Canadian International School of Phnom Penh vs International School of Phnom Penh

	C Canadian International School of Phnom Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia	I International School of Phnom Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KHR 31,780,452 - 101,576,760	Fees / year KHR 38,450,324 - 118,806,593
Age range	Age range 1½ - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Canadian Curriculum, IB (PYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 1,000	Pupils 900
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 22
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2012	Opened 1989
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location CIS's main campus is on Koh Pich (Diamond Island) at Elite Town Street in central Phnom Penh; two additional early-years campuses are Bassac Garden (Tonle Bassac) and Olympia City. The Koh Pich campus is linked to the city by the Rainbow, Swan and Naga bridges and is close to neighbourhoods such as Tonle Bassac and BKK1, with Aeon Mall and riverside areas within reasonable commuting distance.	Location ISPP's campus is on Hun Neang Boulevard, south of Phnom Penh city centre; the website includes a map and turn-by-turn directions. Two city bus lines (12B and 11C) stop within a short walk of the main gate; the school notes the nearest stop is about 200 m (≈4 minutes) away.
Stages	Stages CIS runs programs from nursery through Grade 12: Early Years (nursery to junior kindergarten), Elementary (Senior Kindergarten to Grade 6), Middle School (Grades 7–9) and High School (Grades 10–12). The school offers Alberta curriculum pathways and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the senior years.	Stages ISPP serves ages 3 through Grade 12 (Early Years / PYP in Elementary, Grades 6–10 in MYP, Grades 11–12 in the IB Diploma). The site gives age/grade placement guidance and a chart for entry.
School type	School type CIS is a privately operated, co-educational international day school that serves nursery through Grade 12 across its campuses. The website also lists a boarding programme (full and weekly) for students in Grades 4 and above on its services page, though the general admissions page states students must live with a parent or guardian — you should confirm current boarding availability with admissions.	School type ISPP is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school and an authorised IB World School offering PYP, MYP and DP; it is accredited by WASC and CIS. The school describes itself as parent-governed and reinvesting revenue into the campus.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school publishes an Inclusive Education overview: universal classroom strategies plus targeted supports such as Learning Support teachers, an EAL (English as an Additional Language) programme, speech‑language services and social‑emotional counselling in Elementary, Middle and High School. The site also states it cannot provide some specialist on‑site therapies or psychological assessments and that EAL places and some specialist services may incur extra fees.	Additional learning support ISPP runs student support teams across Elementary and Secondary that include English as an Additional Language (EAL) programmes, targeted Learning Support (reading, maths, written language) and school counsellors; support can be in-class or in a Learning Support Centre. The site describes assessment on entry and exit criteria for EAL and collaboration with parents and external specialists as needed.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation CIS teaches the Alberta (Canada) provincial curriculum and is accredited by Alberta Education; students may graduate with an Alberta High School Diploma (with options to combine IB courses or the IB Diploma).	Country affiliation ISPP is an international school without affiliation to a single country; its materials describe a multinational student body and parent-governed structure.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school website does not indicate any religious affiliation; CIS is presented as a secular international school.	Religious affiliation ISPP is non-religious / secular in its stated information; the school presents itself as an inclusive international community rather than a faith-based institution.
School day structure	School day structure Timings vary by campus and age group. For example, the Bassac Garden preschool lists drop‑off 8:00–8:30 a.m., a first session 8:30–11:30 a.m., and full‑day pick‑up at 3:30 p.m.; other year groups follow different schedules, so confirm exact start/finish and break times for your child's year level with the school.	School day structure The school year runs August–June with about 180 instructional days; division-specific daily start and finish times are not posted on the public pages, and may vary by year group. ISPP's office hours are listed (07:00–16:30), and the After School Programme operates into the afternoon with late-bus departures at 4:15pm and 4:45pm. For exact daily start/end times and break/lunch schedules contact Admissions or the relevant division.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school offers a school bus and local buggy service for students (buses and open‑air electric buggies) that operates throughout central Phnom Penh for children aged 4 and above; children under 4 may be registered if accompanied by a sibling aged 10 or older. Vehicle types listed include buggies (4 seats) and passenger vans (up to 10 seats). Routes, fees and registration are managed by the school, so contact Admissions or Transport for current route maps, pick‑up points and costs.	Bus service details ISPP offers a limited paid daily bus/van service with seats allocated by route and priority for two-way riders and siblings; availability is not guaranteed for families outside established routes. The school publishes zone-based fees (Zone A / Zone B) and asks families to register at least five working days before service begins; the After School Programme also notes a late-bus option for activity participants. Check the school's bus page for current routes, zones and fees.