American Pacific International School vs Golden Gate American School

	A American Pacific International School Phnom Penh, Cambodia	G Golden Gate American School Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KHR 12,307,182 - 26,177,816	Fees / year KHR 13,200,000 - 24,800,000
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 19 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary)	Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Chinese National Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP)
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 17	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Khmer, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2008	Opened 1996
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location APIS operates two campuses in Phnom Penh: Daun Penh (central city, near Pasteur Street / Psar Thmey 3) and Pet Loksang (Toul Kork district). Both campuses are in established neighbourhoods with road links across the city. The Daun Penh site is in the city centre while Pet Loksang sits in a more residential/suburban area of Toul Kork.	Location Head office and main campuses are in Phnom Penh (Sen Sok / Street 1003) with additional campuses in Tuol Kork and Phnom Penh Thmei; the site lists three campus locations and a head‑office address (No. 846, St 1003). The campuses are in built‑up Phnom Penh neighbourhoods and the site notes locations close to main roads, parks and sports facilities — useful if you plan daily driving or rides with city transport.
Stages	Stages The school provides an Early Years/Early Childhood programme through Primary and up to Secondary (Nursery / Early Years to Grade 12). APIS follows international curricula including Cambridge programmes (IGCSE) and offers upper‑secondary qualifications.	Stages GGAS describes provision from early years through Grade 12: Early Years / Nursery (from age 2), Primary (PYP) for ages about 3–12, Middle Years (MYP) for about 11–16, and Diploma Programme (DP) for 16–19; the site also lists USA curriculum tracks for primary and high school.
School type	School type APIS is a private, co‑educational international day school operating two Phnom Penh campuses.	School type The school is an independent, nonsectarian private international school offering American curriculum options and IB programmes (MYP and DP authorised). The website and external school directories list GGAS as co‑educational; some sources and the school's development plans also reference sleeping/dormitory facilities at a new campus (check with admissions if you need formal boarding).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school provides learning‑support and EAL-style assistance and has counselling services. A learning support specialist is provided. APIS is not presented as a specialist SEN institution.	Additional learning support The site discusses support in its PYP/MYP pages (small class sizes, language support within bilingual delivery and a focus on individual learners) but does not publish a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy or specific specialist‑staff list. If your child has diagnosed additional needs, contact Admissions to request the school's SEN/inclusion policy and any assessment or support plans.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school does not have any country affiliations.	Country affiliation GGAS identifies itself as an American school offering a USA‑certified high‑school diploma in partnership with a US provider (Busche Academy) while also being accredited by Cambodia's Ministry of Education; it therefore operates as an independent private school with American curriculum links rather than as an official agent of a foreign government.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is indicated by the school.	Religious affiliation The school is described on its site as nonsectarian (no religious affiliation).
School day structure	School day structure Typical hours around 07:30 start and 16:30 finish, with supervised before/after care offered (families can drop from about 07:00 and collection options extend into the evening).	School day structure The website and published calendar do not set out a daily start/end time or a standard break/lunch schedule for all year groups; the Admissions page does show office contact hours for enquiries (phones answered Mon–Fri 7:00–17:00 and Saturday 7:00–16:00). For exact daily timings by campus or year group, ask Admissions during your enquiry or campus visit.
