Canadian International School of Thailand vs Raffles American School Bangkok
Canadian International School of Thailand and Raffles American School Bangkok are both in Bangkok, about 22 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. Canadian International School of Thailand also offers Canadian, and Raffles American School Bangkok also offers Advanced Placement (AP) and American. Published annual fees are THB 198,500 - 545,000 at Canadian International School of Thailand and THB 198,000 - 297,000 at Raffles American School Bangkok, which puts Canadian International School of Thailand roughly 50% higher. Canadian International School of Thailand takes pupils from 3 to 18, and Raffles American School Bangkok from 2 to 18. Raffles American School Bangkok is the larger school, with around 600 pupils to Canadian International School of Thailand's 350. Typical class sizes are 18 at Canadian International School of Thailand and 16 at Raffles American School Bangkok.
IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
350
Pupils
600
Typical class size
Typical class size
18
Typical class size
16
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2017
Opened
2017
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
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Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
The Canadian International School of Thailand is located in the Pinklao area of Bangkok, beside the Chao Phraya River in Bang Phlat district. The school is situated on Charansanitwong Soi 46, about 20 minutes from central Bangkok by car. It shares a riverside campus with Thewphaingarm Canadian Bilingual School (TCBS). Shuttle transport is available to and from key MRT and BTS hubs.
Location
Raffles American School Bangkok is located in Samut Prakan province, just east of central Bangkok along the Bang Na–Trat frontage road. The school is situated in a suburban area with residential communities and international businesses nearby. It's easily accessible by private car and sits close to major expressways, making school drop-off and pick-up manageable for commuting families. The surrounding area is quiet, with access to amenities such as shopping malls, restaurants, and international housing.
Stages
Stages
CIST is divided into Early Years (Pre-K3 to Kindergarten), Elementary (Grades 1–6), and Secondary School (Grades 7–12).
Students follow the IB PYP and MYP programs in the early years and transition into the Canadian Ontario curriculum for high school. Graduates earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
Stages
The school is organized into four main divisions: Early Childhood (Pre-K to Kindergarten), Elementary School (Grades 1–5), Middle School (Grades 6–8), and High School (Grades 9–12). This structure provides a continuous educational pathway for children from age 2 up to 18.
School type
School type
CIST is a co-educational international day school with boarding options available. Boarding is provided in collaboration with its sister school, TCBS, for students in higher year levels. Both boys and girls are admitted across all levels.
School type
Raffles American School Bangkok is a co-educational school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Information about specific SEN (Special Educational Needs) or other Additional Learning Support provisions is not detailed on the school’s website.
Additional learning support
The school does not publicly list any specialized services or programs for students with Additional Learning Needs. There is no mention of specific facilities or trained staff for learning support on its website.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
The school is affiliated with Canada and follows the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum. It is accredited to issue the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
Country affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any country.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
CIST has no religious affiliation. It is a secular international school.
Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.
School day structure
School day structure
Specific daily schedules are not published online.
School day structure
The website does not publish details on how the school day is structured.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school provides a daily shuttle service to key MRT and BTS stations in Bangkok. This service is coordinated to assist families commuting from different parts of the city.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application and One-Time Fees
* Application Fee: baht 5,000 (non-refundable, payable upon submission of application) * Registration Fee: baht 150,000 (non-refundable, payable upon acceptance) * School Association Fee: baht 2,500 (non-refundable, payable upon acceptance)
Annual Tuition Fees (inclusive of meals and snacks)
* Daily (overnight): baht 500 per night Boarding includes supervision, laundry, breakfast, and dinner.
Payment Terms and Methods
* All fees are payable in advance. * All payments are non-refundable. * A 3–5% annual increase is typically announced.
* Payment Methods:
* Bank transfer * Credit card (1.4% additional processing fee)
Other Costs
* Uniforms and backpacks are not included in the above fees.
Fee details
Application Fees The school’s website does not mention any application or registration fees. Families should confirm directly with the school whether such fees apply during the admissions process.
Tuition Fees (By Age Group)
* Nursery (2–3 years old): THB 198,000 per academic year * Kindergarten 1–2 (3–5 years old): THB 234,000 per academic year * Kindergarten 3 (5–6 years old): THB 255,000 per academic year * Grade 1–4 (6–10 years old): THB 279,000 per academic year * Grade 5–12 (10–18 years old): THB 297,000 per academic year
All amounts are listed as annual tuition.
Lunch Fees A separate lunch fee of THB 30,000 per academic year applies to all grade levels.