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & one‑time enrolment fees - Application fee (one‑time): KHR 1,002,500. - Enrollment / admission fee (one‑time): KHR 2,005,000. - Annual capital/maintenance fee (charged annually): KHR 4,812,000 (where applicable, see first‑year totals). Tuition — annual and per‑term (published 2025–2026 amounts, per grade) Note: CIS offers annual, semesterly and quarterly payment plans. The figures below show the published annual total (yearly). Semester = annual ÷ 2; Quarterly = annual ÷ 4 (equal instalment splits shown for clarity). All amounts are in Cambodian Riels (KHR). - Nursery 2 (age 2): Annual KHR 31,679,001 — Semester KHR 15,839,501 — Quarterly KHR 7,919,750. - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual KHR 38,897,001 — Semester KHR 19,448,501 — Quarterly KHR 9,724,250. - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual KHR 48,120,001 — Semester KHR 24,060,001 — Quarterly KHR 12,030,000. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 1: Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 2: Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 3: Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 4: Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 5: Annual KHR 72,180,002 — Semester KHR 36,090,001 — Quarterly KHR 18,045,001. - Grade 6: Annual KHR 88,621,002 — Semester KHR 44,310,501 — Quarterly KHR 22,155,251. - Grade 7: Annual KHR 92,230,002 — Semester KHR 46,115,001 — Quarterly KHR 23,057,501. - Grade 8: Annual KHR 92,230,002 — Semester KHR 46,115,001 — Quarterly KHR 23,057,501. - Grade 9: Annual KHR 92,230,002 — Semester KHR 46,115,001 — Quarterly KHR 23,057,501. - Grade 10: Annual KHR 92,230,002 — Semester KHR 46,115,001 — Quarterly KHR 23,057,501. - Grade 11: Annual KHR 101,252,503 — Semester KHR 50,626,252 — Quarterly KHR 25,313,126. - Grade 12: Annual KHR 101,252,503 — Semester KHR 50,626,252 — Quarterly KHR 25,313,126. First‑year total example (includes one‑time fees) - Example shown in the published fee guide for a first year of enrolment: Nursery 2 first‑year total KHR 34,686,501 (this total includes the application fee, enrolment fee, capital fee and the tuition component noted above). Billing schedule and payment terms - CIS offers annual, semesterly and quarterly instalment plans; the school publishes Plan A (early annual payment) and related early‑enrolment discounts (3% discount for tuition paid under Plan A by the published early‑payment date). Family referral and sibling discounts are also offered. Exact invoice schedules and any instalment due dates are set in the school's Fee Guide and on invoices. Boarding - The School Services section of CIS lists a Boarding Program (full and weekly boarding for Grades 4 and above). Separately, the school's admissions/general‑requirements pages state residence expectations for enrolled students; confirm boarding availability and fees with admissions when enrolling. Other costs - Uniforms are available from the school store (school‑issued uniform is required; new students receive a complimentary CIS backpack). Lunch is provided via the school Lunch Program; bus/buggy transport, certain extracurriculars and some academy/program fees may incur additional charges. Refunds - The school's published Fee Guide contains the full refund and withdrawal terms (application and enrollment charges are typically handled as one‑time fees). Parents should review the Fee Guide or contact Admissions for the Fee Guide's refund and withdrawal clauses. Fee payment options - CIS publishes instalment plans and operates a parent portal (iSAMS) for family accounts; payment is normally made by bank transfer or by card/third‑party payment channels as specified on each invoice. Invoices and the Fee Guide set the accepted payment methods and any processing fees.	Fee details —
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 CISP's Early Years Program (Nursery–Junior Kindergarten) follows Flight: Alberta's Early Learning and Care Framework and is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, using play‑based, child‑centred learning. Elementary (Senior Kindergarten–Grade 6) follows the Alberta curriculum delivered through the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP); students receive weekly instruction in Khmer, Mandarin, or French and may join French or Mandarin bilingual streams. Middle School (Grades 7–9) follows Alberta Grade 7–9 curricula with specialist teachers in core subjects and complementary courses such as art, Career & Technology Foundations, drama, music, Khmer, Mandarin and French. High School offers two pathways: the Alberta High School Program (Grades 10–12), accredited by Alberta's Ministry of Education and leading to an Alberta High School Diploma (minimum 100 credits, with varied course sequences), and the two‑year IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12, which includes six subject groups plus Theory of Knowledge, the extended essay and CAS. Across all stages students can access specialist services and programs such as English as an Additional Language, inclusive education, fine arts, sports, design and academic counselling.	Curriculum details International School of Phnom Penh serves students age 3 through Grade 12 and is an IB World School authorised to deliver the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes. Elementary (Early Years/Kindergarten–Grade 5) follows the IB Primary Years Programme, organised around transdisciplinary units with subject areas such as language, mathematics, personal/social/physical education, social studies, arts, and science & technology. Middle Years (Grades 6–10) follows the IB MYP framework in which students study two languages plus humanities, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical education and design, and complete a certificated personal project in the final year. Senior secondary (Grades 11–12) is the two‑year IB Diploma Programme: students choose six subjects across the IB groups (three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level) and complete the core components—Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Activity, Service. ISPP also awards an ISPP (US-style) high school diploma accredited by WASC and offers alternatives for students not taking the full IB Diploma, including IBDP certificate courses and ISPP High Courses.
