CIA First International School vs Lycée Français René Descartes
CIA First International School and Lycée Français René Descartes are both in Phnom Penh, about 8 km apart. Both schools offer American programmes. CIA First International School also offers Advanced Placement (AP) and Bespoke, and Lycée Français René Descartes also offers French. Published annual fees are KHR 13,400,000 - 30,240,000 at CIA First International School and KHR 24,225,554 - 31,611,492 at Lycée Français René Descartes, which puts Lycée Français René Descartes roughly 28% higher. CIA First International School takes pupils from 2 to 18, and Lycée Français René Descartes from 3 to 17. CIA First International School is the larger school, with around 5,000 pupils to Lycée Français René Descartes's 1,150.
American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), Bespoke Curriculum
Curriculum
French Curriculum, American Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
5,000
Pupils
1,150
Typical class size
Typical class size
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Typical class size
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Instruction language
Instruction language
English, French, Mandarin
Instruction language
French, English
Opened
Opened
2004
Opened
1951
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
The Lycée Français René Descartes is located at Rue Christopher Howes (Rue 96), Wat Phnom, BP 1132, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The campus sits in the Daun Penh district in central Phnom Penh, near the Wat Phnom area, with access to local transport such as taxis and tuk-tuks. The address is publicly listed as part of its Phnom Penh footprint.
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
The school serves preschool through terminale (the final year of lycée). Classes range from petite section (maternelle) to terminale, and the curriculum includes the Brevet des Collèges and the Baccalauréat.
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
The school is a co-educational day school; there are no public indications of boarding facilities.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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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
The school follows an inclusive education approach. For students with special educational needs, LFRD provides three specialized teachers, an orthophoniste (speech-language pathologist), and a school psychologist who work with families to create an action plan and an individualized support arrangement.
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
The school is affiliated with France through the AEFE network (Agency for French Education Abroad) under agreement with the French government.
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
Religious affiliation is not listed; the school operates as a secular French international school.
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
Exact start and end times are not published publicly. The school provides on-site meals: Kindergarten meals around $3.60 per meal; Primary/Middle/High school meals around $4 per meal.
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
A publicly listed school bus service is not indicated on the site.
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 registration fees - First (initial) enrolment fee: USD 2,300 for students of Cambodian and/or French nationality; USD 3,042 for students of other nationalities. - Re-enrolment (registration) fee: USD 496 for Cambodian and/or French nationality; USD 571 for other nationalities.
Annual tuition fees by school level - Primary (per year): USD 5,526 for Cambodian and/or French nationality; USD 7,415 for other nationalities. - Collège / Middle school (per year): USD 6,512 for Cambodian and/or French nationality; USD 8,720 for other nationalities. - Lycée / High school (per year): USD 7,362 for Cambodian and/or French nationality; USD 9,855 for other nationalities.
Billing schedule and per-term amounts (annual fees split over three terms) - The school bills fees in three periods (trimesters) and applies the standard split of 40% of the annual tuition for the first term, 30% for the second term and 30% for the third term. Invoices are issued at the start of each period and are payable within 15 days of the invoice date. - Per-term amounts calculated on that 40% / 30% / 30% basis (amounts shown in USD): - Primary (Cambodian/French): 1st term USD 2,210.40; 2nd term USD 1,657.80; 3rd term USD 1,657.80. - Primary (other nationalities): 1st term USD 2,966.00; 2nd term USD 2,224.50; 3rd term USD 2,224.50. - Collège (Cambodian/French): 1st term USD 2,604.80; 2nd term USD 1,953.60; 3rd term USD 1,953.60. - Collège (other nationalities): 1st term USD 3,488.00; 2nd term USD 2,616.00; 3rd term USD 2,616.00. - Lycée (Cambodian/French): 1st term USD 2,944.80; 2nd term USD 2,208.60; 3rd term USD 2,208.60. - Lycée (other nationalities): 1st term USD 3,942.00; 2nd term USD 2,956.50; 3rd term USD 2,956.50. - Standard trimester calendar: 1st term = September–December; 2nd term = January–March; 3rd term = April–June.
Billing and payment terms (key points) - Families may choose to pay annually or by trimester; invoices for each period are issued in advance and are payable within 15 days of the invoice date. - A family may request exceptional monthly instalment arrangements; such requests must be submitted in writing and require approval by the school's management/board. - Arrivals or departures during a trimester are handled on a prorata temporis basis with the rule that any month begun is due in full. - Consequences of non-payment include suspension of participation in activities, temporary exclusion from classes, and possible cancellation of registration if invoices remain unpaid beyond the stated deadlines.