Billing Schedule and Payment Terms The school’s website does not currently specify the billing frequency (term-based or annual), deadlines, or late payment penalties.
Payment Methods The school does not disclose payment method options (such as credit card, bank transfer, or online systems) in the fee schedule.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Canadian International School of Thailand (CIST) offers a blend of the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Canadian Ontario curricula. In the Early Years and Elementary School (Pre-K to Grade 6), students follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), with inquiry-based learning across core subjects. From Grades 7 to 10, the school delivers the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), continuing interdisciplinary and skills-focused instruction.
For Grades 11 and 12, students transition fully to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) curriculum, which is overseen by the Ontario Ministry of Education. This program includes coursework in English, mathematics, science, and social studies, and requires community involvement and a final literacy assessment. Students completing the OSSD are eligible for university entry in Canada and other international destinations.
Curriculum details
Here’s a clear and friendly overview of the curriculum offering at Raffles American School Bangkok, based strictly on information from the school’s official materials:
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Curriculum Overview
Raffles follows a U.S.-based American curriculum aligned with Common Core standards in English and Math, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science, and AERO for Social Studies. In Early Childhood through Elementary, learning is experiential, covering literacy (using frameworks like the 6+1 Trait Writing and Daily 5), numeracy, science, arts, physical education, music, and world languages. In Middle School, students rotate between specialist teachers in subject areas including language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, performing and visual arts, PE, health, and technology. High School (Grades 9–12) culminates in the award of a U.S. High School Diploma, with students from Grade 10 onward selecting from a range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Starting in the upcoming academic year, the IB Diploma Programme (DP) will be introduced for Grades 11 and 12, while Grade 10 students may sample AP Psychology. The school embeds General Learning Outcomes—such as communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills—at every level.
1. Attend a school visit or open house if invited. Families may be invited to tour the campus and meet members of the academic team. This gives prospective parents and students the opportunity to understand the environment, ask questions, and view classrooms and facilities.
2. Submit the application form and required documents. These documents typically include the student’s previous academic reports, health records, passport/ID copy, and a completed application form. A non-refundable application fee of baht 5,000 must be paid at this stage.
3. Student assessment and interview. Early Years applicants are assessed for school readiness, while older students undergo an informal interview and a diagnostic English-language assessment to determine their learning needs and placement level.
4. Review of application by the admissions committee. The application will be reviewed by the Principal, who may approve admission, decline the application, or place the student on a waiting list. In all cases, the school will notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the decision. Placement is subject to space availability and the outcome of the review process.
5. Payment of fees and confirmation of start date. Once accepted, families must pay the registration fee (baht 150,000) and school association fee (baht 2,500). Tuition and any applicable boarding fees must also be paid in advance, following the school’s billing schedule.
Admissions
1. Initial Visit & Inquiry Begin by visiting the school or contacting the Admissions Office. You can arrange to meet the Head of School or Director in person—or connect online via email, phone, or the Line app if visiting isn’t possible. An open-door policy is offered for visits by appointment.
2. Submit Application Materials Complete and submit the Application Form, Admission Requirement Checklist, Authorization to Release School Records form, and Informed Consent from the previous school. Include two passport-sized photos, a copy of the student’s passport or Thai ID, up to three years of academic records (translated into English if needed), standardized test results or evaluations, and a confidential recommendation from the current school. These can be submitted online or via mail, email, or in person.
3. Evaluation & Interview Once your application is complete, the school typically processes it within five working days. Then, the student will undergo evaluation, screening, and an interview designed to assess English and math proficiency. Pre‑K and Kindergarten applicants have a parent interview and child engagement activity. Interviews can be held in person or via Skype; if remote applicants can't participate, offers may be conditional on in‑person evaluation later.
4. Application Outcome If accepted, the school will send a formal Offer of Admission by email, followed by a tuition invoice and a welcome letter from the Head of School outlining next steps.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Canadian International School of Thailand offers scholarships for students entering Grades 9 to 12. These scholarships provide up to 50% off tuition fees and are linked to the school’s dual diploma programme with Rosedale Global High School, which includes both the CIST and Canadian OSSD qualifications
Scholarships
The school’s official website does not mention any scholarships or financial aid programs.
Waitlist
Waitlist
CIST operates a waitlist system for certain year levels when space is not available. After the application review by the Principal, students who meet the requirements but cannot be placed immediately may be added to a waiting list. Families are notified of this status, and placement is offered as spaces become available. There is no indication that a pooled or ranked selection system is used.
Waitlist
When an applicant meets the admissions requirements but the requested grade level or program is already full, that applicant is placed in a wait pool.
