal segment as your home is the single biggest quality-of-life decision most families make.

The island connects to the mainland by ferry from Nathon and Lipa Noi and by air from the privately owned Samui airport operated by Bangkok Airways, which keeps fares high and means weekend trips to Bangkok are an expense rather than a habit. Families often arrive planning a year and stay five, so it pays to choose a school that can carry a child through to secondary rather than one that suits only the early years.

Curricula available on Koh Samui

For a small island the range is respectable, although secondary depth varies a great deal between schools.

British curriculum through to A Levels or IB: the International School of Samui offers the English National Curriculum with IGCSEs and A Levels, and PanyaDee, the British International School of Samui, runs IGCSE and IB Diploma pathways.
British primary and early years: Windfield International School and Greenacre International School focus on an English-medium primary and lower secondary experience with smaller cohorts.
French curriculum: L'Ecole Française Internationale de Koh Samui follows the French programme for the francophone community.
Thai-English bilingual: Oonrak Koh Samui Bilingual School combines the Thai curriculum with substantial English, at a lower price.
Community international schools: Lamai International School serves the south-east of the island with an English-medium programme for younger children.

The schools to consider on Koh Samui

International School of Samui

ISS, in Bophut on the north coast, is the island's longest-established international school and follows the English National Curriculum from early years to A Levels. It has the strongest secondary track record on Samui and fees of roughly THB 300,000 to 500,000 a year. Its location suits families in Bophut, Maenam and Bang Rak.

PanyaDee, the British International School of Samui

PanyaDee, near Chaweng, has grown rapidly and offers a British primary and IGCSE programme leading to the IB Diploma. Facilities are modern and the school has invested in sport and outdoor learning. Fees are similar to ISS at roughly THB 300,000 to 550,000; ask about the size of the sixth form cohort.

Windfield International School

A smaller school in the south of the island with a British-based curriculum and a family atmosphere, popular with residents of Lamai, Hua Thanon and Taling Ngam. Fees are more moderate, roughly THB 200,000 to 350,000, and the school is a good fit for primary-age children whose parents value small classes.

Greenacre International School

Greenacre offers an English-medium programme with an emphasis on nature and wellbeing, reflecting the lifestyle that draws many families to the island. It suits early years and primary children, with fees roughly THB 180,000 to 320,000. Families should ask how the school supports transition to a larger secondary school later.

Oonrak Koh Samui Bilingual School

A Thai-English bilingual school following the Thai national curriculum with a large share of lessons in English. It is the natural choice for Thai-foreign families who want children fully literate in Thai, and fees are well below the international schools. Foreign children with no Thai are best placed in the early years.

Fees in Thai baht and the extras to budget for

For 2026, a realistic budget is roughly THB 150,000 to 250,000 a year for bilingual programmes, THB 180,000 to 350,000 for the smaller international primary schools and THB 300,000 to 550,000 for the two British schools, with A Level and IB Diploma years at the top. Most schools bill by term, three times a year, and offer a small discount for annual payment.

A fact worth knowing when budgeting: international schools in Thailand are licensed under the Private School Act and, as educational establishments, are exempt from VAT, so tuition invoices carry no tax. Transport, meals and uniform suppliers may charge it. The following extras are typical on Samui.

Application or assessment fee: THB 3,000 to 8,000, non-refundable.
Registration or enrolment fee: THB 30,000 to 100,000, usually one-off per child.
Refundable deposit: THB 20,000 to 50,000, returned on departure with notice.
School transport: THB 30,000 to 60,000 a year, depending on route.
Lunches: THB 20,000 to 35,000 a year.
Uniform and PE kit: THB 6,000 to 12,000 in the first year.
Exam fees for IGCSE, A Level or IB: THB 15,000 to 40,000 in exam years.

Practical advice for choosing well on Samui

Test the commute at 7.30 in the morning. Drive or ride the route from your likely home to each shortlisted school during school run hours, ideally in the rainy season if you can. Families who underestimate this often move house or school within a year, and both are expensive and disruptive.

Ask hard questions about secondary provision. Several Samui schools are strong in the early years but have small upper year groups. Ask how many students sat IGCSE or A Level last year, what subjects were actually offered rather than listed, and how many teachers have been at the school more than three years. Small cohorts can be wonderful for pastoral care but limit subject choice.

Think about the exit plan. If you might move to Bangkok, Singapore or back home before your child finishes school, prefer curricula that transfer cleanly. The English National Curriculum and the IB are both widely recognised; a bilingual Thai programme is excellent for integration but harder to leave mid-secondary.

Compare Koh Samui schools with verified reviews

Read what current parents say about each school and compare fees, facilities and curricula in the ISA ranking of the best schools in Thailand.

More guides to schools in Koh Samui

Frequently asked questions

Are there international schools on Koh Samui that go up to A Levels or the IB?

Yes. The International School of Samui offers IGCSEs and A Levels, and PanyaDee, the British International School of Samui, offers IGCSEs and the IB Diploma. Both have small sixth forms compared with Bangkok schools, so ask about subject availability. The other schools on the island focus mainly on early years, primary and lower secondary.

How much does international school cost on Koh Samui?

Roughly THB 150,000 to 250,000 a year at bilingual schools, THB 180,000 to 350,000 at the smaller international primaries and THB 300,000 to 550,000 at the two British-curriculum schools, with the highest figures in the exam years. Add a one-off registration fee, a refundable deposit, transport and lunches, which together can add 15 to 20 percent.

Is Koh Samui a good place to raise school-age children?

Many families think so: it is safe, outdoors-oriented and has a genuine international community. The trade-offs are limited secondary school choice, higher costs for flights and imported goods, and healthcare that is good for routine needs but requires travel to Bangkok for specialist care. Families with teenagers should look closely at the sixth form options before committing.