CIA First International School vs KCE International School

	C CIA First International School Phnom Penh, Cambodia	K KCE International School Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KHR 13,400,000 - 30,240,000	Fees / year KHR 11,600,000 - 18,000,000
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 5,000	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, French, Mandarin	Instruction language Khmer, English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2004	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location CIA FIRST is based in Phnom Penh with campuses in Sen Sok and Chbar Ampov and a Russey Keo campus listed on the school site; the main administrative address is No. 107, Street 2004 (Tek Thla) in Sen Sok. The campus pages give local orientation (e.g., Sen Sok campus is in front of Orkide; Russey Keo is on Street 330 near the Ministry of Land Management).	Location KCE's main campus is in Toul Kork (Phsar Depo II), Phnom Penh — address listed as Building 21AB, Street 146, Sangkat Phsar Depo II, Khan Toul Kork. The site is in a mixed residential/commercial area and is reachable by car, taxi or motorbike from other parts of the city; the school lists local contact details on its website.
Stages	Stages CIA FIRST operates programs from Pre‑K/Preschool through Grade 12. Individual campuses serve different ranges (for example: Sen Sok K3–G8, Sen Sok High School G9–G12, Chbar Ampov PreK–G12 and a Preschool site).	Stages KCE accepts children from Kindergarten (age 3) through Grade 12; its published fee pages show fee bands for Kindergarten, Grades 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–9 and 10–12. The school's High School section specifically refers to Grades 10–12.
School type	School type CIA FIRST is a co‑educational, day international school (no boarding provision is listed on the school website). It operates multiple purpose‑built day campuses across Phnom Penh.	School type KCE is a private, co-educational day school offering a combined national and international programme; the school describes a trilingual approach (Khmer, English and Chinese). The school's public information does not mention boarding facilities.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school has a Student Support Services department that includes counselors, SEL coaches, Multilingual Learner (MLL) specialists, literacy specialists and learning‑to‑learn specialists; support is provided through a Multi‑Tiered System of Support with push‑in and pull‑out models and individualized learning plans. MLL support is offered for Grades 1–10 and interventions are guided by WIDA standards.	Additional learning support KCE's public web pages and listings do not publish a detailed Special Educational Needs (SEN) or additional-learning-support policy. If your child may need learning support, contact the school admissions office directly to ask about assessments, in-class support, or external specialist arrangements.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is based in Cambodia and is accredited by Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS); it also holds WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation, which is a U.S. regional accreditor. It does not present a single overseas national affiliation.	Country affiliation KCE is a Cambodian private international school (operating in Phnom Penh) and is presented as a local private institution offering international programmes rather than being affiliated to another country's school system.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school website does not list a religious affiliation and presents itself as an inclusive, secular international school community (see the school's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion statement).	Religious affiliation The school's public information does not indicate any religious affiliation.
School day structure	School day structure Daily hours vary by campus and program. Typical start times are 7:30–8:00 AM; full‑day kindergarten and preschool run roughly 8:00 AM to 3:30–4:00 PM, international programs commonly finish around 4:00–4:15 PM, and students in the Full‑Time Khmer (FTK) option have additional Khmer‑curriculum classes running until about 5:15 PM (FTK schedules and exact times differ by campus).	School day structure The site lists general opening hours around 07:30–17:00; the High School page shows a typical school day of about 08:00–16:00 (Monday–Friday). Published school-day summaries in directories also list an 8:00–16:00 school day.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school operates its own door‑to‑door bus fleet across Phnom Penh with zoned fees (0–3 km, 3.1–6 km, 6.1–10 km) and an onboard assistant for supervision; buses are described as having seat belts, air conditioning and in‑bus CCTV and each vehicle has a stated maximum capacity (the site describes an 8‑student maximum per bus). Parents register per campus and contact details for bus registration are listed on the school bus page.	Bus service details KCE offers a school bus service; its tuition/fees page notes a bus fee that is charged based on the student's location. External school listings also record that a bus service is available. For route details, stops and exact pricing subscribe to or enquire with the school — these are normally arranged per family/location.