Bus service details	Bus service details APIS operates a school bus service.	Bus service details The Admissions information on the website states there is bus transportation and that registration and charges for the service are published for the 2024–25 year, but the site does not list specific routes, providers or pick‑up/drop‑off times. Practical next steps are to request the current bus routes, stops, fees and safety/insurance details directly from Admissions before relocating.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & one-time fees - Registration / one‑time enrolment charges: KHR 881,949 (one‑time; registration). - Other one‑off first‑year items commonly shown in the school's published first‑year breakdown include a Material Fee (KHR 701,750), Capital Fee (KHR 461,150) and License/administration charge (KHR 320,800). These one‑time items are billed on first enrolment and are separate from annual tuition. Tuition — full annual amounts by year group (day students) - Nursery / Early Years (age 2, Nurs.2): KHR 12,310,700 per year. - Kindergarten 1 – Kindergarten 3: KHR 16,681,600 per year (K1–K3). - Grade 1: KHR 17,283,100 per year. - Grade 2: KHR 17,964,800 per year. - Grade 3: KHR 18,486,100 per year. - Grade 4: KHR 19,167,801 per year. - Grade 5: KHR 19,849,501 per year. - Grade 6: KHR 20,491,101 per year. - Grade 7 & Grade 8: KHR 22,696,601 per year (each). - Grade 9 & Grade 10: KHR 25,182,801 per year (each). - Grade 11 & Grade 12: KHR 26,185,301 per year (each). How tuition is presented / per‑term billing The school offers standard payment options (including payment of the full year) and promotional discounts for families who commit to a one‑year payment. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school publishes annual tuition amounts and applies one‑time first‑year charges at enrolment. The school promotes discounts for parents who pay for a full year in advance (one‑year payment offers have been advertised at enrolment events). Boarding fees - No boarding/dormitory fees are listed. Sibling discount - A sibling discount is published: 5% off tuition for the second child and 10% off tuition for the third and any subsequent children enrolled at the school.	Fee details Application / Registration Fee - The school's admissions pages reference a published fee schedule for new applicants; a specific one‑time application or registration fee amount is not listed on the public admissions page. Parents should expect a standard non‑refundable application/registration charge to be included in the school's full fee schedule. Tuition fees (by year group) — annual amounts (KHR) - Nursery 2 (age 2): KHR 13,200,000 per year. - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): KHR 13,200,000 per year. - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): KHR 14,000,000 per year. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): KHR 14,000,000 per year. - Grade 1: KHR 18,000,000 per year. - Grade 2: KHR 18,000,000 per year. - Grade 3: KHR 18,000,000 per year. - Grade 4: KHR 18,800,000 per year. - Grade 5: KHR 18,800,000 per year. - Grade 6: KHR 18,800,000 per year. - Grade 7: KHR 19,600,000 per year. - Grade 8: KHR 19,600,000 per year. - Grade 9: KHR 22,400,000 per year. - Grade 10: KHR 22,400,000 per year. - Grade 11: KHR 22,400,000 per year. - Grade 12: KHR 24,800,000 per year. Per‑term figures (inferred) - Where the school operates a three‑term/trimester billing cycle, the per‑term tuition can be estimated by dividing the annual tuition by three; these per‑term figures are inferred from the published annual amounts and should be treated as approximate. (Example: Nursery 2 ≈ KHR 4,400,000 per term = KHR 13,200,000 ÷ 3). Billing schedule & payment terms - The admissions information states that tuition and fees must be arranged by the start of the new school year and that a detailed tuition & fee schedule is published as part of admissions documentation. Expect standard options such as annual, termly or instalment billing as set out in the school's fee schedule. Boarding fees - The school lists boarding as available; specific boarding fee amounts are not published on the public fee pages and are provided on request by the admissions/finance office. Other costs (uniforms, lunches, transport, IB/assessment fees, extracurriculars) - The admissions page references separate documents for Nursery/Kindergarten, IB fee schedule and other fees (uniform, lunches, bus, exam/IB charges). Individual charges for uniform, lunch plans, bus and IB examination/admin fees are set out in those fee documents. Refunds and deposits - A specific, published refund policy and deposit schedule was not shown on the public admissions summary; the school's full fee documents (referenced on the admissions page) contain the detailed refund/withdrawal and deposit terms. Payment methods - The site provides a school payment page/form and instructs parents to contact Finance/Admissions for payment arrangements; parents should expect bank transfer and in‑school card or online payment arrangements to be available via the finance office.
