American Schools in Singapore

Last reviewed: November 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fees are the schools' published 2026-27 figures in Singapore dollars; always confirm with the school.

Families looking for an American school in Singapore usually want three things: a US-style programme from kindergarten to Grade 12, a high school diploma that American universities recognise, and a place that starts when the family arrives. The first two are easy to find. The third is harder, because demand is uneven by grade and Singapore American School gives priority to US passport holders.

This guide covers three schools that teach a US curriculum through to Grade 12 and award a US-style diploma, with their 2026-27 fees, the choice between Advanced Placement (AP) and the International Baccalaureate (IB), admissions and the Ministry of Education (MOE) rules that apply to foreign and Singaporean families.

What makes a school "American" in Singapore?

An American school here follows US grade levels, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, grades students continuously across the year and ends with a high school diploma rather than national exams at 16 and 18. Most teach to US standards: Stamford uses the AERO standards, and International Community School builds its courses on the recommendations of US bodies such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Calendars follow the American pattern too, with ICS starting in mid-August and finishing in late May. That sets them apart from MOE schools, which run from January to November, as our guide to the school year in Singapore explains.

Accreditation is the quickest check of a school's US credentials. SAS states that it is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Smaller schools also describe their programmes as American; ask any school which agency accredits it and whether its diploma is recognised by US universities.

AP or IB: which route do American schools in Singapore offer?

All three offer AP, the College Board's college-level courses, with exams scored from 1 to 5. Stamford also runs IB programmes from the early years. The differences matter most for Grades 11 and 12:

• Singapore American School: more than 20 AP courses and more than 20 of its own Advanced Topics courses, plus partnerships with Syracuse University and the University of South Carolina. AP exams cost S$220 each in 2026-27.
• Stamford American: the IB Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes up to Grade 10, then a choice between the full IB Diploma and an individual pathway mixing AP, BTEC and single IB courses. Both lead to Stamford's US-accredited High School Diploma.
• International Community School: honours and AP courses at every high school level; every AP student sits the exam, and Grades 10 and 11 take the PSAT.

AP suits students aiming at US universities and wanting flexibility subject by subject; the IB Diploma is a fixed two-year package recognised widely outside the US. Our comparison of the British vs American curriculum sets out how US grading and exams differ from GCSEs and A Levels.

Three American curriculum schools in Singapore

Singapore American School

SAS sits at 40 Woodlands Street 41 in the north of the island and runs from preschool to Grade 12. It places children up to Grade 1 by birth date, with Kindergarten for children who are 5 by 1 September, and older students by previous records and the last grade completed. A non-profit, it says almost 70% of tuition goes on recruiting and keeping teachers. The 2026-27 schedule charges new students a S$5,500 confirmation payment within seven days of accepting an offer, credited to fees.

Stamford American International School

Stamford has an Early Learning Village for the youngest children and its main Woodleigh campus. It combines American AERO standards with the IB from Pre-Kindergarten and accepts applications throughout the year, subject to space by grade. English is assessed with WIDA from KG2 to Grade 5 and SLATE Plus from Grade 6 to 10, and students entering Grades 11 and 12 are expected to have near-native English. A third child receives a 10% tuition discount, the school says.

International Community School

ICS, at 27A Jubilee Road, is a non-profit school from K4 to Grade 12 with the lowest tuition of the three. Its high school ends with a senior thesis, a semester-long research paper. Students from systems with a different school year, such as Singapore, India, Korea, Japan or Australia, normally continue in their current grade rather than skipping ahead, according to its admissions rules, and all applicants for Grades 1 to 12 sit a computer-based assessment.

How much do American schools in Singapore cost in 2026-27?

Tuition at the three schools ranges from roughly S$33,800 to S$56,110 a year from Grade 1, before one-time fees.

Source: each school's published 2026-27 fee schedule; amounts include GST. SAS adds an annual facility fee of S$9,030 for new students, and Stamford's figure includes a technology fee of S$1,020 to S$1,270.