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Enrollment fees - Entrance test fee (one-time, required for new students K3–G12): USD 40. - Registration fee (one-time, required for new students): USD 850. - Re-enrollment (returning students)—early discounted re-registration and full re-registration amounts are published for the 2025–2026 cycle (early/discounted and full deadlines and late-payment penalty apply). Tuition fees (annual amounts by year group; per-term breakdown available in the school's published fee schedule) - Early years / Kindergarten (K3–K5): USD 3,950 to USD 5,950 per year (range by program/age). - Grade 1–Grade 5: USD 6,600 per year. - Grade 6–Grade 8: USD 7,550 per year. - Grade 9–Grade 12: high‑school program information (including diploma options) and associated fees are published for the high‑school age range; full grade-by-grade annual figures are included in the official School Fees document for AY 2025–2026. - Note: the school's formal AY 2025–2026 fee schedule contains the detailed per-term and per-item breakdown (tuition per term, capital/technology/resource fees, learning-materials, etc.). Annual totals for each grade are also reproduced by independent school-fee databases. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school asks that outstanding dues be paid by the 7th of each month; monthly contactless payment methods are promoted. Installment plans and term payment options are detailed in the published fee schedule. Remarks (student ID or full student name) are required on bank transfers. - Re-enrollment deadlines: early discounted re-registration payment deadline and a final re-registration deadline are published (late payment carries a daily penalty as noted in the re-enrollment notice). Boarding - No boarding / residential program is published for CIA FIRST campuses; the school operates multiple day campuses and lists school‑bus and day‑services rather than boarding. Other costs and optional services - School bus: door‑to‑door service with multiple distance zones; route options and fees are charged separately (fee breakdown and route poster are published by campus). Contact numbers for bus enquiries are provided per campus. - Uniforms and school merchandise: uniforms are required and may be purchased at the school Accountant Counter; costs vary by uniform set/level. - Miscellaneous: the school's published schedule lists technology & resource fees, capital/learning‑materials fees, and other one‑off or annual charges in addition to tuition and registration. - Sibling discount: a published sibling discount structure is reported (example: 5% for second child; additional child discounts are published in the school fee materials). Refund information - The school's public pages and re-enrollment notice set out re-registration deadlines and late‑payment penalties; a detailed refund schedule (withdrawal/refund percentages, refundable vs non‑refundable items) is not published on the general school pages. The official AY 2025–2026 fee schedule contains the full terms and conditions, including any refund/withdrawal terms. Fee payment options - ABA Mobile App and ABA bank transfer to the school's ABA account (Account Name: CIA FIRST International School Co., Ltd; Account Number: 089900012) with the requirement to remark Student ID or full student name. In-person payments at campus accountant counters are used for merchandise/uniform purchases. Additional contactless/payment methods are promoted by the school.	Fee details Application and one-time admission fees - Application fee: USD 100 (charged annually / at application). - Administrator fee: USD 100 (charged annually). - Material fee: USD 250 (annual; described as covering notebook, course books, study materials and two sets of uniforms). Tuition fees by year group (published billing options shown as semesterly or yearly) - Kindergarten (ages 3–5) - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 1,525. - Annual (single payment): USD 2,900. - Grade 1–2 - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 1,575. - Annual (single payment): USD 3,000. - Grade 3–4 - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 1,625. - Annual (single payment): USD 3,100. - Grade 5–6 - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 1,680. - Annual (single payment): USD 3,200. - Grade 7–9 - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 1,890. - Annual (single payment): USD 3,600. - Grade 10–12 - Per semester (2 payments per year): USD 2,363. - Annual (single payment): USD 4,500. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is published with two billing options: semesterly (two payments per academic year) or a single annual payment at the published annual rate. One‑time or annual fees (application, administration, material) are charged at admission/annually as indicated. Specific due dates or late‑payment penalties are not published on the fee page. Boarding fees - No boarding fees are listed; the school's published fees and fee page do not include boarding charges, indicating that boarding is not offered or not charged. Other costs and recurring charges - Student / sports uniform: USD 25 per set (optional / itemized). - Lunch: USD 60 per month (published as a monthly charge). - School bus / transportation: charged based on location (amount varies; published as location‑based). - Material fee (annual, see above) described as covering stationery, course books, study materials and two sets of uniforms. - Any additional optional activities, exam fees or extracurricular charges are not itemized on the published fee page. Refund information - A specific refund or cancellation policy for fees is not published on the school's tuition/fees page. No public fee‑refund terms are listed in the same published fee materials. Fee payment options - The school's published fee page lists amounts and billing frequencies but does not specify accepted payment methods (for example, credit card, cheque or bank transfer) on that page. Payment method details are not itemized with the fee schedule. Notes on currency and presentation - Fees on the published fee page are shown in USD. A separate independent school listing provides converted values in Cambodian Riels for overview purposes.