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 American Pacific International School (Phnom Penh) runs Early Years, Primary and Secondary programmes delivered within the Cambridge International framework and is described as a Cambridge-accredited institution. Early Years is play-based (preschool from about age 3) and the Primary programme (Grades 1–6) covers core subjects such as English, mathematics, science and social studies alongside arts, PE and language support. Lower and upper Secondary prepare students for Cambridge IGCSE examinations, and the school advertises post‑16 teaching posts and reports Grade 12 diploma outcomes consistent with A‑level/post‑16 qualifications. APIS also publishes English‑language support/immersion options, extracurricular programmes and on‑site facilities (labs, sports, arts), and operates a special‑needs preschool provision.	Curriculum details Golden Gate American School delivers education from early years (nursery/kindergarten from age two) through primary, middle and high school across its Phnom Penh campuses. Primary students may follow a USA-based English curriculum (grades 1–8) or a Khmer-language Cambodian curriculum, and the school also operates a Chinese-language program. GGAS is authorized to offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and is a candidate for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), with PYP authorization targeted for December 2025. For upper secondary students GGAS offers multiple pathways: the IB Diploma (Grades 11–12), a USA High School Diploma pathway (including a college-preparatory USA track), and an arrangement to provide a US transcript/diploma through Busche Academy. The DP follows the standard DP structure (six subject groups plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS), while the USA tracks cover standard American high‑school subjects (English, mathematics, sciences, etc.) taught in English by native-speaking teachers. Throughout the school the website notes bilingual/tri-lingual provision, small class sizes and a range of co-curricular activities (including after-school programs and swimming), which together describe the full curricular and co‑curricular scope offered.
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 —
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. Enquiry and campus visit Contact APIS Admissions to confirm which campus you want (Pet Loksang or Daun Penh) and which campus offers the required year level. Request an admissions pack or application link and ask about open days or arranging a guided visit. 2. Application form and documents Complete the application form (online or paper). Prepare the required documents, typically including the child’s birth certificate or passport, parents’ ID, recent school reports (for KG1 and above), immunisation records, passport photos, and proof of address. Confirm the exact document list with Admissions as requirements may vary by age and campus. 3. Application and registration fees Submit the application and pay any required application or registration fees. APIS publishes one-time and annual fees in its fee schedule. Keep payment receipts and confirm refund or transfer policies in case of non-attendance or withdrawal. 4. Assessment or trial Students may be asked to attend an observation, trial class, or placement assessment depending on age. Older students usually complete basic literacy, numeracy, and English assessments and a short interview. Ask whether trial classes or immersion options are available and how English support is provided if needed. 5. Offer and acceptance If a place is offered, review the offer letter carefully and pay the required entrance or registration fee and any deposit or first tuition instalment by the stated deadline. Check which fees are non-refundable and whether any promotional discounts apply. 6. Enrolment administration After payment, the school will confirm enrolment details, including start date, orientation, timetable, uniforms, lunch arrangements, and transport options. Complete all required medical and emergency forms and request any official letters needed for visa or residency purposes. 7. Orientation and transition support Attend parent and student orientation before the term starts. If English support is required, confirm EAL arrangements, progress reviews, points of contact, and any additional fees. Keep copies of all signed documents, offer letters, and payment receipts.	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and campus visit. Start by completing the online “Apply Now”/Inquiry form or calling the Admissions Office to request a campus visit; the school encourages parents to visit their preferred GGAS campus before applying. When you request a visit, you can select which of the GGAS campuses you want to see (Ou Baek Kam, Phnom Penh Thmei, or Tuol Kork) and ask for a time that fits your schedule. Parents should be aware the inquiry form asks for basic family and contact details and gives you the option to request a visit directly. 2. Submission of application / registration. Complete the registration form and submit it along with the required documents as instructed by the Admissions Office; the school's admissions page lists “Submission of Application” / “Registration” as the first formal step. The website does not itemize every required document on that page, so before you submit be sure to confirm the exact list with admissions (for example, some families are asked to provide proof of identity and prior-school records). Also note the school's office hours for phone queries if you need help completing forms. 