Boarding (internat) fees - Boarding is available for students in third (3ème) to terminale. The annual boarding fee (including accommodation and meals) is USD 5,200 per academic year. Pupils receiving school bursaries receive support on the same scale as their awarded bursary; transport for bursary students to family homes is included at the bursary rate.
Other costs and typical ancillary fees - School meals: USD 3.60 per meal for kindergarten (maternelle); USD 4.00 per meal for primary, collège and lycée. - Extracurricular activities: charged per semester; indicative price ranges by activity are published (examples: homework help USD 55–70 per semester; various sports and arts activities typically USD 20–120 per semester depending on level and frequency). - Exam/registration-related fees and some other charges (exam entries, specific activity fees, certain material fees) are billed separately when applicable; exam fees are billed when registrations are made and are not refundable once the school has completed the registration with the examining authority. - The standard tuition fee covers several items: membership to the parents' association, loan of textbooks, civil-liability insurance, school supplies for primary and art materials for collège, as specified in the school's financial regulations. - No uniform charge is listed as a compulsory school fee on the published fee schedule; costs for optional items or specific equipment (sports kit, special materials) may apply and are billed separately when required.
Refunds and non‑refundables - Initial enrolment (first-inscription) fees are non‑refundable. Exam registration fees are not refundable once the school has processed the entries with the examining authority. - For families leaving the school during a trimester, a prorated adjustment is applied with the policy that any month started is payable in full; the school requires account settlement and return of loaned materials before final departure formalities are completed.
Accepted payment methods and practical notes - Accepted payment methods include bank transfer (bank details are provided on invoices), payment by cheque where applicable, and cash deposits following the instructions printed on the invoice; bank transfer fees are borne by the payer. Credit-card payment is not listed as a standard method in the published financial regulations. - Bank transfers must include the pupil's name, class and the period being paid so the school can allocate the payment correctly. Families whose fees are paid by an employer remain contractually responsible for timely payment and should ensure the school receives the funds by the invoice due date.
Sibling discounts and reductions - Sibling reductions are published: discounts on first-inscription fees (e.g., a USD 50 reduction for the third child and USD 100 per child from the fourth child onward) and reductions on annual tuition (for example, 2nd and 3rd child: 8% annual reduction; 4th child and beyond: 10% annual reduction) as set out in the fee schedule.
Contact for finance matters - The school's finance department can be contacted by phone at +855 77 414 965 or by email at finance@lfrd.net for invoice queries, payment instructions and confirmation of bank details.
(Amounts and procedural rules are given in USD as published in the school's official fees and financial regulations.)
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
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
Lycée Français René Descartes (LFRD) in Phnom Penh provides the French national curriculum from preschool through terminale, aligned with AEFE standards and supported by the French Embassy. Instruction is delivered primarily in French, with English and Khmer offered as language options and language learning placed at the heart of the program. Cycle 2 (grades 1–3) covers French and mathematics, adds English and the host-country language, plus arts, physical education and civic education. Cycle 3 (grades 4–6) continues consolidation and prepares for secondary education; in the lycée, the 10th grade introduces Economics and Social Sciences (SES) and Digital Sciences and Technology (SNT) with electives and a weekly hours framework around 26–30 hours. From Seconde (10th) to Terminale (12th), core subjects include French, history-geography, sciences and modern languages, with a range of electives in 11th grade and Philosophy becoming compulsory in Terminale; final results count toward the Baccalauréat, with pathways to the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) and a Section Internationale Américaine (SIA) available.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
—
Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
—
English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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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
Step 1. Pre-registration for new admissions is conducted online via the EDUKA platform. The pre-registration campaign for the 2025 02026 school year for children not currently enrolled at LFRD is closed. A strict list of criteria governs first-time enrollment due to high demand. Step 2. Enrollment decisions for new registrations are processed online via EDUKA, with selection based on the established criteria. The school is accredited by AEFE and follows official curricula. Step 3. Required documents for new admissions include a valid passport, an ID photo, and a vaccination record; expired documents are not accepted. Step 4. Re-enrollment is completed in EDUKA using the Re-enrollment tab; the 2025 02026 re-enrollment campaign is closed. Payments must be made by May 8, balances must be zero, and scholarship applicants may have post-results payment arrangements. Step 5. For assistance, contact the Admission office via email and phone.
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
Two scholarship campaigns are organized each year by the French Embassy in Cambodia, in January and September. Scholarships are awarded under conditions of resources and are available to French residents in the consular district enrolled in AEFE-homologated schools. For more information, refer to the school's scholarship details and contact the secretariat for guidance.
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.