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 CIA FIRST offers WASC‑accredited, standards‑based international education alongside Khmer‑accredited pathways from Pre‑K/preschool through Grade 12. The preschool/Early Years programme follows the Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood and uses a play‑based, hands‑on approach to social–emotional, language, physical, creative and cognitive development. The Elementary curriculum is UbD‑aligned and, together with Middle School (Grade 6–8), delivers a student‑centred, inquiry‑based STEAM and humanities programme that draws on Common Core, AERO and NGSS standards and includes English, mathematics, science, social studies, computer science, arts, music and physical education. High School (Grade 9–12) is WASC‑accredited, issues an international high‑school diploma recognised as equivalent to the national Grade‑12 diploma, and offers Advanced Placement courses (the school lists 22 AP subjects and the AP Capstone pathway). Families can choose Full‑Time International (FTI), Full‑Time Khmer (FTK — MoEYS‑accredited Khmer national curriculum offered as afternoon electives), or FTI+FTC (adds daily Khmer language and culture classes) to combine international standards with Khmer language and national recognition.	Curriculum details KCE International School runs a trilingual programme (Khmer, English and Chinese) and states it delivers both national and international pathways from Early Years through Grade 12. Its Kindergarten accepts children aged about 2–5, operates roughly 30 hours per week, and focuses on play‑based early skills (pre‑writing, pre‑maths, storytelling, singing), English exposure, arts, PE and swimming. Primary and lower‑secondary are organised in grade bands (Grade 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–9) and cover core subjects—mathematics, science, ICT and social studies—alongside Khmer and English language, arts and extracurricular activities. The High School programme (Grades 10–12) is described as a 40‑hour week offering English, Khmer literature, maths, social sciences, laboratory work, ICT, home economics, arts and regular sports (including swimming). The school website outlines national and international tracks but does not list specific external examination awards (e.g., Cambridge or IB) for particular year groups, so contact the school directly to confirm formal qualifications or leaving certificates.
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. Make an inquiry and/or book a campus tour. Contact the Admissions office to ask about program options (Full‑Time International, Full‑Time Khmer, or Khmer Language & Culture) and to arrange an on‑site tour at the campus you prefer. Parents should bring or be ready to upload basic documents (ID, previous school reports) when requested and note that the school recommends scheduling visits in advance during Admissions office hours. See the school's published enrollment steps and contact links. 2. Readiness assessment and admissions test. Kindergarten applicants sit a short readiness assessment (about 20–30 minutes); students from Grade 1 to Grade 12 take a paper‑ or computer‑based entrance test (approximately 2–3 hours) followed by an interview with a school principal. Parents should confirm which campus and test format will be used for their child, prepare recent school reports if applicable, and allow time for the post‑test interview that influences placement. Test scheduling is done through the Admissions team. 3. Submit an application after assessment. If the student passes the readiness assessment or admissions test the school will issue an enrollment offer and parents complete the formal application. The school provides an application form to download and asks that supporting documents (birth certificate/passport, previous transcripts, immunisation records where requested) be submitted with the form. Verify that the child's intended program (FTI, FTK, FTC) and campus are correctly shown on the application to avoid later schedule or fee mismatches. 4. Pay fees to secure the seat and complete enrolment. The offer becomes a confirmed place once required one‑time and tuition payments are made; the site lists common items that must be paid (registration fee, tuition, technology/resource fees, uniform sets and other miscellaneous fees). The public fee page shows an Entrance Test Fee of $40 (one‑time) and a Registration Fee of $850 (one‑time); parents should download the detailed AY fee schedule and check payment deadlines and bank transfer instructions before paying. If you need payment plans, campus‑specific figures (some campuses list different tuition ranges) or promotional discounts, contact Admissions for the current schedule and any time‑limited offers.	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and information gathering. Contact the school to request the current application form, published fees and the academic calendar; KCE publishes tuition and fee amounts on its website but some pages are blocked for direct viewing, so confirm the latest figures with the admissions office. (Source: KCE website contact and fees summary). 2. Complete the application and pay the application fee. KCE's fee page lists an application fee (USD 100) and an administration fee (USD 100); parents should confirm whether these are payable at submission or only after an offer is made, and whether these fees are refundable if a place is not offered. Provide accurate identity documents (birth certificate/passport), previous school reports (if applicable) and the completed application form — the school may require originals at enrolment so bring certified copies and originals for verification. Ask in advance what proof of residence, visa or health records (vaccination) the school needs for international students. 3. Assessment and/or interview. For nursery/preschool the school typically uses informal interactions; for primary and secondary grades prospective students are often assessed academically and may have an interview with admissions or the Head of School to determine placement. Parents should prepare recent school reports and, for older children, samples of school work and any results from external examinations; confirm whether the assessment is in English or another language so you can prepare the child. Be clear about the timing of assessments — ask whether there are placement tests for English, maths or other subjects and whether remote/online assessment is possible. 