If you are moving to the Philippines with a family, you will most likely be looking for schools for your children.
For expat coming to the Philippines for the first time from a developed country, BGC is the best place to look for international education. It has two of the largest international schools in the Philippines, as well as the largest Japanese School and the largest Korean School.
International School Manila (https://www.ismanila.org/)
This is the biggest international school in the Philippines. It started as an American school, so its curriculum and teaching approach are similar to those in USA. But it also offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
It has a very large school ground, so even though it has nearly 2,400 students (from pre-school to high school), it is not crowded. The school buildings are well-maintained and equipped. Its sports facilities are world class, with a separate sports field for elementary, middle and high schools.
Tuition fee (paid in USD and local currency) starts at USD13,000 for pre-school, and goes up to USD 26,000 for high school.
The school maintains a higher proportion of international students compared to local students, so that students get to experience an environment of diverse international cultures.
British School Manila (https://www.britishschoolmanila.org/)
The school is located near ISM. It follows the British education system, but also offers IB program.
Tuition fee (paid in GBP and local currency) starts at GBP 6,300 for nursery, and goes up to GBP 8,100 for Year 13.
It primary accepts students from United Kingdom, but also accepts children holding European and Commonwealth passport. A small number of local childrean are also accepted, but the waiting list can be quite long, and it is unclear how the list works.
Everest International School (https://everestmanila.com/)
Everest is a Catholic international school. It also offers Its gender specific classrooms on a co-institutional campus begin in Grade 4. High School also offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses, a program where students are able to take college-level courses while in high school.
Tuition and other annual fees total Php 350,000 (about USD 7,000) for kindergarten, and goes up to GBP 16,000 for Grade 12.
Global Leader International School (https://www.glis.edu.ph/)
Global Leader International School is a relatively new international school. It is a local school that follows Cambridge programmes which are internationally recognized by 10,000 institutes in over 160 countries. It does not publicize its tuition.
Japanese schools
For those who want to follow the Japanese school curriculum, there is Japanese School Manila and Kelly Primary School (https://kellyprimaryschool.com/).
Local schools that accept foreign students
There are several quality local schools in or near BGC that accept foreign students, and English is the medium of teaching. The tuition rate is generally much lower than the international schools, and the teaching approach is more traditional, which is more teacher-centric and homework intensive.
MGC New Life Christian Academy https://mgcnewlife.ph/charlie/
MGC is a big local school located in BGC. It has pre-nursery upto Senior High School.
Students are accepted, regardless of race, nationality, or creed. However, the school reserves the right to refuse students for inability or behavioral problems or medical incapacity. Students are accepted on the basis on entrance test performance, academic and behavioral standing in former school/s and a personal interview with students and parents. Chinese knowledge is prerequisite starting in Kindergarten to Junior High School.
Colegio San Agustin, Makati (https://csa.edu.ph/)
This school, with a huge campus, is located within the posh Dasmarinas Village in Makati City.
The Schoolfollows the local K to 12 program and accepts Nursery to Senior High School applicants. The school accepts local and international students and offers a special program for foreign students such as the English for Speakers.
Pre-schools
There are many preschools within BGC. Unfortunately, not many can offer big outdoor space. Some of them are located near public open spaces and can bring the children outside from time to time.
Creative Play Corner School has a branch in BGC, and another branch at McKinley West. The branch in BGC (Forbestown Road, Burgos Circle) is the original branch, and we have received positive reviews about it.
Learning Jungle Preschool at Forbeswood Heights is also one of the first preschools in BGC.
At least two preschools are conveniently located in Bonifacio High Street: 9th Avenue School (http://9thavenueschool.com/), and Cambridge Preschool (https://cambridge.com.ph/bhs/).
The newest preschool in BGC is probably the MapleBear Preschool at Uptown Link Mall, which is headed by MapleBear Global Schools located in Vancouver, Canada. MapleBear utilizes Canadian curriculum, methodology, and practices and is in conformity with PhilippinesÔÇÖ education regulations.
There is one Montessori school within BGC, Appleseed Montessori (http://appleseedmontessori.com.ph/) and another one nearby in McKinley Hill, Abba Orchard (https://www.theabbasorchard.com/campuses/luzon).
