Ambassador Bilingual Academy vs Americana Chinese International School

	A Ambassador Bilingual Academy Chiang Mai, Thailand	A Americana Chinese International School Chiang Mai, Thailand
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year THB 149,500 - 238,600	Fees / year THB 200,000 - 376,000
Age range	Age range 1½ - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, Thai Curriculum	Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 1,000	Pupils 550
Typical class size	Typical class size 25	Typical class size 26
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2001	Opened 2019
Bus service	Bus service —	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The school is located at 222 Moo 2, Chiangmai–Lampang Superhighway, Tambon Nong‑Pheung, Saraphee District, Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is situated along the Chiangmai–Lampang highway outside the city centre, with road access suitable for commuting by car or school bus.	Location The school is located in the Nong‑Pheung sub‑district, Sarapee District, Chiang Mai, Thailand, situated away from the dense city centre. It can be accessed via the Chiang Mai–Lampang Super Highway.
Stages	Stages ABS offers education from Nursery through Kindergarten and into primary and secondary up to Grade 12.	Stages ACIS offers an American curriculum for students from Pre‑K (early years) up to Grade 12.
School type	School type The school is co‑educational and operates as a day school.	School type It is a co‑educational day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school uses ESL (English as a Second Language) and TSL classes to support students whose English or Thai skills require improvement compared to their grade level.	Additional learning support The school states that its enrollment team provides individualised support for students with diverse learning needs. ESL (English as a Second Language) support is available.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is not affiliated with a particular foreign country.	Country affiliation The school does not claim formal affiliation with any particular country.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school has no religious affiliations.	Religious affiliation The school has no religious affiliation.
School day structure	School day structure Typical daily hours vary by level: Kindergarten begins at 9:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm; elementary at 8:45 am to 4:00 pm; secondary at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Breaks include a morning break at around 10:15–10:30 am, lunch around 12:00–12:40 pm, and an afternoon break at about 2:15–2:30 pm. After‑school clubs and activities run from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, with a short break beforehand from 4:00 to 4:10 pm.	School day structure Specific daily hours or break/lunch times for the school day are not publicly available online.
Bus service details	Bus service details ABS offers a school bus service.	Bus service details The school offers a transportation service via vans.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Entrance Fee: THB 35,000 for students in the Bilingual Program (EP) THB 40,000 for students in the Emphasis on English Program (EEP) Tuition Fees (per semester) Bilingual Program (EP): * Preschool (1.6–3 yrs): THB 57,000 * K1, K2 (3–5 yrs): THB 57,000 * K3 (5–6 yrs): THB 57,000 * Grades 1–5 (6–11 yrs): THB 68,000 * Grades 6 (11–12 yrs): THB 68,000 * Grades 7–11 (12–17 yrs): THB 78,000 * Grade 12 (17–18 yrs): THB 78,000 Emphasis on English Program (EEP): * Preschool – K2: THB 68,000 * K3: THB 68,000 * Grades 1–5: THB 85,000 * Grade 6: THB 85,000 Additional Annual Fees * Book Fees: * EP: THB 4,000–10,000 depending on grade * EEP: THB 6,000–12,000 depending on grade * Activity Fees: * EP: THB 2,000–6,500 depending on grade * EEP: THB 2,000–5,000 depending on grade * Lunch Fee (per semester): * THB 6,000 for most levels * THB 7,000 for Grades 7–12 in EP * Other Costs (if applicable): * Bed set (Nursery–Preschool): THB 600 * Capital improvement: THB 10,000 (K1 and above) * Stationery set (Nursery–K3): THB 1,300 * Accident insurance: THB 1,500 * Uniform: THB 1,500–4,000 depending on level Support Services Fees * ESL (Grades 1–11): THB 20,000 per semester * Visa: THB 5,000 per person * EMS: THB 3,000 per person School Bus Fees * THB 15,000–25,000 per semester * Or THB 30,000–50,000 per year, depending on location Payment Method Payments can be made via bank transfer or Alipay.	