4. Offer, contract and payment of fees. If the child is offered a place the school will issue an offer/acceptance form and a fee schedule; KCE's published schedule shows options to pay tuition yearly or by semester and lists tuition by grade (examples: Kindergarten yearly USD 2,900; Grade 1–2 yearly USD 3,000; Grade 10–12 yearly USD 4,500). Parents should read the contract for refund and withdrawal terms, note payment deadlines (annual vs semester billing), and confirm which one-time fees are due on acceptance (application fee, administration fee, material/uniform fees). Keep receipts for all payments and ask for a written statement of what is included in tuition (books, tests, activities) and what is optional (lunch, bus). 5. Materials, uniforms, transport and meal arrangements. KCE's published fees list a material fee (the school page lists USD 250 for materials such as notebooks, course books and two uniform sets, and the page also shows a $300 figure in the same section — parents should confirm the exact amount and what it covers). The site lists optional items such as monthly lunch (USD 60) and bus fees charged by route; parents should confirm bus availability for their address, exact route cost, and whether lunch menus meet any dietary requirements. Before the child's start date, complete any medical forms and sign permission forms for activities; confirm start-of-term orientation dates and drop-off/pick-up procedures. 6. First day, orientation and ongoing communication. Attend the school's orientation (if provided) so you understand daily schedules, communication channels (who to contact for academic, pastoral or billing questions), and school policies (attendance, behaviour, homework). Keep the admissions and accounts office contact details and request the parent handbook or school policies in writing so you can refer to procedures for absence, illness, or fee disputes. If anything in the published information seems inconsistent (for example fee-line items), request written confirmation from admissions before making major payments.
Scholarships	Scholarships There is no single, clearly described merit scholarship programme listed on the school's main Admissions or School Fees pages. The public site does, however, show that CIA FIRST has active partnerships and promotional arrangements that can include discounts, tuition credits, or scholarship opportunities: for example, a memorandum of understanding with the American University of Phnom Penh references scholarship and tuition‑discount pathways for CIA FIRST students, and a more recent partnership announcement with Trinity College (University of Melbourne) refers to a scholarship opportunity (up to a stated amount in that announcement). The school also appears in third‑party promotion programmes and member discount schemes (for example insurer or chamber member offers) that list registration or tuition concessions for eligible customers. Because these offers vary by year, campus, partner and target group (founding‑family discounts, partner promotions, or university‑pathway scholarships), parents should not assume a permanent, school‑wide need‑ or merit‑based scholarship is available; instead, ask Admissions which current scholarships, partner discounts, or promotional offers apply to your child, what the eligibility criteria are, and whether an additional application is required. For program‑specific scholarship details and the most recent availability, contact admissions@ciaschool.edu.kh or request the Admissions team to confirm any partnership scholarships and timelines.	Scholarships There is no information on KCE's public pages or on the third‑party listings reviewed that describes school-wide scholarships or regular financial-aid programmes. Major published items on the school site cover tuition, application and material fees but do not list merit or need-based scholarship schemes. If a family requires fee assistance or if the school occasionally offers bursaries, those details are typically provided directly by the admissions office, so request written confirmation from KCE about any scholarship opportunities, eligibility criteria, deadlines and required documentation. For transparency and to avoid misunderstandings, ask the school whether any fee reductions are offered, whether they are renewable, and whether there are any application dates or assessment requirements.
Waitlist	Waitlist The school's public admissions pages do not describe a formal, published waitlist or central pool system; instead they emphasise that seats are limited and recommend starting the application process early. Because the website directs families to inquire and schedule tests and notes that places are secured by payment, the practical implication is that availability is managed case‑by‑case by the Admissions office rather than through a clearly advertised waitlist. If you are applying and a grade/campus is full, ask Admissions whether they operate an internal waiting list, what the typical wait times are, and how they notify families (email, phone, or their student management system). For the most accurate, up‑to‑date answer about current seat availability or an internal wait list for a specific campus/grade, contact admissions@ciaschool.edu.kh or the phone numbers listed on the site.	Waitlist KCE's publicly available pages and third‑party school listings that summarise the school's admissions (site content and fee page) do not mention a formal waiting-list or pool system. Because the school's website and listings do not describe a waitlist, the safest assumption is that any oversubscription or informal hold on places would be managed case-by-case by the admissions office. If you need certainty about whether a waiting list exists, how long it typically is, or how places are allocated from it, contact KCE's admissions office directly (phone/email shown on the school page) and ask for their current policy in writing; this is the most reliable way to confirm local practice.
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