3. Assessment and interview. Prospective students undergo an assessment whose format “varies by age” (the school notes that evaluations may take place during the campus visit or at a later date). Expect younger children to be assessed through observation or age-appropriate activities, and older students through placement tests or interviews in English and key subjects; confirm exact test content and timing with admissions so you can prepare any previous-school records or work samples they require. If English is not your child's first language, ask the school whether language-support options or adjusted assessments apply. 4. Offer, acceptance and enrolment paperwork. If the assessment and document checks are successful, the school will progress to an offer/enrolment stage and will request completed admissions paperwork and payment arrangements; the site states parents must arrange payment of tuition and fees by the start of the new school year. Before accepting an offer, check the enrolment contract for the payment schedule, any non-refundable deposits or registration fees, and the school's refund/cancellation terms. Use the Admissions Office contact details to request a written copy of all fees and the contract terms before you sign. 5. Tuition, additional charges and where to find the fee schedule. GGAS publishes tuition and related-fee schedules for each academic year (the admissions page links to the school's tuition/fee documents for 2024–25 and lists separate charges for bus transport, lunch plans, after‑school programmes and trips). Third‑party fee listings for 2024–25 show annual tuition figures that range roughly from about 13,200,000 KHR for early years up to approximately 24,800,000 KHR for Grade 12; these figures should be treated as illustrative and you should confirm current prices and currency options with the school. When budgeting, ask specifically about one‑time enrolment charges, activity fees, bus route availability and whether lunches or after‑school clubs are charged separately. 6. Payment options and deadlines. The school's admissions guidance stresses that parents must arrange payment by the start of the academic year; confirm the accepted payment methods (bank transfer, online payment or in‑office), deadlines for instalments, and any discounts for one‑off or advance payments. If you need a payment plan, request written confirmation of the instalment schedule and any administrative fees so there are no misunderstandings at enrolment. Keep receipts and the student ID/payment references the school provides for future invoicing or sibling discounts. 7. Start of term, records and ongoing communication. Before your child's start date, confirm arrival/orientation arrangements, uniform or supplies lists, and how the school manages ongoing reporting and parent contact. If you are transferring schools, ask how GGAS will handle transcript transfers and curriculum placement; the school also highlights partnerships and diploma arrangements that may affect graduation pathways. Keep the Admissions Office contact details handy for follow-up questions and to inform the school of any late paperwork or special needs.
Scholarships	Scholarships APIS does not publicly advertise an ongoing academic scholarship programme.	Scholarships GGAS's own “Why Choose GGAS?” page states the school offers scholarship opportunities and flexible payment plans, but the website does not post a detailed public policy (eligibility criteria, application deadlines or the precise amount and duration of scholarships are not listed on that page). Local education news and open‑day coverage have reported specific promotional scholarship offers at times (for example, third‑party reports mentioned enrollment incentives such as multi‑year tuition discounts or a 40% scholarship offered as an open‑day incentive), but those offers are event/time‑limited and should be verified directly with the school. If you are seeking fee assistance or a merit/need scholarship, contact the Admissions Office to request the current scholarship programme, the application form (if any), eligibility criteria and the decision timetable.
Waitlist	Waitlist The school does not publicly disclose information on existing waitlist.	Waitlist The GGAS website and admissions pages do not publish a formal waiting‑list or pool policy; the public admissions information focuses on visiting, applying, assessment and payment rather than an administratively detailed waitlist. Because the site does not describe how a waitlist would operate (if one exists), parents who need to know whether places are available or who want to be added to any internal waiting pool should contact the Admissions Office directly by phone or email to request current availability and the school's procedure for holding or offering places. Use the Admissions contact hours listed on the site when you call so you reach the staff who can confirm openings, priority rules (for siblings or returning families) and any deadlines.
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