CIA First International School vs TIA International School of Phnom Penh

	C CIA First International School Phnom Penh, Cambodia	T TIA International School of Phnom Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year KHR 13,400,000 - 30,240,000	Fees / year KHR 16,895,936 - 23,332,484
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 1½ - 17 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 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 TIA is located in Khan MeanChey, Phnom Penh — Lot No 25, 60m Street, Prek Tarong Village, Sangkat Chak Angrae Krom (Phnom Penh 120602). The school website also notes a shuttle pick‑up point on St. Preah Monivong Boulevard (Master Gold), which provides a direct link for families coming from central Chamkarmon areas.
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 TIA accepts children from about 2.5 years old up to Grade 12. The school groups pupils into Kindergarten (pre‑school / pre‑K / K), Elementary (Grades 1–6), Middle (Grades 7–8) and High School (Grades 9–12).
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 TIA is presented as an international day school offering an international curriculum; its materials show a partnership with North Texas Academy (Plano, Texas) and Cambodian Ministry of Education accreditation. The school's public materials do not describe any boarding provision.
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 Admission materials state the school considers students with special educational needs case‑by‑case: individual interviews are required and the school requests a recent Educational Psychologist's report; the admissions page also notes the school's small class sizes and ability to provide extra support as needed.
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 TIA lists a partnership with North Texas Academy (an accredited U.S. homeschool in Plano, Texas) and is also accredited by the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.
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 official materials and handbook do not indicate any religious affiliation; its mission and values are presented in secular terms.
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 parents' handbook gives a class schedule: Morning session 08:00–11:00, Afternoon session 12:00–16:00, Full‑time 08:00–16:00. Gate times are specified (e.g. gates open 07:15 and close 08:15 for arrival; morning pickup 11:00–11:30; afternoon pickup gate 16:00–16:30); students arriving after 08:00 are recorded as late and the handbook sets a latest pick‑up expectation (by 17:00) with a late‑pickup charge.
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 The school provides a shuttle service; the contact/enrollment page lists a pickup on St. Preah Monivong Blvd (Master Gold) with the bus leaving at 07:30 and a note that parents must collect children at Master Gold by 17:00. The page also gives local contact numbers for shuttle enquiries.
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 / first‑time enrolment fees - Enrolment (one‑time) fee: KHR 1,993,159. - Administration (annual) fee: KHR 1,195,896. - Example total for a first‑year Nursery 1 enrolment (enrolment + admin + first year tuition): KHR 18,735,699. Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑term estimate) - Nursery 1 (age 1): Annual KHR 16,742,540 — Per term (annual ÷ 3) KHR 5,580,847 (calculated). - Nursery 2 (age 2): Annual KHR 16,742,540 — Per term KHR 5,580,847 (calculated). - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual KHR 17,141,171 — Per term KHR 5,713,724 (calculated). - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual KHR 17,938,435 — Per term KHR 5,979,478 (calculated). - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual KHR 18,735,699 — Per term KHR 6,245,233 (calculated). - Grade 1: Annual KHR 19,134,331 — Per term KHR 6,378,110 (calculated). - Grade 2: Annual KHR 19,134,331 — Per term KHR 6,378,110 (calculated). - Grade 3: Annual KHR 20,330,227 — Per term KHR 6,776,742 (calculated). - Grade 4: Annual KHR 20,330,227 — Per term KHR 6,776,742 (calculated). - Grade 5: Annual KHR 21,924,754 — Per term KHR 7,308,251 (calculated). - Grade 6: Annual KHR 21,924,754 — Per term KHR 7,308,251 (calculated). - Grades 7–12: Annual KHR 23,120,650 — Per term KHR 7,706,883 (calculated). All annual figures and the one‑time fees above are published values; the per‑term figures shown are simple calculations (annual ÷ 3) to provide an estimated per‑term amount where parents prefer a term comparison. Chinese class surcharge - Chinese language classes for full‑time programmes (Bilingual and International) incur an additional charge: USD 150 per term. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school states that all payments must be settled before the first day of school. Late payments are subject to a penalty of USD 5.00 per day. All fees are described as non‑transferable and non‑refundable. These terms are published on the school's fees information. Boarding fees - No boarding fees or boarding programme are published for TIA International School of Phnom Penh; no boarding charges appear in the school's fee information. Other costs / additional fees - The school's published fee items list the one‑time enrolment and annual administration charges and tuition; no detailed public line items for uniform, bus, meals, learning‑support surcharges or examination fees are shown on the published schedule. Separate optional or incidental charges (for example for extra curricular programmes) may apply but are not itemised in the published fee schedule. Refund information - The school's published statement is that all fees are non‑transferable and non‑refundable. Fee payment options - The school's public fees page does not list specific accepted payment methods. For payments and invoicing parents should contact the school's admissions/finance office (contact details published on the school site).
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 TIA International School of Phnom Penh delivers bilingual/international education from early years through Grade 12, with admissions listing programmes from 18 months (nursery) up to Grade 12. Early years include Nursery/Pre‑school/Pre‑kindergarten and Kindergarten; Primary covers Grades 1–6, Middle School Grades 7–8, and High School Grades 9–12 as shown on the school's overview. Instruction combines English‑medium core teaching with Khmer language provision and an added Chinese class offered across full‑time programmes. Third‑party listings and the school's materials describe the upper secondary pathway as Cambridge‑aligned, preparing students for Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS/A‑Level style qualifications in the senior years. The full scope of the curriculum includes academic subjects (English, maths, science, social studies), Khmer and Chinese language programmes, and campus facilities supporting arts, labs, sports and extracurricular activities.
