Family planning

International schools in Pattaya

Regents, ISP, GIS, Tara — costs, curriculum, location, who goes where. The 5 schools serious foreign families consider in Pattaya.

The 5 main international schools

Regents International School Pattaya

British curriculum (Cambridge IGCSE / A-Level). The most established and academically rigorous. East Pattaya location.

Annual fees: ฿450,000–฿900,000 per child depending on grade
Boarding option available
~1,200 students; international diversity
Strong Oxbridge / Russell Group / Ivy League placement record

International School Pattaya (ISP)

American/IB curriculum (IB Diploma). Beachfront location in Pratumnak.

Annual fees: ฿400,000–฿700,000
~600 students
Strong sports + arts programs
US/Canadian university placement focus

Garden International School (GIS)

British curriculum. Smaller, family-feel. Multiple campuses (Bangkok + Pattaya, etc.).

Annual fees: ฿300,000–฿600,000
~400 students
More personal attention; smaller class sizes

Tara Pattaya International School

Thai-curriculum-with-international-track. More cost-effective option. Bilingual focus.

Annual fees: ฿180,000–฿400,000
Strong for families wanting Thai cultural integration
Thai citizens and bilingual foreign families

Mooltripakdee International School

Mid-tier option, multi-curriculum.

Annual fees: ฿200,000–฿450,000
Smaller, less competitive admissions

What annual fees include / don't include

Tuition typically excludes: uniform (฿5,000–฿15,000/year), books (฿8,000–฿20,000/year), bus service (฿30,000–฿80,000/year), lunch program, after-school activities, exam fees (IGCSE/IB cost ฿15,000–฿50,000 per exam round), school trips. Realistic total cost per child: tuition × 1.3–1.5.

Visa for school-age children

Education ED visa for the child enrolling — the school issues support letter
Non-O dependent visa for the child if parent is on Non-O retirement, marriage, or B
LTR or Privilege Visa includes child as dependent automatically

Application process

Inquiry visit + school tour
Application form + assessment fee (฿2,000–฿15,000)
Entrance assessment (varies by age — for Regents IGCSE level entry, real exam)
Offer letter (typically 2-6 weeks after assessment)
Acceptance + deposit (typically 1 term tuition upfront)
Visa application (school issues support letter for child's ED visa)

Comparison: Bangkok vs Pattaya schools

Bangkok has dramatically more options (NIST, Bangkok Patana, Shrewsbury, Harrow, etc. — 30+ international schools) at higher tuition (฿600k–฿1.2M/year). Pattaya schools are smaller, more affordable, but quality at Regents/ISP is competitive with Bangkok mid-tier schools.

Many families relocate from Bangkok to Pattaya specifically for: lower school fees, beach lifestyle, less commute. Trade-off: fewer school options, smaller pool of student peers.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which school is best for my child?

Depends on curriculum preference (British vs American/IB), budget, and child's needs. Regents is most academically rigorous, ISP is best for sports/arts, GIS for smaller class sizes, Tara for cost-effectiveness. Visit all 5 before deciding.

Are there ESL programs for kids who don't speak English?

Most schools offer ESL/EAL support. Effectiveness varies — Regents and ISP have established programs. Children under 8 typically integrate within 1-2 years. Older children take longer; some schools require pre-existing English ability.

Can my child get into university in my home country with a Thai education?

Yes. IGCSE and A-Levels (Regents) and IB (ISP) are recognized internationally. UK Russell Group, US selective universities, EU universities all accept these qualifications. Strong placement records at top schools.

Are there cheaper bilingual options?

Yes — Tara, Mooltripakdee, and several Thai-international schools offer bilingual education at ฿150k-฿300k/year. Quality varies; visit before committing. Strong for families wanting Thai language proficiency in the child.

How do international school placements work for university applications?

Schools provide university counseling. Strong record schools (Regents) have dedicated UCAS, Common App, IB universities counselors. Top placements typically: Oxbridge, US Ivies, Russell Group, top European universities, Asian top-tier (NUS, HKUST, Tsinghua).

Does the family qualify for visas via the school?

The child gets ED visa via school enrollment. Parents need their own visa basis — Non-O retirement (if 50+), Non-B (if working), LTR Wealthy Pensioner, Privilege Visa, or DTV for remote workers. School doesn't issue parent visas.

Are there Russian-language or Chinese-language schools?

Yes — several smaller schools serve Russian-speaking and Chinese-speaking communities specifically. Russian: Pattaya Russian School. Chinese: international schools in Bangkok with Chinese tracks. Pattaya itself doesn't have major Chinese-curriculum school.

Can I afford international school on a moderate retiree income?

Difficult. ฿300k-฿900k/year per child is significant. Many moderate-budget families opt for Thai-curriculum bilingual school (Tara, Mooltripakdee) or homeschool with international online curriculum. Regents/ISP/GIS realistically require ฿200k+/month family income.

How do I evaluate a school's academic quality?

Check: university placement records (last 3-5 years), IGCSE/IB pass rates, teacher qualifications (most should have university degrees + teaching certifications from US/UK), staff turnover rates, accreditation (Council of International Schools, IB Authorization, Cambridge), facilities (science labs, sports, library).

Are there boarding options?

Regents has a boarding option for students aged 11+. Approximately ฿200,000-฿400,000 per year in addition to tuition. Limited boarding capacity — apply early. Most students live with parents nearby (East Pattaya, Pratumnak, Jomtien).

Need a personalized opinion?

Free 15-minute consultation. Real human reply within 24 hours.

Book free consult →