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. Complete the online application: Start by creating and submitting an application through CIS's online platform (gibbon.cisp.edu.kh). Parents should save progress if they cannot upload everything at once; the school says you can return later and the Admissions Team will contact you after submission to confirm receipt and next steps. Be prepared to provide accurate birth and passport details because these determine grade placement and residency checks. 2. Pay the application fee: The application fee must be paid (in person or by bank transfer) before CIS will consider the application or schedule an assessment. The site states the fee is non-refundable — plan for that cost when you apply and keep payment confirmation to avoid delays. If the fee is not paid, the school will not proceed to the assessment or interview stage. 3. Submit required supporting documents: CIS lists documents required for all applicants (recent school reports, completed online recommendation forms, standardized test results if available, passport ID pages for student and parents, birth certificate or family book, vaccination records, signed CIS Parent Agreement, and a signed student health questionnaire). Additional, grade-specific recommendations or extra report cards are required for different year levels (for example, Grades 10–12 require three years of report cards plus multiple teacher recommendations). Parents should collect original or certified copies and be ready to upload them to the online platform; recommendations are submitted online by the referees. 4. Assessment, interview and English requirement: After documents are reviewed, CIS may request an interview and/or academic assessments (these can be online or in person). Students from Senior Kindergarten through Grade 12 may need an English-language proficiency assessment; Grade 10–12 applicants must show grade-level English proficiency (via prior records from an accredited English-instruction school or an assessment). If your child will require EAL (English as an Additional Language) support, note that CIS provides EAL for Grades 1–9 but enrolment in the EAL program carries additional fees. 5. Offer, deposit and fee arrangements to confirm enrolment: If CIS offers a place, parents must accept the offer and pay the required deposits to confirm enrolment — the school specifically states deposits and the ability to meet school fee requirements are conditions of enrolment. CIS publishes a 2025–2026 Fee Guide and offers multiple payment plans (annual, semesterly, quarterly); the school also runs specific discounts and referral/voucher programs (for example, an early-enrolment discount, sibling discounts, and referral vouchers). Before accepting an offer, review the fee guide and confirm which payment plan and any applicable discounts you will use. 6. Placement, first day and orientation: Grade placement is determined by year of birth for Nursery–Grade 6 and by a combination of birth year and prior education for Grades 7–12; parents are expected to accept the school's placement decision. CIS accepts applications on a rolling basis and the Admissions Team can schedule personalized campus visits; they also provide information to prepare families for the student's first day and run a New Family Orientation.	Admissions 1. Make an initial inquiry. Start by submitting the online Inquiry / pre-application through ISPP's admissions portal (OpenApply) so the school can confirm whether the grade you want is likely to have space and what the next steps will be. The Inquiry helps the admissions team provide grade-specific guidance and to tell you whether to proceed with the formal pre-application or tour. 2. Submit a pre-application and basic documents. If you decide to proceed, complete the Pre‑Application Form and pay the pre-application deposit (US$50). At this stage you should upload passport ID pages and recent passport-style photos and any reports related to learning needs; the pre-application places your family on the applicant list while you await confirmation of space. 3. Complete the full Application and pay the application fee once space is confirmed. When ISPP confirms a place is available you will be asked to finish the Application Form in OpenApply and pay the remainder of the application fee (total application fee US$250, which includes the US$50 pre-application deposit and a US$200 balance). Be prepared to provide at least two recent years of school reports in English, a copy of immunisation records, the completed ISPP immunisation form and, for Grades 2–5, a writing sample. 4. Provide school recommendation(s) and any additional documents requested. ISPP requires a confidential recommendation from the student's current school (submitted directly to ISPP) and may request extra documentation about academic history or support needs; recommendations must be provided by the current school via the specified contact method. Keep email contact details for the recommending teachers ready when you apply, since ISPP will not accept recommendations sent by other routes. 5. Expect staged assessment steps where needed. ISPP does not routinely require formal academic testing at admission but may request English language testing (for which a fee may apply) and/or an interview with the relevant Principal to confirm that the student can access the IB programme. Placement into EAL (English as an Additional Language) support will be used where appropriate and students exit EAL once they meet grade-level proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. 6. Understand priority criteria and nationality limits. Applications are considered by priority (siblings of current students, enrolled students and children of diplomatic passport holders receive priority) and then by application date; ISPP also enforces nationality caps (Cambodian students are limited to 30% and other nationalities to 15% each) that can affect availability in many grades. Provide proof of nationality for the student and parents during the application process because the school uses that information to ensure compliance with the nationality limits. 