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 tour — contact admissions and request a meeting. The school says an admission consultant will respond within 24 hours after you submit the online form, so keep a copy of your submission and the meeting date you requested. (Source: TIA enrolment/online-application page). 2. Confirm age/grade eligibility and programme. Check the age cut-off for the programme you want: the school's pages show early-years entry (one page lists “2.5 years old” while another page refers to acceptances from “18 months”); because the site has slightly different phrasing on different pages, confirm the exact cut-off for the cohort and academic year with admissions before applying. Also tell admissions whether you want the bilingual or international programme and whether you expect full-time Chinese classes (there is an extra Chinese-class charge noted on the fees page). 3. Complete the online application and upload basic documents. Fill in the Student Online Application on the school website (the form asks for names, contact details, number of students applying, academic year and a meeting request date) and upload the items requested by the school. For new transfer students (elementary through Grade 12) the school specifically requests previous school report cards—have those recent transcripts/reports ready and translated if they are not in English. The enrolment portal and the downloadable “Recommendation for Admission” (available from the site) may list any additional forms; keep copies of everything you submit. 4. Assessment and entrance testing (where required). For students transferring into elementary and up through Grade 12, the school requires an entrance test to assess placement and curriculum needs; prepare your child for a short placement/diagnostic test in core areas (usually English and maths). The school also says it can accommodate a range of educational backgrounds and will provide extra support where possible, but placement testing helps the school determine required support and class placement. If your child will be assessed, ask admissions what form the test will take (paper, online, timed) and whether you should bring pencil-and-paper originals of recent work. 5. Interview with school leaders and teachers. After preliminary assessment the school schedules an interview with the Vice Principal and the relevant teacher(s) to discuss the student's academic history, learning needs and social adjustment; parents should expect to discuss previous schools, specific strengths/weaknesses and any routine or medical information that affects school life. For students with identified special educational needs, the school requires an individual interview and requests a recent Educational Psychologist's report so the Director and pedagogical team can assess whether the school can meet those needs. Bring original or certified copies of any assessments, Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or specialist reports to this meeting. 6. Offer, acceptance and contract steps. If a place is available and the school makes an offer, you will be given an offer letter and details of the fees and payment schedule; the school operates rolling admissions and admits new students throughout the year subject to class availability. The school's tuition page states that all fees are non-transferable and non-refundable, and that all payments must be settled before the first day of school; late payments incur a penalty (the site notes a $5.00 per day late fee). Read the offer and fee schedule closely — ask for a written list of what is included (tuition, admin fees, capital or other charges) and for deadlines for initial and ongoing payments. 7. Payment of fees and optional charges. When you accept a place you will be asked to pay the required enrolment/administration and tuition amounts according to the school's schedule; note that the school's page highlights an additional charge for full-time Chinese classes (USD 150 per term) and reiterates the non-refundable nature of fees. Keep receipts and confirm whether payments may be made in KHR or USD, what payment methods are accepted, and whether sibling discounts or payment plans exist (the public pages do not list discounts or a payment plan). If anything about payment timing is unclear, request written confirmation from admissions before paying. 8. Final placement, orientation and first day. Once payments and paperwork are complete the school will confirm final placement and provide start-date details; because TIA's admissions policy is rolling and places depend on class availability, final confirmation may be time-sensitive—ensure you have the confirmed start date in writing. The school's Parents' Handbook and school policies (available from the site) explain health, safety and arrival procedures—review those ahead of the first day and bring any required medical forms, medications or permissions. If you need to withdraw before the start date, check the written offer for the school's refund/withdrawal policy because fees are marked non-refundable on the school pages.
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 mention on TIA's publicly available admissions or tuition pages of school-wide scholarships, bursaries or an explicit financial-aid programme. The school's tuition/fees page lists payment policies and an optional Chinese-class charge but does not advertise any scholarships or fee-waiver schemes. Because some international schools handle scholarships off-line or on a case-by-case basis, if you need financial assistance or are seeking merit-based support you should contact the admissions office directly (admin@tsia.edu.kh or the phone/Telegram contacts on the site) and ask whether any limited scholarships, sibling discounts, or hardship concessions are offered and what documentation would be required. If you would like, the admissions team can confirm in writing whether any scholarship or discount options exist for the year you plan to apply.
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 TIA's public admissions information does not describe a formal, published waitlist system; instead the school states it operates rolling admissions and admits students “throughout the year, based on class availability.” That language means places are offered while space exists at each grade, rather than via a clearly documented central waitlist on the website. Parents should therefore assume that if a class is full the school will keep enquiries on file and recommend contacting admissions directly to ask whether they maintain an internal waiting list or can notify families when space opens. For the clearest answer on current availability and any internal waiting/notification process, contact admissions (phone/Telegram/email) and ask whether they will place your child on an internal waiting list and how they prioritise families (date received, siblings, other factors).
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