Fee details Application & Enrollment Fees Entrance Exam & ESL Test: THB 3,300 (per semester) Entrance Fee: THB 60,000 (one-time, non-refundable) Lifetime Book Fee: THB 10,000 (one-time payment for book usage across all grades) Annual Tuition Fees Pre-K to K2: THB 180,400 K3 to Grade 3: THB 264,000 Grades 4–6: THB 302,500 Grades 7–9: THB 308,000 Grades 10–12: THB 341,000 Other Annual or Semester-Based Fees Lunch, breakfast & snack: THB 20,000 Capital Improvement Fee: THB 20,000 Transportation (Van Service): THB 30,000–50,000 Accident Insurance: THB 1,000 ESL Support: THB 40,000 (if applicable) Uniform (5 sets): THB 4,000 (one-time) Discounts Sibling Discount: 10% tuition discount for the second child, 15% for third and subsequent children Loyalty Discount: 25% off tuition only for families who pay full annual tuition for more than 3 consecutive years Payment Method Direct bank transfer.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Ambassador Bilingual School offers a bilingual curriculum that combines Thailand’s Basic Education Core Curriculum B.E. 2551 with selected elements of the California (USA) curriculum. From Grades 1 to 12, subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, Science, and Health & Physical Education are taught in English. Thai Language, Social Studies, Thai History, Culture and Traditions, and Buddhist Studies are taught in Thai. Students identified as needing language support may be enrolled in ESL (English as a Second Language) or TSL (Thai as a Second Language) classes. For younger learners, the kindergarten programme includes subjects like Computer, Art, Dance, Swimming, Thai Music, and Moral Education.	Curriculum details ACIS follows American curriculum standards, including California Common Core for English and Math, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science, and AERO objectives for Social Studies, all integrated from Pre‑K through Grade 12. In the elementary years, students study English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Health, and enrichment subjects such as STEM, art, music, physical education, robotics, computer technology, gardening & environmental studies. All students learn Chinese and Thai - Chinese daily and Thai weekly as required by the Thai Ministry of Education, using protocols aligned with HANBAN standards and WIDA-based ESL support for English learners. In middle and high school (Grades 6–12), the focus shifts toward college and career readiness, with more advanced coursework in English, social studies, laboratory sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, Earth science), and electives through the STREAM program integrating Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. For high school students, there are different pathways, including a regular US high school curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and a Dual Diploma Pathway (ACIS and U.S. diploma via Hudson Global Scholars).
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar View document
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Campus Visit & Tour Schedule a visit to tour the campus, observe classes, meet the admissions team, and learn about the curriculum and offerings. A casual setting (including a snack at the school café) helps families experience school life. 2. Application Submission Download and complete the ABA Application Form from their site. Submit the form along with: Parent’s passport or Thai ID Student’s passport or ID Birth certificate or passport copy Four 2″ student photographs Recent school transcripts (for elementary and above) 3. Review & Admission Outcome The admissions team will review your documents. They may follow up with clarifying questions. After assessment, they will notify you of the outcome. 4. Enrollment If accepted, follow instructions to finalize enrollment typically by paying any required fees and completing registration steps.	Admissions Schedule a campus visit or tour (optional) You may book a tour via the “Enrollment” page, and discuss the details of the school’s programme with the admissions team. Submit application form Complete and submit the online (or downloadable) application form, including student details, previous schooling, languages, and family information. Document submission Parents send required documents (proof of identity, previous school reports, and other details) as part of the application package (implied via application form). Offer & acceptance The school issues a Letter of Acceptance to successful applicants. Tuition & visa After acceptance, pay tuition and fees to trigger issuance of student visa letter. ACIS handles visa support for international students.
Scholarships	Scholarships The school does not have publicly available information on their scholarships.	Scholarships The school does not have publicly available information on their scholarships.
Waitlist	Waitlist The school does not have a waitlist.	Waitlist The school does not have a waitlist.
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