7. Be clear about grade placement and age rules. ISPP places students by chronological age with specific September 1 cut-off ages (for example, Kindergarten = age 5 by September 1; Grade 6 typically age 11), and the school publishes a Dates of Birth / Grade Entry chart that you should check before applying. If a student's previous school calendar differs or there are other complexities, the Principal will make the final grade placement decision balancing age, academic continuity, language proficiency and social maturity. 8. Disclose any learning or support needs early. Parents must fully disclose any special education needs or learning-support history during the admissions process; ISPP reviews each case individually and may provide moderate learning support but may also decline or later ask a family to withdraw if the student's needs exceed the school's capacity. If your child receives therapies or specialist services, tell the admissions team and be prepared to provide formal reports so ISPP can assess whether it can meet those needs. 9. Receive an offer and attend to enrolment / entrance deposits and fees. If offered a place, you will be asked to pay an enrolment deposit or entrance fee (entrance fees are charged once for KG–Grade 12; an Early Years entrance deposit is applied if the child progresses to KG) and to complete final paperwork; parents or guardians are liable for fees on enrolment and for any re‑enrolment deposit required to secure a returning student's place. Review the school's tuition and fee schedule for payment options (annual, semester, term/quarter) and note that instalment plans incur a finance charge. 10. Know fee, refund and re-enrolment policies. Tuition fees are refundable only for full terms of non-attendance; other fees are non‑refundable, and late or non-payment can lead to penalties or de‑enrolment. Returning families must pay a re‑enrolment deposit (usually collected in the second semester) to hold a place for the next academic year—check the published timetable as the Board approves fee schedules in February and releases the following year's fee schedule in March.
Scholarships	Scholarships The CIS Phnom Penh admissions and fees pages do not describe a scholarship program for incoming students; the school's published fee information focuses on payment plans, an early-enrolment discount, sibling discounts, referral vouchers, and a forthcoming loyalty discount. CIS's community page also notes partner discounts (for example, a Canadia Bank junior account offers a tuition discount). Because other schools in the wider ‘CIS' network (for example, CIS branches in Vietnam) do run named scholarship or talent programs, be careful not to assume those apply to the Phnom Penh campus. If you want a definitive answer about scholarships, hardship assistance, or merit-based awards for the Phnom Penh campus, request that information directly from admissions@cisp.edu.kh — they can confirm whether any scholarships or internal assistance programs exist and explain eligibility, application windows, and documentation required.	Scholarships ISPP operates a host-country scholarship programme that provides full scholarships to selected Cambodian students beginning at Grade 6 and continuing through graduation. The programme began in 2018–19 and each year ISPP has welcomed a new cohort into Grade 6; the school partners with community organisations (Cambodian Children's Fund and Indochina Starfish Foundation) to provide extra support to scholarship students and their families. Funding for the sustainable continuation of the scholarship programme is supported in part by the one-time application and entrance fees paid by new students, and the ISPP Board of Trustees has committed to maintaining these scholarships. The scholarship places are targeted to children from very low-income backgrounds and are selected in collaboration with the partner NGOs; the ISPP website lists current cohort counts and background on the programme.
Waitlist	Waitlist CIS does not publish a detailed public waitlist policy on its website; the General Requirements page instructs prospective families to contact the Admissions Team for information about waiting lists. That wording implies a waiting-list or vacancy-management process exists but that specific places and prioritization rules are handled case-by-case by Admissions. If you need to know whether your child will be placed on a waitlist, the likely next vacancy date, or how long wait times are, contact admissions@cisp.edu.kh — they are the official source for current waitlist status and any documentary steps required to remain on a list.	Waitlist ISPP uses waiting lists when applications exceed available spaces in a given grade. Applicants who cannot be offered immediate placement are put on a waiting list and considered according to the school's priority rules (siblings, enrolled students, diplomatic passport holders, then by application date). ISPP staff will provide a realistic assessment of chances and timing where possible but do not publish waiting-list length or guaranteed timing; applicants may remain under consideration throughout the current academic year and also for the beginning of the following academic year (but new-year priorities apply). If the school cannot place an applicant by August of the following academic year, families are notified and offered the option to remain on the waiting list for the next year for an additional, non‑refundable fee. Families can also use the Pre‑Application to enter the applicant pool up to one year in advance (pre‑application deposit US$50) while they wait for space to open.
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