Deciding on an international school in Manila is one of the first real tests of a relocation to the Philippines. Metro Manila is not one city but sixteen, each with its own traffic patterns, housing stock and cluster of schools, and the difference between a 15 minute school run and a 90 minute one often comes down to a decision you make in your first fortnight. This 2026 guide sets out the curricula on offer, what tuition actually costs in pesos, and how to shortlist sensibly before you commit to a lease.
Which Curricula Are Available in Metro Manila
Manila's international sector is unusually diverse for a city of its size, largely because the expatriate population is a mix of diplomatic, corporate, missionary and returning Filipino-heritage families. Four curriculum families dominate.
The International Baccalaureate. Several Manila schools are authorised for the IB Diploma Programme, and a smaller number run the Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes as well. The appeal is portability: an IB Diploma is read the same way in Sydney, Toronto and Amsterdam, which matters if your posting is likely to move again in three years.
British and Cambridge pathways. Schools following the English National Curriculum take pupils through IGCSE at 16 and then either A Levels or the IB Diploma. Families arriving from the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore or the Gulf often find this the least disruptive transition because year group naming and assessment points line up.
American programmes. US-accredited schools offer Advanced Placement courses and a high school diploma, with WASC or similar accreditation. This route is worth prioritising if your children are likely to apply to American universities or if you expect to return to the United States mid-cycle.
Filipino-international hybrids. A large group of well regarded private schools teach in English, follow the Philippine K-12 framework and layer on international accreditation or AP courses. Fees are considerably lower and the peer group is predominantly Filipino, which suits families planning a long stay.
Top International Schools in Manila
The schools below all hold verified profiles on International School Advisor, with curriculum details, age ranges and family reviews. Use them as a starting shortlist rather than a ranking, because fit depends heavily on your child's age and your commute.
Nord Anglia International School Manila
Part of a global group with schools on five continents, Nord Anglia Manila offers a British-rooted programme leading to IGCSE and the IB Diploma, with the group's performing arts and STEAM partnerships built into the timetable. The transfer process between Nord Anglia campuses is well rehearsed, which is a genuine advantage for families with a history of frequent moves. See the full profile and reviews.
Brent International School Manila
One of the oldest international schools in the country, Brent runs an American-style programme with IB Diploma authorisation in the senior years. It has a long track record with diplomatic and mission families and a broad co-curricular offer. Check curriculum, ages and fees.
Xavier School
A Jesuit school with a strong academic reputation and Chinese-Filipino heritage, Xavier teaches in English with Mandarin as a core subject from the early years. For families who want serious Mandarin exposure alongside an English medium education, it is one of the few options in the metro that treats the language as a genuine academic strand rather than an enrichment class. View the school profile.
Global Leaders International School
A smaller international school with a Cambridge-aligned programme and low class sizes, Global Leaders tends to appeal to families who found larger campuses impersonal or whose children need closer academic monitoring during a transition year. Read more on ISA.
Multiple Intelligence International School
Built explicitly around Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences framework, MIIS is a good fit for children who have not thrived in conventional, exam-driven settings. Provision is strongest in the primary and lower secondary years. See ages, fees and reviews.
What International School Fees Look Like in Manila
Manila is one of the better value international school markets in Asia, but the spread between tiers is wide. The figures below are annual tuition for the 2025 to 2026 cycle and should be treated as planning ranges, not quotations.
- Premium international schools: roughly PHP 900,000 to PHP 1,400,000 for secondary years, with primary typically 20 to 30 per cent lower.
- Mid-market international schools: roughly PHP 400,000 to PHP 800,000 depending on year group and curriculum.
- Filipino-international private schools: roughly PHP 150,000 to PHP 400,000, often with sibling discounts.
- Preschool and kindergarten: roughly PHP 200,000 to PHP 600,000, frequently billed by term rather than annually.
Budget separately for the items that catch new arrivals out. A one-off capital or development fee is common at the top end and can run from PHP 200,000 to over PHP 500,000 per child, sometimes refundable and sometimes not. Add school bus service at PHP 60,000 to PHP 120,000 a year, uniforms, laptops or tablets under a one-to-one device policy, and residential trips in the upper years. If your employer offers an education allowance, check whether it covers capital fees, because many packages exclude them.
Choosing by District: Where to Live and Study
In Manila, geography is the single most underrated selection criterion. Traffic on EDSA and C5 can double a journey between 7am and 9am, and a school that looks 8 kilometres away on a map may be 70 minutes each way in practice.
Bonifacio Global City and Taguig concentrate newer campuses and modern high-rise housing, and are popular with corporate families who want a short walk or a five minute drive. Makati offers established schools and the deepest rental market, though older buildings and tighter campuses are the trade-off. Alabang and the southern corridor suit families who want space, gardens and a village feel, and several long-established international schools sit there. Quezon City is where many of the strong Filipino-international schools are found, with better value housing but longer trips to the southern business districts.
The practical rule most experienced expat parents give is simple: choose the school first, then rent within 20 minutes of it in morning traffic, not evening traffic. Visit the neighbourhood at 7.30am on a weekday before you sign anything.
Admissions: Timelines and What to Prepare
The Philippine academic year usually runs from August to June, with the main admissions round opening the previous November and places for popular year groups filling by March. Mid-year entry is possible at many schools but rarely at the most oversubscribed ones.
Expect to submit two years of school reports, a transfer certificate or Form 137 equivalent, immunisation records, passport and visa copies, and a reference from the current school. Most schools set an entrance assessment in English and mathematics, and English language support is available at several but not all campuses, so ask directly if your child is not yet fluent. Sibling and corporate priority policies vary, and where a school has a waiting list it is worth asking how it is actually ordered.
Compare Manila Schools Side by Side
Ready to narrow the list? Browse the best international schools in Manila and the Philippines on International School Advisor to filter by curriculum, age range and language, and read reviews from families who are already there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an international school in Manila cost per year?
Annual tuition typically runs from about PHP 150,000 at Filipino-international private schools to PHP 1,400,000 at premium international schools. Budget an additional PHP 200,000 to PHP 500,000 for one-off capital fees at the top end, plus transport, uniforms and devices.
Which curriculum is best for a family that may relocate again?
The International Baccalaureate is the most portable option because universities and schools worldwide recognise it directly. British Cambridge pathways are a close second and transfer smoothly across Asia, the Gulf and Europe.
When should I apply for a place in Manila?
Apply between November and February for an August start. Sought-after year groups, particularly early primary and Year 7 entry, are often full by March, so submit documents as soon as your posting is confirmed.