First-year extras change the picture:

• SAS: S$2,500 application fee and a registration fee of S$8,660 for students with a US passport or Green Card (or a parent holding one), or S$9,900 for others. Its published first-year total for a new high school student is S$63,970 to S$65,210.
• Stamford: S$950 application, S$4,140 enrolment and S$8,320 facility fees at Woodleigh, S$13,410 in total.
• ICS: S$600 application, S$3,400 enrolment and a S$3,000 facilities fee for new students.
• Other costs: buses (S$1,320 to S$3,500 per semester at SAS), English language support, laptops and trips.

Admissions, waiting lists and priority lanes

SAS admits on a rolling basis but sorts applicants into four priority lanes: US citizens, Green Card holders and its corporate Guaranteed Placement Program first; then non-US citizens working for an American company; then students already at an international school; then everyone else. Its availability chart, updated on 26 August 2026, showed limited openings in most elementary grades, a waitpool forming in Grades 7 and 8, Grade 6 and Grades 9 to 11 at capacity and Grade 12 closed for 2026-27. It is accepting applications for the semester starting in January 2027.

Stamford and ICS also take applications year-round. Stamford offers a waitlist when a grade is full, and ICS says families should allow at least a month for the Student Pass application through the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority once a place is offered.

What MOE rules apply to foreign and Singaporean families?

Foreign students at an international school need a valid immigration pass, such as a Dependant's Pass, Student Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass, as Stamford lists. Foreign children can also seek a place in a mainstream MOE school through the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS), which covers Primary 2 to 5 and Secondary 1 to 3. The 2026 tests ran from 1 to 3 September for entry in January 2027; the supplementary S-AEIS opens for applications in early January 2027, with tests tentatively set for the end of February to early March, according to MOE. Admission is not guaranteed.

Singapore Citizens face stricter rules. MOE requires citizens born after 1 January 1996 and living in Singapore to attend a national primary school unless exempted. All three schools say citizens aged six and over need MOE approval to enrol; ICS allows 8 to 12 weeks for it. SAS accepts Singaporean applicants for Grades 1 to 12 only if they qualify for Lane 1, for example as dual US citizens, and notes that MOE waivers are limited.

Choosing an American school in Singapore: a checklist

1. Check your priority lane at SAS and the current status of your child's grade before you apply.
2. Decide early between AP and the IB Diploma if your child will be in Grade 10 or above.
3. Budget for one-time fees as well as tuition: S$13,410 at Stamford's Woodleigh campus, and a registration fee of S$8,660 or S$9,900 at SAS.
4. Ask how the school will place a child arriving mid-year or from a different school calendar.
5. If your child holds Singapore citizenship, even alongside another passport, contact the school about MOE approval first.

Compare schools across Singapore

American schools are a small part of the city's choice. To compare them with British, IB and other international schools, see our ranking of the best schools in Singapore.

Sources: Singapore American School (2026-27 fee schedule, age and grade placement, space availability updated 26 August 2026, Singapore Citizens, Advanced Studies); Stamford American International School (2026-27 fees, curriculum, admissions process); International Community School (2026-27 tuition fees, eligibility, curriculum); Ministry of Education Singapore (international students, AEIS, compulsory education); College Board (AP scores).

More guides to schools in Singapore

• Best international schools in Singapore
• Bilingual schools in Singapore
• How to choose an international school in Singapore
• International school admissions in Singapore
• International school fees in Singapore
• ranking of the best schools in Singapore

Frequently asked questions

How much does Singapore American School cost?

For 2026-27, SAS tuition is S$37,640 from Kindergarten to Grade 5, S$41,560 in middle school and S$43,780 in high school. New students also pay a S$9,030 facility fee, a S$2,500 application fee and a registration fee of S$8,660 with a US passport or Green Card, or S$9,900 without one. Amounts include GST.

Can non-Americans attend Singapore American School?

Yes, but they are lower in the queue. SAS sorts applicants into four lanes: US citizens and Green Card holders first, then non-US staff of American companies, then students already at an international school, then everyone else. In grades with a waitpool, families in the later lanes may wait longer for an offer.

Do American schools in Singapore offer the IB?

Stamford American International School offers IB programmes from Pre-Kindergarten and lets Grade 11 and 12 students choose the full IB Diploma or a pathway mixing AP, BTEC and single IB courses. Singapore American School and International Community School build their high school programmes around AP courses and their own advanced classes, leading to a high school diploma.